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Contact: Evan Knight, 252-838-8929
HARKERS ISLAND, NC – – For the 2025-2026 duck hunting season, Cape Lookout National Seashore will continue to use a lottery system to determine the initial order for applicants to register their duck blinds within the park. To ensure a smooth experience in entering the lottery, interested duck hunting applicants should create an account on Recreation.gov (www.recreation.gov) before they enter the lottery.
The lottery will open at 10:00 A.M. (EDT) on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, and will close at 7:00 P.M. (EDT) on Thursday, August 28, 2025. There is a $10 registration fee to enter the lottery. There are a limited number of lottery slots.
After the lottery closes, Recreation.gov will randomly select the lottery order and assign an appointment time from the pool of applicants. Those lucky enough to receive one of the limited, initial lottery slots will receive notification via email from Recreation.gov. They will also receive an email from Cape Lookout National Seashore with a time for their in-person appointment.
In-person appointments will take place throughout the day on Friday, September 12 at the Harkers Island Visitor Center (1800 Island Road, Harkers Island, NC 28531). In-person appointments allow lottery winners to select the location of their blind(s), complete the permit paperwork and pay their permit fees. Lottery winners may select a maximum of 2 blind locations. There is a $50.00 permit fee for the 1st blind, and a $25.00 fee for the second blind ($75.00 total for 2 blinds). These in-person appointments on Friday, September 12 will be scheduled in 15-minute intervals from 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. (EDT).
You MUST bring the following:
· Valid driver’s license or identification card
· North Carolina hunting license
· Signed federal duck stamp or federal e-stamp
If you arrive for an in-person appointment without ALL these documents, you will not be issued a permit and will forfeit your scheduled lottery appointment.
Those not selected during the lottery or who can’t make their scheduled appointment time may come to the Harkers Island Visitor Center on a first come, first served basis beginning on Wednesday, September 17.
Hunting is authorized within Cape Lookout National Seashore, subject to State of North Carolina hunting regulations, as well as Federal law. Duck Blind fees are used to administer and monitor the duck blind program. The Duck Blind Permit allows hunters to place and leave temporary duck blinds in the park from September 12, 2025, until March 31, 2026. Construction of permanent duck blinds is illegal, and the temporary blinds must be removed by the permittee no later than March 31, 2026.
Hunters are advised that failure to obtain a permit or failure to remove blinds at the end of the permit period may result in penalties, a bill for the cost of removing the blind, and/or exclusion from the program in future years. Illegal duck blinds found in the park will be removed without notice and the cost of removing illegal and abandoned blinds significantly adds to the cost of the program and may have to be passed on to the hunters in future years.
Commercial hunting (or fishing) guides must obtain a permit to conduct commercial activities in a national park. To obtain a Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) permit, guides should contact park Business Manager, Katherine Cushinberry at (252) 838-8899.
Guides with a CUA permit may advertise that they are an authorized hunting guide for Cape Lookout National Seashore. Those caught guiding without a CUA permit may be prosecuted and lose lottery/hunting privileges for a minimum of 2 years.
For more information regarding the 2024-2025 Duck Blind Lottery at Cape Lookout National Seashore, contact Ranger Evan Knight at 252-838-8929.
Last updated: August 8, 2025