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Waterfowl FAQ:

• Is there a required hunter check in? Yes, check in for the Currituck NWR hunt blinds are at the Knotts Island Market (on N.C. 615 South in the Town of Knotts Island). The market opens at 4:45 a.m. and you must check in before 5:15 a.m. on the morning of your assigned hunt. • Do I have to check in for my assigned hunt in person? Yes, anyone who is assigned a valid hunt permit for Currituck NWR must check in by 5:15 a.m. at the Knotts Island Market on the morning of the assigned hunt. Check in by telephone or other means is not permitted. • What happens if I do not check in by 5:15 a.m. on the morning of my assigned hunt? Hunters who fail to check in by 5:15 a.m. on the morning of their assigned hunt forfeit their Currituck NWR hunt permit for that day. The unassigned blind is then made available for a standby drawing.

• If my permit becomes forfeited as a result of not checking in by 5:15 a.m. on the morning of my assigned hunt, am I still eligible to enter the standby drawing? No, only hunters who have registered by 5:15 a.m. for the standby drawing are eligible to receive valid hunting permits for Currituck NWR on that day.

• How does the standby drawing operate? Any person who is legally eligible to hunt water-fowl in the state of North Carolina may enter the standby drawing. Eligible hunters must check in at the Knotts Island Market by 5:15 a.m. on days the Refuge is open to waterfowl hunting. Eligible hunters will be chosen by random drawing and assigned a Refuge hunting blind to hunt on that day only. Hunters may enter their name in the standby drawing once per day on days the Refuge is open to waterfowl hunting. There is no limit on number of days a hunter may enter his name in the standby drawing during the North Carolina Waterfowl Season. There is no fee charged to enter the standby drawing.

• Do I need to bring a portable hunting blind? No, hunting blinds are provided by the Refuge. • Will I be assigned a specific hunting blind location? Yes, all hunters are assigned specific hunt-ing blinds during the permit application process. You will be notified of your assigned hunting location by the Commission prior to your assigned hunting day. Hunters who are chosen during the standby drawing will be assigned a hunting blind location on the morning of the hunt. • Can I hunt from any other location on the Refuge? What about adjacent to my assigned hunting blind? No, all hunting must take place from within an assigned Refuge hunting blind. Shooting from outside a designated hunting blind is prohibited.

• How do I access the Refuge hunting blinds? Refuge hunting blinds are accessible by boat only. • What kind of boat do I need to access the Refuge hunting blinds? A shallow draft boat is highly recommended. Water depths change with the wind tides. Some areas may be only inches deep at low wind tide. Be prepared to pole into some areas. Some blinds may be inaccessible due to low water or may require walking significant distances over marsh and/or mud flats to gain access. No refunds are made due to adverse weather or hunting conditions. Scouting the hunting locations prior to the day of the hunt is highly recommended.

Refuge: Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge Acreage: 50,180

Tracts: N/A

General Location: 12 miles east of Swan Quarter, N.C.

Closest Municipalities: Swan Quarter, Fairfield, Engelhard (Lodging available in municipalities)

County: Hyde

GPS Coordinates: 35.45214 N 76. 17995 W (Refuge Administrative Area)

Camping Allowed: No

Closest Boat Access Area: Boat ramps located on Central Canal and Rose Bay Canal.

Refuge Regulations & Map: Refer to www.fws.gov/mattamuskeet/reg.html

General Terrain Characteristics: Large shallow lake surrounded by cypress-gum swamp and managed impoundments.

Special Equipment Needs: In addition to normal hunting gear, the following items may be helpful: • Refuge hunting regulations/map, binoculars, decoy bags, waders, game hauler or backpack.

Deer FAQ:

• Are there game cleaning facilities available on the Refuge? No, deer may be field dressed on the Refuge, but further processing must be conducted elsewhere.

• Can I use a vehicle or ATV to pick up a downed animal? No, ATVs are not allowed on the Refuge and vehicles may not leave established roads.

Waterfowl FAQ:

• Do I need a boat to access my hunt area? No, not for the General Waterfowl Hunt—a small decoy boat may be useful, but cypress knees may hinder travel. A boat is useful for the September Resident Canada Goose Hunt.

• Can I wade within the impoundment or in the lake? Yes, but use waders not hip boots as some areas are up to 3’ deep. There are also ditches in the impoundments.

86 Refer to the N.C. Inland Fishing, Hunting, and Trapping Regulations Digest for regulations and local laws.