2023-2024 Assateague Island National Seashore Hunt Plan (pdf file, 259kb) Please note the following regulations are applicable ONLY for the Federally owned portion of Assateague Island in MD. For hunting information in Assateague State Park please visit Hunting (maryland.gov) For hunting information in the Virginia district please visit Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (fws.gov) Only shotguns that are 10-gauge or smaller may be used to hunt migratory birds. Shotguns must be plugged and cannot hold more than three (3) shells. Nontoxic shot must be used.
2023-2024 Migratory Game Bird Seasons and Bag Limits
2023-2024 Goose and Brant Seasons and Bag Limits
MIGRATORY GAME BIRD REGULATIONS1. Legal Shooting hours: Shooting hours are one half hour before sunrise to sunset.2. Hunter Registration: a) All hunters and observers accompanying hunters are required to sign-in and sign-out at the Hunter Registration building each time they enter or leave the hunting zone, except designated Boat-In sites. b) Hunters must be physically present in the Blind/Area they signed-in for. c) All persons accompanying hunters and not hunting should write the word “Observer” in the Hunter ID# box. d) No more than three people, including any observers, total in blinds or areas. e) Blinds 1, 2, 10 & 11, three hunters only. Hunters may hunt outside of these blinds with three people but must be within 100 yards of the blind. NOTE: Hunters must report any wildlife taken. Failure to properly checkout of sites or report any wildlife taken may result in restricted or revoked hunting privileges, and/or fines. 3. Designated Blind and Area Sites for Waterfowl: a) Most constructed blinds have been removed and replaced by PVC posts to delineate “Areas" to allow waterfowl hunters the use of portable blinds and anchored boats. b) Designated hunting “Areas” will be identified by PVC posts marked with the number or letter. c) Hunters must hunt within 100 yards of the marked post or blind (except Blind A). Rangers can provide information regarding the type of blind site or hunting areas. 4. Assignment of Designated Blind and Area Sites: a) Hunters must register for all blinds and hunting areas in person at the Hunter Registration building except for the following Boat-In sites: Area F, Area G, Area 3, Area 6, Area 8, Area 19 (first-come, first-served). b) Hunters cannot arrive before 4:00 a. Self-registration will take place in the Hunter Registration building on a first-come, first-serve basis. d) Hunters wishing to switch blinds in the field can do so by contacting a ranger at the Ranger Station via phone after 9:00 a.m., at (443) 669-7039. Hunters are required to speak to an employee at the ranger station to switch. Messages/voicemails are not valid. 5. Designated Boat-In sites: Area F, Area G, Area 3, Area 6, Area 8, Area 19 are designated as Boat-in sites and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Hunters boating into these sites are not required to sign-in or attend the lottery. Hunters who take migratory game birds at these sites are required to call or text in their take at (443) 669-7039. A voicemail message must be left with your name, DNR number, and the species, sex and number of migratory game birds taken. 6. Alternate Hunt Areas for Migratory Game Birds: Two additional hunt areas (designated by PVC post) have been established along existing hunt area trails at Area C and Area 21. These additional hunt areas will provide more options for hunters, to adjust their location based on habitat, weather conditions and/or waterfowl movement. Accessibility will also be improved by the shorter distance to travel to reach the alternate locations. Alternate sites are only available to hunters having designated primary hunt areas. For example, only hunters who have drawn or registered for A-21 will be able to hunt A-21 alternate. 7. Temporary Blinds: Same-day set up and removal of temporary (portable) blinds is permitted in designated hunting areas. Portable blinds or blind materials brought into Assateague Island National Seashore MUST NOT contain any forms of live or dead vegetation (i.e., Realgrass, Instagrass, Fastgrass, Raffiagrass, etc.) Camouflage cloth or material is recommended. The use of common reed (Phragmites australis) is prohibited. 8. Blind A : Hunters may make 1 reservation per split during the designated duck season for a total of 2 reservations (first split: Nov. 11 – Nov. 24, second split: Dec. 15 – Jan. 31). Reservations may be made starting October 10 during normal business hours by calling (443)669-7039. Hunters with reservations must sign-in and sign-out at the Ranger Station or Hunter Registration building. A reservation only valid for the time that you have signed-in until the time you sign-out. Once you sign-out your reservation ends. This allows opportunity for other hunters to use the blind. Blind A is available on a first-come, first-serve basis if there is no reservation for that day. Reservations cannot be made for the blind if it is already occupied. Blind A is located on the north end of Assateague Island NS. The access road is located on the north side of Highway 611 across from the State Park. From Highway 611, take the first left turn, pass through a wire gate, follow the two-track dirt road north for a short distance and then turn left at the junction where the Blind A sign is located. Parking is available at the end of the spur road in front of Blind A (refer to the hunting map for the Northern Hunt Zone). This blind is accessible by a boardwalk leading from the parking area to the blind. The road leading to the blind requires a 4WD or AWD vehicle due to driving through deep, soft sand. If you do not have this type of vehicle you can park in the northwest corner of the State Park Day Use parking lot and walk in. Youth, Vetran and Military Waterfowl Hunting Days – November 4, 2023 & February 3, 2024: Contact InformationFor any questions on the pre-mentioned hunting season regulations please contactU.S. Park Ranger Andrew Brady (Hunting Program Coordinator at Assateague Island N.S.) Office: 410-629-6048 E-mail: Andrew_brady@nps.gov |
Last updated: February 11, 2024