Waterfowl Hunting

 

Tundra swans fly overhead

National Park Service

 

To hunt legally at Cape Hatteras National Seashore you must have on your person a valid North Carolina hunting license with North Carolina waterfowl privilege, a Federal Harvest Program (HIP) certification, and a Federal Duck Stamp. It is recommended that you learn the silhouettes, flight patterns, and winter plumage of the waterfowl you may legally hunt in order for you to be familiar with game and non-game species. This will contribute to waterfowl conservation programs and help ensure a successful and legal hunt.

 

Waterfowl Identification Guides

Here are some useful non-National Park Service resources to help you identify different species of waterfowl.

• US Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Waterfowl IDs
• North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission on Waterfowl

 

Designated hunting areas on Bodie Island

National Park Service

Where to Hunt

The NPS-maintained blinds are currently unavailable, except for Hunt Areas 2, 9, 12, 15, so hunters should bring man-made materials for constructing temporary blinds each hunt day. All temporary blind material will be removed by the hunter each day. Blind material consisting of natural vegetation will not be allowed.

Hunters must register at the Whalebone Junction Information Station at 4:30 am to be assigned a hunt area during the 5:00am drawing during the regular season.

Registration for hunt sites will be self-registration at Whalebone Junction during the gap between the regular duck seasons.

 

 

Hunting Hours

Hunting hours are 1/2-hour before sunrise to sunset unless otherwise specified.

 

Jump Shooting

Jump shooting of waterfowl is prohibited on Bodie Island.

Jump shooting of waterfowl shall be permitted only in the defined hunting areas on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands and is prohibited within 300 yards of any temporary and/or permanent blinds.

 

Cancellations

Cancellations must be made by telephone [phone]) no later than twelve hours prior to the reserved-morning's drawing. Failure to cancel reservations will result in termination of your remaining reservations.

Telephone reservations will not be taken for openings resulting from cancellations. Openings resulting from canceled reservations will be assigned by drawing on a first-come, first-served basis to walk-in hunters on the morning of the hunt. Canceled reservations are not transferable.

 

Hunting Regulations

• Only waterfowl hunting is permitted within Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Only those species which are in season may be taken.
• It is the hunter's responsibility to know the species he/she is shooting.
• Non-toxic shot, such as steel, bismuth, tungsten, or other polymer-type shot is required in all shotguns. Lead shot is not allowed.
• Shooting hours are from 1/2-hour before sunrise to sunset.
• Hunting on Bodie Island Hunt Area will be from the assigned hunt area only. Jump shooting is not allowed.
• Hunters must occupy their assigned sites within 2 hours of the draw.
• Any departure from a site (other than for retrieving ducks) terminates hunting privileges on Bodie Island for the remainder of that day.
• Vacating parties from the hunt must formally check out and furnish information regarding their take at Whalebone Junction Information Station within one hour of leaving the hunt area. This information is used to monitor waterfowl populations, hunting success, and to assure that hunters have safely returned from their hunts.
• All hunters taking banded waterfowl are required to either turn in the bands at Whalebone Junction Information Station or call the Bird Band Hotline, 1-800-327-BAND, to report the band number.
• Trained dogs are permitted for waterfowl retrieval. They must be leashed when going to and returning from the blinds. All dogs must be leashed elsewhere in the park.
• Each site shall be occupied by no more than 2 hunters and 1 observer (or guide).
• Only 2 shotguns able to hold no more than 3 rounds each shall be permitted in each site.
• Alcoholic beverages are not permitted in any hunt sites on National Park Service lands.
• Hunting with any measurable amounts of alcohol and/or drugs in your system is prohibited.
• No illegal substances of any kind will be tolerated on any National Park Service lands.
• No "Sky Busting" or other unsafe and inconsiderate behavior will be tolerated.
• All sites must be left in a clean, sanitary, and undamaged condition. If you pack it in, please pack it out.
• Weapons must be unloaded when traveling to and from the hunting area.
• Hunting within your hunting area will be a radius of 50 feet from the designated post. It will be your responsibility to be aware of the distance.
• Same day set up and removal of hunting blinds/temporary structure is permitted in the designated hunting area.
• Hunters will not be allowed to bring in non-native or non-invasive species as cover or build any type of permanent structure.
• Hunting from a permanent blind will be permitted at Hunt Areas 2, 9, 12, and 15 only. All other permanent hunting blinds in the hunting area are currently closed to hunting due to safety. Any hunter hunting outside of the designated area, or from blinds other than those listed above, will be cited and their hunting will be terminated.
• Hazards exist in the hunting area, ensure that you maintain area awareness at all times.

 

ABA accessible hunt blind and wildlife-viewing platform (Bodie Island Marsh Blind). The Bodie Island Marsh Blind is located along NC 12 approximately 2 miles north of Bodie Island Lighthouse.

ABA Accessible Hunt Blind

On December 14, 2019, a new Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) accessible hunt blind and wildlife-viewing platform (Bodie Island Marsh Blind) will open for waterfowl hunting season.

Once open, hunters with limited mobility will be able to reserve the Bodie Island Marsh Blind for up to six days total during the hunt season (maximum three consecutive days).

Procedures for Reserving the Bodie Island Marsh Blind

• Hunters with limited mobility must email reservation request to [e-mail].

  • The reservation request must be emailed 48 hours prior to 5 a.m. the day requested. Example: a request must be submitted for a Wednesday morning hunt by Monday at 5 a.m.

  • The title of the email should be "ABA Hunt Reservation Request." It must also include full name, contact phone number, hunt dates requested, and acknowledgement of mobility impairment. For self-registration dates, hunters must identify any additional hunters and/or observers who will be accompanying them (provide full names and roles, ex. Jim Smith - Hunter).

  • Requests will not be accepted via mail or phone.

• Hunters with limited mobility will receive a confirmation email back if their reservation request is approved. The confirmation email will include the approved hunt dates.

• Like other hunters, those who have reserved the Bodie Island Marsh Blind during the regular duck season must show up to the drawing and register prior to 5 a.m. on the day of their registration. If proper credentials are not provided, the reservation will be canceled, and the blind will be available for the general drawing.

• During self-registration hunt dates, the Bodie Island Marsh Blind will be reserved via the email request process described above. The hunter with a reservation must still self-register at the Whalebone Junction Information Station and occupy the hunt blind one hour before sunrise. If the Bodie Island Marsh Blind is not reserved, then any hunter can self-register and occupy the blind one hour before sunrise. If already reserved, the Bodie Island Marsh Blind wil be identified as reserved at the registration location during the self-registration period.

• Hunters using the Bodie Island Marsh Blind will be provided a card indicating procedures for closing the hunt blind gates and hanging chains for the purpose of preventing the general public from entering the area. Hunters will also be responsible for reopening the gates once their hunt is completed.

• The legal hunting times for use of the Bodie Island Marsh Blind, and all other blinds, are from half an hour before sunrise to sunset.

 

Hunting Violations

Hunting areas are administered by the National Park Service with assistance and cooperation of the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. All federal and state regulations are applicable and are enforced by National Park Service Rangers, US Fish and Wildlife Service Officers, and North Carolina Wildlife Officers.

Violations of National Park Service regulations carry a maximum fine of $5,000 and/or six-months imprisonment. Report violations to Dare County Dispatch at 252-473-3444.

 

Hunting Seasons and Bag Limits

Hunting seasons and bag limits are defined by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and applies to all hunting at Cape Hatteras National Seashore. It is the responsibility of each hunter to know the hunting seasons and harvest limits. This information can be found on the Commission's Season and Limits for Migratory Game Birds webpage.

 

Application

2024 application period is now closed. 2025 applications will be posted in late summer 2025.