Eastern Massachusetts National Wildlife Refuge Complex 73 Weir Hill RoadSudbury, MA 01776978/443 4661978/443 2898 Faxhttp://www.fws.gov/northeast/easternmanwrcomplex/

Federal Relay Servicefor the deaf and hard-of-hearing800/877 8339

US Fish & Wildlife Service1 800/344 WILDhttp://www.fws.gov

June 2011

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Eastern MassachusettsNational Wildlife Refuge ComplexHunt Regulations and Information Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge

Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge

Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge

Welcome WelcometotheAssabetRiver,GreatMeadowsandOxbownationalwildliferefuges.Thesethreerefuges,alongwithfiveothers,arepartoftheEasternMassachusettsNationalWildlifeRefugeComplex.Therearemorethan550nationalwildliferefugesinthecountry.TheU.S.FishandWildlifeServiceadministerstheserefugesandisresponsibleforconserving,protectingandenhancingthenation’sfishandwildlifepopulationsandtheirhabitatsforthecontinuingbenefitofthepeople.

Inresponsetohunterfeedbackandtostreamlinethehuntprogram,somerefugeregulationsandprocedureshavechanged.Huntersareencouragedtoreadthisinformationcarefully.

Itisimperativethatyouconductyourselfwiththehighestlevelofconsiderationforthesafetyandenjoymentofothers.Pleaserespectandobserverefugeregulations,boundariesandsafetyzones.Alack

ofresponsibilityonyourpartcouldresultinareductionor

closureofrefugehuntingopportunitiesinthefuture.

AssabetRiverNationalWildlifeRefugeisopenforthehuntingofwhite-taileddeer(archery,muzzleloader,shotgun),springturkey,Americanwoodcock,ruffedgrouse,Easterncottontailrabbit,andgraysquirrel.GreatMeadowsNWRisopenforwhite-taileddeer(archeryonly)andwaterfowl(ducksandgeese).OxbowNWRisopenforwhite-taileddeer(archery,muzzleloader,shotgun),springandfallturkey,waterfowl(ducksandgeese),snipe,Americanwoodcock,ruffedgrouse,Easterncottontailrabbit,andgraysquirrel.NOTALLPARTSOFEACHREFUGEAREOPENFOREACHHUNTSEASON.Befamiliarwiththehuntmapsandregulationstoensureyouarehuntinginanopenarea.

Archerypermitsarevalidduringshotgunandmuzzleloaderseasons.

Applicablerefugehuntingdatesandtimescorrespondtostateregulations.Seestateabstractsfordetails.

Allhuntersarerequiredtohavearefuge-issuedpermitalongwithstatelicensesintheirpossessiontoscoutorhuntoneachrefuge.ApplicationsaretypicallyavailableJuly1stthroughJuly31stathttp://www.easternmapermits.com.

Theinformationprovidedbelowoutlinesrefuge-specifichuntregulations.Personspossessing,transporting,orcarryingfirearmsonnationalwildliferefugesmustcomplywithallprovisionsofstateandlocallaw.Personsmayonlyuse(discharge)firearmsinaccordancewithrefugeregulations(50CFR27.42andspecificrefugeregulationsin50CFRPart32).Pleasecontactusifyouare

Hunt Seasons

Refuge Permits

Refuge Regulations and Information

Thisgoose,designedbyJ.N.“Ding”Darling,hasbecomethesymboloftheNationalWildlifeRefugeSystem.

Gray squirrel

confusedaboutanyofourspecialregulations.

Closed Areas Notallareasofthethreerefuges

areopenforhunting.Pleaserefertothemapsinthisbrochuretoensurethatyouarehuntingonlandoralongriverswherehuntingisallowed.Huntersmustalsocomplywiththe500-footsafetyzonearoundoccupied

buildingsand150-footsafetyzonefrompublicroads.

WaterfowlhuntingatGreatMeadowsNWRisauthorizedbetweenthebuoysontheConcordandSudburyRivers.Waterfowlhuntingontheriversisallowedonlybetweenbuoys1and2,3and4,5and6,and7and8.TherearenobuoysontheNashuaRiveraswaterfowlhuntingthereisonlyallowedsouthofRoute2totheStillRiverDepotRoadboatlaunch.

Nature Trails Naturetrailsarelocatedonall

refugesinareaswherehuntingisallowed.Otheroutdoorenthusiasts

maybeusingtheNashuaRiver,SudburyRiverorConcordRiverduringthehuntingseason.Pleaseexercisecautionwhenhuntingonorneartheriversornearnaturetrails.Itisyourresponsibilityto

knowwheretrailsarelocated.Alsorealizethatsomepeoplemaywanderofftrails(eventhoughtheyarenotsupposedto!).Pleasebeawarethatnon-huntersmaynotknowthathuntingisallowedonsomepartsoftherefuges.

Refuge Management Activities Refugestaff,volunteersand

contractorsmaybeworkingatanytimeonanyoftherefugesduringhuntingseason.Ourmanagementactivitiesforwildlifeandhabitatmanagementareimportantandwillcontinuetobeconductedduringthehuntseason.Weapologizeifouractivitiesdisturbyourhunt,butsomedisturbancewillbeunavoidable.

Parking Youwillreceiveaparkingpasswith

yourrefugepermit.Thenumberonthispasswillcorrespondwithyourpermitnumber.Thepassmustbevisibleonyourdashboardatalltimeswhenparkedinadesignatedparkinglot.

Weaskhunterstoparkindesignatedrefugehuntparkingareasshownonthehuntmaps.Youmaybefinedor

Woodcock

Duck taking

flight

towedifyourvehicleblocksgates,roadsorbuildings.Somehuntareashavelimitedornoparkingaccess—weencouragecarpoolingor

beingdroppedoffandpickedup.

Someparkingareasareonnon-refugelands(Rt.225boatlaunchinBedfordandLakeGeorgeStreetinDevens)orarecommonly

usedbythegeneralpublictoaccessthe

SudburyRiver.Pleasebecourteousof

othersifparkingintheseareas.Also,ensure

youareonrefugepropertybeforeyoubeginhunting.

AtGreatMeadowsNWR,huntersMUSTNOTaccesstherefugefromTownofCarlisleconservationlands.Parkingisavailableoffthedrivewayat342MapleStreet,Carlisle.Pleasebecourteousasthisisaprivateresidence.

Scouting Scoutingmayonlybedoneonthe

fourSundayspriortoopeningdayofthepermittedseason.Huntersengagedinscoutingmustcarrystateandrefugelicensesandpermits.

Hours Huntersmayentertherefugeno

earlierthanoneandone-halfhoursbeforelegalhuntinghoursandleave

nolaterthanoneandone-halfhoursafterlegalsunset.

Tree stands Refugehunterswillbeallowedto

keeponetreestandoneachrefugeduringthewhite-taileddeerarchery,shotgunandmuzzleloaderseasons.Treestandsmustbemarkedwiththehunter’spermitnumberinsuchafashionthatitcanbevisiblefromtheground.TreestandsmaybeputupasearlyasthefirsteligiblescoutingdayofthepermittedseasonandmustberemovedbyJanuary15ofthepermittedseason.AnytreestandremainingontherefugeafterJanuary15maybeconfiscated.Climbersorladdertypetreestandsarerecommended.Nails,spikes,screwsorotherobjectsmaynotbedrivenintoanytreetoaccessorsecurethestand.

Havingatreestandinplacedoesnotclaimyourrighttoaspecificareaoftherefuge.Huntersmustrelyongoodjudgmentandhunterethicstoavoidconflict.Treestandsleftuparedonesoatthesoleriskofthehunter.Standsleftontherefugemaybesecuredwithalock.The

Turkey

Eastern cottontail

rabbit

U.S.FishandWildlifeServiceisnotresponsibleforlost,stolenordamagedproperty.

Youth hunting Anychild

betweentheagesof12and17canreceivearefugehuntingpermit

(notsubjecttolotteryprocess)andmustbe

accompaniedbyalicensedhunter18yearsofageor

olderwhenhunting.

Non-hunting companion Wenolongerissuecompanionhunt

permits.However,wewillalloweachpermittedhuntertobeaccompanied

byonenon-huntingcompanion.Non-huntingcompanionscannotengageintheactofhuntingbuttheycanhelpretrieveandcarrydownedgame.Allcompanionsmustcarrypersonalidentificationwiththemandbewillingtoshowittoanylawenforcementofficial.Non-huntingcompanionsmustbecloseenoughtothehuntertospeaktothemwithoutraisingtheirvoice.

Hunter orange Duringanyseasoninwhichitis

legaltohuntdeerwithashotgunormuzzleloader,werequireallhuntersandcompanionstowearaminimumof500squareinchesofsolid-orangeclothingormaterialontheirchest,backandhead(exceptifhuntingwaterfowlfromablindorboat).Duringallothertimes,huntersengagedinwoodcock,ruffedgrouse,squirrel,orcottontailrabbithuntingatAssabet

RiverorOxbowNWRs,aswellassnipehuntingatOxbowNWR,arerequiredtowearattheminimumasolid-orangehat.CamouflageorangealoneisNOTpermitted.Thisisasafetyconsiderationforyourselfaswellasforrefugevisitors,stafforcontractorswhomaybeinthearea.Duringturkeyseason,huntersmustwearanorangecapwhenmovingtoandbetweentheirhuntlocation.

Refuge boundaries Wehavetriedtoclearlymarkrefuge

boundaries.However,notallrefugeareasarecompletelysigned.Pleaserefertotherefugemapsandcalltherefugeofficeifyouneedclarificationonarefugeboundary.

Approved shot Huntersmaypossessonlyapproved

non-toxicshotwhenhuntingruffedgrouse,rabbit,squirrelandmigratorybirds.

Dogs Dogsarenotallowedonanyofthe

refugesduringscouting.Forseasons

whereStateregulationsallowtheuseofdogs,weallownomorethantwodogsperhuntingparty.

Decoys Decoyscanonlybeusedwhile

huntingwaterfowlorturkey.

White-tailed deer

Canvasback decoys

Trail markers Wedonotpermitthemarkingofany

tree,trail,orotherrefugefeaturewithflaggingorpaint.Huntersmayusereflectivetacksandothersmallreflectivemarkers,whichneedtoberemovedattheendoftheseason.WeencouragetheuseofaGPStoavoidputtingupmarkers.

Law enforcement Individualsutilizingtherefugeare

subjecttoinspectionsofpermits,licenses,huntingequipment,baglimits,boats,vehicles,andtheircontentsbyfederalorstatelawenforcementofficers.Anymemberoftherefugestaffmayasktoseeyourrefugepermit.

•Drivingofdeerbyanymeans•Littering•Useofaspotlightorotherartificial

lighttolocatewildlife•Baitingorhuntingoverbaitorsalt•Useofelectroniccalls•Drivingorscrewinganail,spike

orothermetalobjectintoatreeorhuntingfromanytreeinwhichsuchanobjecthasbeendriven

•Trimmingorcuttingvegetationgreaterthanthediameterofaquarter

•Useorpossessionofalcoholicbeverageswhilehunting

•UseofATVs,dirtbikesand/orothermotorizedvehicles

•Targetpractice•Campingandcampfires•Overnightparking•Searchingfor,orremoving,any

objectofantiquityincludingarrowheads,potteryorotherartifacts

•Blockinggatesorroadwayswithvehicles

•Dogtraining

Ourwildlifeisavaluableresource.Lawsandregulationsareintendedtoprotectthem,whileallowingforsomeconsumptiveuse.Huntersare

Prohibited Activities

An Important Message

encouragedtoreportanyviolationstheymayencountertoaStateorfederalemployee.

Thefutureofhuntingontherefugesrequiresresponsiblehunterbehaviorandcompliancewithregulations.Youcanhelpusbycomplyingwiththeseregulations,reportingunethicalhunterbehaviorandprovidinguswithfeedback.

Thankyou.Haveasafeandenjoyablehuntingexperience.

Forinformationonhowtoapply,pleasecontactusat:

EasternMassachusettsNational WildlifeRefugeComplex 73WeirHillRoad Sudbury,MA01776 978/4434661 http://www.fws.gov/northeast/ easternmanwrcomplex/ Toapplyonline,visit http//www.easternmapermits.com

Ruffed grouse

Sudb

ury Riv

er

Sudbu

ry R

d

Heard Pond

126

12627

S O U T H

S U D B U R Y

126

W A Y L A N DW A Y L A N D

W A Y L A N DW A Y L A N D

White Pond

117

N O R T H

S U D B U R Y

FairhavenBay

Farrar Pond

27

Con

cord

Rd

Sherman Bridge RdWeir Hill Rd

Sudbury Division

S U D B U R Y

L I N C O L N

Lincoln Rd

Sudbury River

Sudbury River

Sudbury

Riv

er

Sudbury

Riv

er

LEGEND

Rivers/Stream

Lake or Pond

Marsh, Wetland, Swamp or Bog

Primary Route

Road or Street

Refuge Boundary

Trails

Parking Lots

Boat Ramp

Archery deer hunting

Waterfowl hunting

Great Meadows National Wildlife RefugeSudbury Unit

N

.75 Miles 1.50

20

27

Water Row

Stonebridge R

d

Landham Rd

Pelham Island Rd

Concord Division

62

4

2A

4

B E D F O R D

C A R L I S L E

B I L L E R I C A

Concord Impoundments

3

225

LEGEND

Lake or Pond

Marsh, Wetland, Swamp or Bog

Rivers/Stream

Road or Street

Refuge Boundary

Trails

Parking Lots

Comfort Station

Boat Ramp

Archery deer hunting

Waterfowl hunting

River R

d

62

Map

le St

Map

le St

West St

Great Meadows National Wildlife RefugeConcord Unit

N

.75 Miles 1.50

Con

cord

R

iver

Conc

ord

R

iver

110111

111

W. Main

St

Shirley Rd

HospitalRd

B&M

Rai

lroad

Exit 37BExit 37B Exit 38

RobbinsPond

MirrorLake

Grove Pond

LittleMirrorLake

Sherm

anA

ve

Walker

Rd

FORT

DEVENS

MILITA

RY

RESERVATION

Harvard

PlowShopPond

2A

2

111110

Flannagan Pond

H A R V A R D

L A N C A S T E R

S H I R L E Y

A Y E R

Patton Rd

Still RiverDepot Rd

Jack

son

Rd

BishopRd

Geo

rge

St

Lak

e

Wal

ker

Rd

LEGENDRivers/Stream

Lake or Pond

Marsh, Wetland, Swamp or Bog

Refuge Boundary

Trails

Parking Lots

Boat Ramp

Shotgun, archery and primitive firearms hunting for deer, turkey, ruffed grouse, gray squirrel, rabbit, woodcock, and snipe

Archery deer hunting, shotgun hunting for turkey, ruffed grouse, gray squirrel, rabbit, and woodcock

Archery hunting only for deer and turkey

Waterfowl hunting areas

Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge

.75

N

Miles 1.50

2A

Nas

hu

a River

Nas

hua

Riv

er

Concord

Rd

Bruen

Rd

27

62

117M A Y N A R D

H U D S O N

S U D B U R Y

Assabet River

Willis Pond

CuttingsPond

LakeBoon

SUDBURY-MARLBOROUGHSTATE FOREST

SUDBURY-MARLBOROUGHSTATE FOREST

SUDBURY-MARLBOROUGHSTATE FOREST

Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge

Whi

te P

ond

Pratt's M

ill

Pond

VossPond

Main St

SUDBURY STATE FOREST

SUDBURY STATE FORESTHudson Rd

Fairban

ks

Rd

LEGEND

Rivers/Stream

Lake or Pond

Marsh, Wetland, Swamp or Bog

Refuge Boundary

Trails

Parking Lots

Archery, Shotgun and primitivefirearms hunting for turkey, deer, ruffed grouse gray squirrel, rabbit, and woodcock

Archery hunting only for deer and turkey

PufferPond

Taylor B

rook

Taylor B

rook

Sudbury Road

Sudbury Road

0 1 Miles 2

N

20

S T O W