Wassaw NWR

Chatham County, Georgia Wassaw is one of over 545 national wildlife refuges. The

primary objective of a national wildlife refuge is to provide

habitat for the conservation and protection of all species of

wildlife. The harvest of surplus animals is one tool used to

manage wildlife populations at a level compatible with the

environment, provide recreational opportunities, and

permit the use of a valuable renewable resource.

Public hunting on Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge is

permitted on approximately 2,000 acres.

The regulations listed below supplement the general

regulations which govern hunting on wildlife areas as set

forth in Title 50, Code of Federal Regulations. Hunting will

be in accordance with applicable State (Georgia)

regulation. All Coast Guard and State boating regulations

will be enforced.

General Hunting Regulations Federal permits are required for all hunts and must be

carried on the person while hunting. All hunters must

obtain a permit regardless of age. Permits are nontransferable. Only hunt participants with proper licenses

and permits will be allowed on the refuge during hunts. A

Georgia hunting license is required to hunt feral hogs.

Hunters 15 years of age or under (youth hunters) must

have successfully passed a state-approved hunter education

course in order to participate in any refuge hunt.

Satisfactory completion of this course must be

demonstrated by a card or certificate. Youth hunters must

be supervised by an adult 21 years of age or older and must

remain in sight and normal voice contact with the adult.

The adult may supervise only one youth.

Hunters must check in at the refuge dock prior to setting

up camp. Personal identification (driver's license or official

state identification card) will be required at check in.

Each hunter may place one stand on the refuge no earlier

than one month prior to the opening day of each hunt.

However, hunters assume all responsibility for the loss or

damage of personal property left on the refuge. Stands

must be removed by the end of each hunt.

Hunters may check in no more than one day in advance of

the opening day of each hunt period. Hunters must be off

the refuge the day following the last day of the hunt period. Weapons may not taken from the campground during

authorized scouting periods from check-in until the

beginning of hunt hours.

Wassaw NWR will

be closed to the

general public one

day before and one

day after the hunt

period as well as on

hunt days.

Boats may not be

moored to the

government dock

except for loading

and unloading

purposes. Boats

must be moored at

the specified area

near the

government dock.

All camping will be

at the designated

camping area only. Fires must be

confined to the

camping area.

The possession of

alcoholic beverages

while hunting is

prohibited.

Loaded firearms are not allowed in the headquarters and/

or camping area.

The possession of poison, or poison pods, is illegal.

The distribution of bait, and hunting over bait, is

prohibited. Target practice is prohibited.

Hunters must be on their stands from one-half hour

before legal sunrise until 9 am and from two hours

before sunset until legal sunset. Transportation is not provided to, from, or on the refuge.

Any movement within the refuge must be by foot or

bicycle. Entry and exit points are limited to the check

station. Hunters are not allowed to leave by boat to reach

other parts of the island.

Deer harvested during scheduled hunts must be checked

by refuge personnel before leaving the refuge.

Pinckney

 Island

 NWR

Blackbeard

Island 

NWR 

 Harris

Neck

NWR 

Wolf Island

NWR 

GEORGIA

SOUTH

CAROLINA

Savannah NWR

Tybee NWR

Wassaw NWR

 Hardeeville

95

17

17

278

321

17

17

21

204

170

95

170

 Port Wentworth

 Richmond Hill

 Darien

Sapelo Island

St. Catherine‘s Island

Ossabaw Island

Skidaway Island

Tybee Island

 Shellman Bluff

EXIT 67

EXIT 5

EXIT 109

GA25

Harris Neck

Road

Atlantic

Ocean

 Savannah

16

95

*

SAVANNAH

COASTAL

REFUGES

PINCKNEY ISL.

TYBEE

SAVANNAH

WASSAW

HARRIS NECK

BLACKBEARD

WOLF ISLAND

Managed

Hunts

DEER/HOG*

WATERFOWL

TURKEY SQUIRREL/HOG/DEER HOG

***

Signs Protect Visitors and Resources

Millions of people visit national wildlife refuges each year.

The impact of human activity, if not regulated, can

degrade these wildlands. Signs control recreational

activities while protecting natural resources on the

refuge. Please respect the following signs:

This sign delineates the refuge

boundary. You may enter only on

designated access routes. Consult

manager for restrictions.

This area is closed to all

entry. No hunting or

sight-seeing is

permitted. Roads and

trails within this area

are closed to the

public.

NATIONAL

WILDLIFE

REFUGE

UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY

PROHIBITED U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

AREA

BEYOND

THIS

SIGN

CLOSED All public entry prohibited
Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge

Permit Application for the

December 11-13, 2008 Gun Hunt

Print:

Name _______________________________________

Mailing address _______________________________

City ___________________ State _____ Zip ________ Telephone number ____________________________ Party hunters:

Staple applications together (maximum of three).

List your party hunters:

1. __________________________________________

2. __________________________________________

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Wassaw

National Wildlife Refuge

Hunting Regulations

2008

Savannah Coastal Refuges

1000 Business Center Drive

Parkway Business Center, Suite 10

Savannah, GA 31405

912/652 4415

http://www.fws.gov/wassaw

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

1 800/344 WILD

June 2008

2008 Wassaw NWR Bow Hunt Permit

When signed and in your possession, this brochure

serves as your Wassaw bow hunt permit, and

acknowledges your understanding of the regulations

contained herein.

Check-in is required upon arrival at the refuge dock.

Signature

Only designated game species and feral hogs may be taken

and other wildlife may not be molested in any manner.

Hunting from a tree in which a metal object has been

screwed or driven to support a hunter is prohibited.

Pruning/limbing of live trees is prohibited. Participating in "man-drives" for deer is prohibited.

No flagging, blazing, painting, or trail marking devices

may be used to locate stands, or for any other purpose.

All forms of litter must be removed from the refuge.

Specific regulations governing the bow and gun hunts are

listed separately.

How to Obtain Primitive Weapons Hunt Permits

The attached permit (on cover) to participate in the

primitive weapons hunt will be validated during check-in at

the refuge headquarters on Wassaw Island. An unlimited

number of permits will be available for this hunt.

Hunters who participate in the primitive weapons hunt are

also eligible to apply for the gun hunt.

Gun Hunt Permit Application Procedures

The attached permit-application for the Wassaw NWR gun

hunt should be used by one hunter only. To apply as a

party, applications for all party hunters (a maximum of

three) should be stapled together and mailed to:

Savannah Coastal Refuges

1000 Business Center Drive Parkway Business Center, Suite 10

Savannah, GA 31405 Additional applications may be obtained by mail, or picked

up at the Savannah Coastal Refuges office located in the Parkway Business Center (off I-16 at Chatham Parkway,

Savannah, Georgia). Hunt regulations and permit

applications can also be downloaded from our website:

http://www.fws.gov/wassaw

Only one application may be submitted per hunter. Persons

or groups submitting more than one application will be

disqualified. Applications for the hunt must be received by August 31 to be entered in the drawing; 125 permits will be

issued for the gun hunt.

Hunters selected by drawing on September 5, 2008 will be

notified by mail. A $15.00 permit fee must be paid by each

hunter selected by drawing. Accepted payment methods

are credit/debit cards (call 912/652 4415 to make payment

by phone), cashier's check or money order (made payable

to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service/mailed to Savannah

Coastal Refuges office). No personal checks will be

accepted, and all payments must be received by October

15 to guarantee issuance of a permit to the selected hunter.

Primitive Weapons Hunt

Primitive weapons hunting for deer and feral hogs will be

permitted only on November 6-8, 2008 within the area

indicated on the attached refuge map. Crossbows are

prohibited.

All hunters must wear an outer garment which contains a

minimum of 500 square inches of hunter-orange material

above the waist throughout the hunt. Five deer of either sex may be taken (state bonus tags will

be issued for two of these). Feral hogs (no bag limit) may

also be taken with weapons legal for this hunt.

Gun Hunt

Gun hunting for deer on Wassaw NWR will be permitted

only on December 11-13, 2008 within the area indicated on

the attached refuge map. Five deer of either sex may be taken (state bonus tags will

be issued for two of these). Feral hogs (no bag limit) may

also be taken with weapons legal for this hunt.

Hunters are required to wear an outer garment which

contains a minimum of 500 square inches of hunter-orange

material above the waist.

Shotguns, 20 gauge or larger (slugs only), centerfire rifles

and bows, and primitive weapons, in accordance with state

regulations, are the only weapons permitted. Crossbows

will not be allowed.

All campsites are primitive. Chemical toilets are available

at the nearby check station. A cooler unit is operated to

store harvested deer. Potable water is not available.

Boater Caution

Coastal waters are subject to extreme tidal fluctuations of

six to ten feet. Hunters should be familiar with the tide

tables, and monitor coastal weather conditions before

navigating to the barrier island refuge.