Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
Archery Hunt 2006 Regulations

All Texas State Hunting Regulations apply to hunting on Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. As a licensed hunter, you are responsible for knowing and following state hunting laws. Texas state hunting laws are not listed in this brochure. For complete information, you are encouraged to read the 2006-07 Outdoor Annual Hunting Regulations or to contact Texas Parks & Wildlife at (800) 792-1112 or www.tpwd.state.tx.us.

Refuge Regulations
In addition to state laws, the following conditions apply on Aransas National
Wildlife Refuge:

Fishing Access
Fishing is not permitted in the Hunt Area. Fishing closes Oct. 15th along the Refuge shoreline normally open to the general public (San Antonio Bay).

Aransas Archery Season
The archery season is Saturday, September 30th through Sunday, October 8th, 2006, road and other conditions permitting.

Archery Hunt Permits
There will be 400 permits issued on a first come, first served basis. Completed applications and fees (cash, a cashier’s check or a money order,) must be received at the Refuge Visitor Center, or postmarked, no later than September 5th, 2006. Permits will be issued by mail, along with a map of the Hunt Area, regulations, scouting information and times of hunt. Archery Hunt permits are nontransferable and valid only for the named permittee.

Archery Hunt Fees
The fee is $60 for the nine day Archery Hunt (Sept. 30th – Oct 8th). Payments of cash, a cashier’s check or a money order will be accepted. Personal checks will not be accepted. Do not mail cash.

Refunds and Cancellations
Full refunds will be given (by mail only) to those hunters exceeding the 400 permit quota or if the Refuge cancels the hunt. If only part of the hunt is canceled, all refunds will be pro-rated accordingly.

Alcohol
Alcohol is not permitted on the refuge.

Travel
Only street legal cars and trucks are permitted in the Hunt Area. Vehicles must remain on roads with parking permitted along the roadside in a manner that will not interfere with the normal flow of traffic. Speed limit is 35 mph unless otherwise posted. All Texas driving laws apply to Refuge roads.

Hunt Area
Only the designated portion of the Refuge is open to hunting (33,520 acres). The Hunt Area will be open from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. each day of the Hunt. Only hunters with permits will be admitted to the Hunt Area. Unusual conditions may cause closure of any portion of the Hunt Area.

Closed Areas
The boundaries of closed areas are shown by disked tracks 15 feet wide, and by “AREA CLOSED” signs.

No Reserved Areas
All of the Hunt Area is first come, first served. No area may be reserved.

Scouting Access
Hunters with permits may scout and place blinds or stands on September 23rd, 24th, and 29th , 2006, from 7:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Entry for scouting is free for permitted hunters only.
Non-permitted individuals may not accompany the hunter. Bows may not be readily accessible during scouting.

* Note: Bonus Scouting Days are available. See Bonus Scouting Days Available for Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Archery Hunt below.

Flagging
Only biodegradable flagging is authorized for trail and hunt stand marking (may be purchased at the Refuge Visitor Center). The use of construction tape, cloth, ribbon, webbing, string, or other non-biodegradable products is littering. Hunters are required to remove all flagging at the end of their hunt.

Hunting Stands
Your equipment may be put out during scouting, but it must be removed at the end of the hunt period. Stands or blinds must be a minimum 50 yards away from any road. You may not hunt from existing structures, or wire, screw, bolt, or nail stands to trees or other objects.
Do not drive any objects into a tree, nor cut any part of a tree. Stands or blinds do not reserve an area.

Bait
The use or possession of bait during the scouting or hunting period is prohibited.

Legal Weapons
Bow and arrows only. It is unlawful to possess firearms or other weapons on the refuge during the archery hunt.

Legal Species & Bag Limit
As part of a hunters annual statewide bag limit hunters may take:

Three white-tailed deer (either sex) per hunter, of which no more than two may be bucks. No bonus tags are permitted. You must legally tag and report in writing your harvested deer at the Refuge game cooler.

No limit on feral (wild) hog.
No other species may be hunted.

Field Dress
Harvested game must be dressed in the hunt area only. A meat cooler is available for use at the Hunt Check Station for dressed game.

Check Station
Successful hunters are required to stop by the Refuge Check Station and report their harvested deer and hogs in writing on the hunt log at the Refuge game cooler.

Obtaining Permit Applications
You may download applications and information at http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/texas/aransas/index.html. Hunters may also request applications from the Refuge Visitor Center.

For Additional Information Contact:

Visit us on the web at:

http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/texas/aransas/index.html

Write us at:

Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
P.O. Box 100
Austwell, Texas 77950
361-286-3559

Call us at:

(361)286-3559

(webArcheryRegsRevJune10,2006 cl)

* Bonus Scouting Days Available for Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Archery Hunt

To qualify you must be a registered 2006 hunter, have completed and successfully passed an International Bowhunter Education Program (IBEP) course,or be enrolled in the IBEP class being offered at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) September 16 and 17, 2006. Bonus scouting days are September 16 and 17, 2006 from 3:00 p.m. until sunset. To enter the Archery Hunt Area, you must present your IBEP card and 2006 Archery Hunt Permit to the Refuge Law Enforcement Officers.

To enroll and RSVP for one of the 24 spots in the 2-day IBEP course being taught at ANWR, you must register by contacting Chris Flinn at 713-686-2554 by August 25th.

The IBEP course is accepted in all 50 states and 15 foreign countries and never expires. The course will cover the fundamentals of bowhunter ethics and responsibilities, basic equipment knowledge and safety, hunting techniques, anatomy, shot placement, blood trailing, survival and basic first aid. Taking the bowhunter education course at the Refuge is a great opportunity for hunters who have never hunted ANWR to learn the ins and outs of hunting the Refuge at the same time meeting the Refuge personnel that run the Refuge Hunt. If you have any questions about the IBEP, please call Flinn at 713-686-2554.

Each hunter must bring a $15.00 fee (payable to Chris Flinn) for the IBEP course, your bow and field-tipped arrows, and your lunch as only drinks and snacks are available at the Refuge Visitor Center. Dress comfortable for outdoor activities. Boots are recommended. Sign-in is 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. Saturday September 16 and class runs 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.