Rules and Policies

To ensure your safety and protect wildlife and habitat, please be aware of refuge rules and regulations. Please consult the refuge manager at scott_gilje@fws.gov if you have specific rules and regulations questions.

General Regulations

• Access to the refuge is open from 1/2 hour before sunrise until 1/2 hour after sunset unless otherwise posted or stated in hunting regulations
• Remain in your vehicle and on the road while inside the bison and elk enclosure
• Skateboards, bicycles and Segway scooters are not allowed on refuge trails (leashed pets, wheelchairs, electric carts and strollers are permitted)
• Firearms are permitted on refuge land in accordance with federal and state laws
• Parking is allowed at designated areas marked with a “P”
• Mushroom and berry harvesting allowed for personal consumption only

Prohibited activities

• Target shooting
• Shed antler collection
• Training pets and allowing pets off leash unless hunting
• Parking in any field entrance (access must be maintained for emergency, fire and patrol vehicles)
• Driving into fields or grassland areas
• All types of motorized vehicles on all refuge land (to include on frozen bodies of water) except on designated parking areas, access roads and public roads
• Non-motorized/motorized watercraft use
• Camping, open fires and overnight parking
• Abandoning, discarding or otherwise leaving any personal property-- all property brought onto a refuge must be removed at the end of each day (this includes all common items like vehicles, boats, decoys, trail cameras, blinds, geo-caching items, photography equipment, portable stands, climbing sticks and trash)
• Damaging, defacing, disturbing or unauthorized removal of any natural object, artifact, cultural resource or government property
• Introducing, liberating, or placing plants or animals or their parts taken elsewhere on refuge lands or waters
• Disposing of animal carcasses, trash, refuse, rocks, wood or other debris
• Cutting, mowing, sawing, digging, collecting, injuring or removing vegetation
• Launching, landing or disturbing of wildlife by aircraft (drones) on the refuge (this includes for recreational or commercial purposes)
• Commercial enterprises (including commercial photography) without a special use permit
• Use or possession of any illegal drug or drug paraphernalia
• Except for authorized hunting activities, discharge of firearms on refuge land
• Fireworks

Hunting

• May have additional requirements in addition to state regulations based on location, timing, species, methods of take, etc. (see refuge specific regulations below)
• Where small game hunting is an approved use on the refuge, hunters using shotguns, including turkey hunters, are required to use and possess only non-toxic shot
• During the small game and migratory bird seasons, hunting dogs must be under the immediate control of the hunter
• Hunters must wear an article of blaze orange/pink consistent with state regulations
• We prohibit constructing or occupying permanent stands or blinds
• We also prohibit the use of nails, wire, screws or bolts to attach a stand to a tree or hunting from a tree, into which a metal object has been driven to support a hunter
• Portable hunting stands must be set up and removed each day
• We prohibit the use or possession of alcoholic beverages while hunting
• We prohibit distribution of feed or bait, or hunting over bait (this includes salts and minerals)
• You may not use a spotlight, headlight or other artificial light to spot, locate or take any wild animal on a refuge

Downloadable copy of the hunting and fishing brochure

Additional Information

• The above information is a partial list of rules and regulations. 
• View the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge Hunting and Fishing Regulation brochure for more details
• Special-use permits may be issued for compatible secondary uses upon approval of the refuge manager; contact the refuge office for application information at nealsmith@fws.gov