Passes
A series of passes covers the
entrance and standard amenity fees charged for using federal recreational lands
– including national wildlife refuges.
Existing Golden Eagle Passports and
National Parks Passes with an expiration date will be honored until they
expire. Paper versions of the Golden Age or Golden Access Passports should be
exchanged for the new Senior or Access passes. However, plastic Golden Age or
Access passes are valid for the pass holder's lifetime and do not need to be
exchanged.
The Senior and Access passes are
good for the lifetime of the holder and make available (to the pass holder
only) 50 percent discounts on some expanded amenity fees.
For the first time, decals and
hangtags are available: decals for those who park open-topped vehicles (like
Jeeps) or motorcycles at unstaffed federal recreation sites, and hangtags for
those who anticipate parking closed vehicles at unmanned facilities.
Please visit the National Wildlife Refuge System Web
site for more information about passes.
Permits
The U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service issues permits under various wildlife law and treaties at a
number of offices throughout the country. Permits enable the public to
engage in legitimate wildlife-related activities that would otherwise be
prohibited by law. Service permit programs ensure that such activities
are carried out in a manner that safeguards wildlife. Additionally, some
permits promote conservation efforts by authorizing scientific research,
generating data, or allowing wildlife management and rehabilitation activates
to go forward.
Permits are handled by permitting programs in International Affairs (Management
Authority), Endangered Species, Law
Enforcement, and Migratory Birds.
Visit the National Wildlife Refuge System Web
site for Special Use Permits.
For more detailed information, go to How to Obtain a Permit, FAQs/Facts or Application Forms.
Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge
Passes and Permits
During the months of March through
October, a $3.00 fee per car is charged, $15.00 for a commercial bus or van
with 20 or fewer people, and a $25.00 fee for over 20 people. There is a $3.00
fee per family for bicycles or walking. Blue Refuge entrance fee payment
envelopes can be found at the entrance kiosk at the beginning of Smith Road.
Winter months have free admission. Passes for entry in lieu of the daily fee
include a Refuge Annual Pass, Annual Federal Duck Stamp, and Interagency
Access, Senior, and Volunteer Passes.
There is no charge for groups
participating in refuge conducted environmental education (EE) programs or for
schools conducting a self-facilitated environmental education program of their
own. However, an entrance fee waiver must be completed for all EE activities
conducted on the Refuge.
Visitor access is limited to a 2,200
acre Public Use Area. The remaining portions of the Refuge are preserved as a
wildlife sanctuary, with disturbance even by refuge staff kept to a minimum.
Special Use Permits
Any use of a National
Wildlife Refuge that would require special access and is not covered under
existing rules and regulations for wildlife dependent visitation of the refuge
will require application for a Special Use Permit through the individual refuge.
These special uses include any commercial activities (timber harvest, haying or
grazing), research activities, wood cutting or special events.
Attention Annual & Lifetime Pass Holders!
This year, Turnbull is initiating the "Duck the Fee Station". Annual and lifetime pass holders can "fly by" the fee station! Simply register your visit using our online Duck-the-Fee-Station form. If you forget to do this before your visit, simply scan the QR code on the Duck the Fee poster at the kiosk using your smartphone.