Laws and Regulations

Permits 

General special use permits are needed for after-hours access, special access to closed areas or commercial ventures including filming and recording. Please address these special use permit questions to the deputy refuge manager.  

Colleges and Universities: For those wishing to conduct any research, inventory or monitoring projects on the refuge please address special use permit questions and applications to the deputy refuge manager. 

See the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ePermit system to apply for Special Use Permits.

  • General Activities
  • Research and Monitoring

Refuge Rules and Regulations 

See special rules and regulations for Huron National Wildlife Refuge on the Visit Us - Rules and Policy section of the website.

National Wildlife Refuge System Laws 

Refuges are special places where wildlife comes first. All activities allowed on refuges must be evaluated to make sure each activity will not conflict with the reason the refuge was founded. The refuge system has special regulations about what you can do. You can find these regulations in the 50 Code of Federal Regulations - Subchapter C. 

The main laws pertaining to the founding and guidance of Huron National Wildlife Refuge are outlined below. 

Archaeological Resources Protection Act

The Archaeological Resources Protection Act provides for protection of archaeological resources and sites on public and Tribal lands and for increased cooperation between government authorities, the professional archaeological community, and private collectors with collections obtained before...

Laws, Agreements & Treaties
Migratory Bird Conservation Act

The Migratory Bird Conservation Act authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to conduct investigations and publish documents related to North American birds, and establishes a Migratory Bird Conservation Commission (MBCC) to approve areas recommended by the Secretary for acquisition. The MBCC...

Laws, Agreements & Treaties
An aerial view of pelican island.
National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act

The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act provides authority, guidelines and directives for the Service to improve the National Wildlife Refuge System; administers a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management, and restoration of fish, wildlife and plant...

Laws, Agreements & Treaties
Wilderness Act of 1964

The Wilderness Act of 1964 established the National Wilderness Preservation System and authorizes Congress to designate wilderness areas. Here, in the Wilderness Act, is a definition of wilderness: “A wilderness, in contrast with those areas where man and his own works dominate the landscape, is...

Laws, Agreements & Treaties