50 CFR Part 71 — Hunting and Sport Fishing on National Fish Hatcheries

PART 71—HUNTING AND SPORT FISHING ON NATIONAL FISH HATCHERIES Authority: Sec. 4, Pub. L. 73-121, 48 Stat. 402, as amended; sec. 4, Pub. L. 87-714, 76 Stat. 654; 5 U.S.C. 301; 16 U.S.C. 460k, 664, 668dd, 1534. Source: 84 FR 47790, Sept. 10, 2019, unless otherwise noted. Subpart A—General Provisions § 71.1 Opening of national fish hatcheries to hunting and sport fishing. National fish hatchery areas may be opened to hunting or sport fishing when such activity is not detrimental to the propagation and distribution of fish or other aquatic wildlife. § 71.2 What are the requirements for hunting on areas of the National Fish Hatchery System? The following provisions apply to public hunting and sport fishing on a national fish hatchery area: (a) Each person must secure and possess the required State license. (b) Each person age 16 and older must obtain and possess a Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (Federal Duck Stamp) while hunting migratory waterfowl. (c) Each person must comply with the applicable provisions of Federal laws and regulations including this subchapter and the current Federal migratory bird regulations at 50 CFR parts 20 and 21. (d) Each person must comply with the applicable provisions of the laws and regulations of the State in which a hatchery is located unless further restricted by Federal law or regulation. (e) Each person must comply with the terms and conditions authorizing access and use of the national fish hatchery area. (f) The regulations contained in this part are prescribed for hunting and sport fishing of all National Fish Hatcheries and supplement the general National Wildlife Refuge System regulations found in 50 CFR chapter I, subchapter C. The general National Wildlife Refuge System regulations are automatically applicable in their entirety to the National Fish Hatcheries except as supplemented by the regulations in this part. If the regulations in this part conflict with the general National Wildlife Refuge System regulations, comply with these regulations. (g) Each person must comply with the provisions of any special notices governing hunting on the national fish hatchery area. Such special notices will be posted throughout the area and will be available at the headquarters of the fish hatchery to which they relate. (1) Special notices are issued only after the announcement of applicable annual State and Federal hunting regulations. (2) Special notices may contain the following items: (i) Wildlife species which may be hunted, or species of fish which may be taken; (ii) Seasons; (iii) Bag/creel limits; (iv) Methods of hunting or fishing; (v) Description of areas open to hunting or fishing; or (vi) Other provisions as required. (3) Special notices will not liberalize existing State law or regulations. (4) Special notices may be amended as needed to meet management responsibilities for the area. § 71.3 Information collection requirements. The information collection requirements contained in this part have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. Subpart B—Hatchery-Specific Regulations for Hunting and Fishing § 71.11 National fish hatcheries open for hunting. The following hatcheries are open for hunting as governed by applicable Federal and State regulations, and are listed in alphabetical order with additional hatchery-specific regulations. (a) Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery Migratory game bird hunting. (i) We prohibit night hunting. (ii) Hunters may enter the hatchery 1 hour before legal sunrise and must leave no later than 1 hour after legal sunset. (iii) We allow only portable stands and blinds for hunting, and they must be removed at the end of each day's hunt. (2) Upland game hunting. (3) Big game hunting. (b) Green Lake National Fish Hatchery Migratory game bird hunting. (i) We prohibit night hunting. (ii) Hunters may enter the hatchery 1 hour before legal sunrise and must leave no later than 1 hour after legal sunset. (iii) We allow only portable stands and blinds for hunting, and they must be removed at the end of each day's hunt. (iv) Trapping, baiting, or hunting over bait is prohibited for all species. (2) Upland game hunting. (3) Big game hunting. (b) Iron River National Fish Hatchery Migratory game bird hunting. (2) Upland game hunting. (3) Big game hunting. (i) You must label tree stands and ground blinds with the owner's State hunting license number. The label must be readable from the ground. (ii) You may place tree stands and ground blinds on the hatchery only from September 1 to December 31 annually. (c) Jordan River National Fish Hatchery Migratory game bird hunting. (i) We allow entry into the hatchery 1 hour before legal sunrise and require hunters to leave the hatchery no later than 1 hour after legal sunset. (ii) We prohibit shooting on or over any hatchery road and shooting within 50 feet (15 meters) from the centerline. (iii) We allow the use of dogs while hunting, provided the dog is under the immediate control of the hunter at all times. (iv) We allow the harvest of pigeon during any open season. (v) You must remove all personal property, including but not limited to boats, decoys, blinds, blind materials, stands, platforms, and cameras, brought onto the refuge at the end of each day's hunt (see §§ 27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter). (2) Upland game hunting. (i) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (c)(1)(i) through (v) of this section apply. (ii) We prohibit night hunting of upland game from 30 minutes after legal sunset until 30 minutes before legal sunrise the following day. (iii) We allow the harvest of feral hogs, including Russian boar, during big game hunting. (3) Big game hunting. (d) Leadville National Fish Hatchery Migratory game bird hunting. (2) Upland game hunting. (3) Big game hunting. (i) You must label tree stands and ground blinds with the owner's State hunting license number. The label must be readable from the ground. (ii) You may place tree stands and ground blinds on the refuge only from September 1 to December 31 annually. (4) Sport fishing. (e) Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery Migratory game bird hunting. (2) Upland game hunting. (3) Big game hunting. (4) Sport fishing. (f) Little White Salmon National Fish Hatchery Migratory bird hunting. (i) We only allow portable blinds and temporary blinds constructed of nonliving natural materials. Hunters must remove all equipment at the end of each day's hunt. (ii) We allow the use of dogs when hunting. (2) Upland game hunting. (3) Big game hunting. (4) Sport fishing. (f) Southwest Native Aquatic Resources and Recovery Center Migratory game bird hunting. (2) Upland game hunting. (3) [Reserved] (g) Pendill's Creek National Fish Hatchery Migratory game bird hunting. (i) We allow entry into the hatchery 1 hour before legal sunrise and require hunters to leave the hatchery no later than 1 hour after legal sunset. (ii) We prohibit shooting on or over any hatchery road and shooting within 50 feet (15 meters) from the centerline. (iii) We allow the use of dogs while hunting, provided the dog is under the immediate control of the hunter at all times. (iv) We allow the harvest of pigeon during any open season. (v) You must remove all personal property, including but not limited to boats, decoys, blinds, blind materials, stands, platforms, and cameras, brought onto the refuge at the end of each day's hunt (see §§ 27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter). (2) Upland game hunting. (i) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (g)(1)(i) through (v) of this section apply. (ii) We prohibit night hunting of upland game from 30 minutes after legal sunset until 30 minutes before legal sunrise the following day. (iii) We allow the harvest of feral hog, including Russian boar, during big game hunting. (3) Big game hunting. (h) Spring Creek National Fish Hatchery Migratory bird hunting. (i) We only allow portable blinds and temporary blinds constructed of nonliving natural materials. Hunters must remove all equipment at the end of each day's hunt. (ii) We allow the use of dogs when hunting. (2) Upland game hunting. (3) Big game hunting. (4) Sport fishing. [85 FR 54145, Aug. 31, 2020, as amended at 86 FR 48883, Aug. 31, 2021; 91 FR 56365, Sept. 1, 2026] Editorial Note: At 91 FR 56365, Sept. 1, 2026, § 71.11 was amended by Revising and republishing newly redesignated paragraphs (i)(2) and (3); however, the amendment could not be incorporated due to inaccurate amendatory instruction. § 71.12 National fish hatcheries open for sport fishing. The following hatcheries are open for sport fishing as governed by applicable Federal and State regulations, and are listed in alphabetical order with additional hatchery-specific regulations. (a) Abernathy Fish Technology Center. (b) Berkshire National Fish Hatchery. (1) Anglers must abide by posted signage. (2) Anglers must remain at least 50 feet away from raceways and fish culture areas to maintain biosecurity of stocked fish populations. (3) On the Konkapot River, we prohibit angling equipment, including, but not limited to, live bait, boots, and rods, near the areas described in paragraph (b)(2). (4) We limit access to Outreach Pond to youth (ages 13 and younger), supervised by an adult at all times. (5) We allow fishing on Outreach Pond during open hatchery hours only. (6) We prohibit the use of baitfish, shiners, and minnows in the Outreach Pond. (7) We prohibit all fishing methods of take besides rods on Outreach Pond. (8) We allow a daily creel limit of three (3) fish per individual at Outreach Pond. There is no creel limit during fishing derbies. (9) We prohibit fishing during the winter in Outreach Pond. (10) We prohibit the use of all lead, including tackle containing lead, when fishing in Outreach Pond. (c) Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery. (d) Dwight D. Eisenhower National Fish Hatchery. (1) Anglers must abide by posted signage. (2) Anglers must remain at least 50 feet away from the water intake from Furnace Brook, raceways, and fish culture areas for safety and to maintain biosecurity of stocked fish populations. (3) We prohibit angling equipment, including, but not limited to, live bait, boots, and rods, near the areas described in paragraph (d)(2). (e) Edenton National Fish Hatchery. (1) We allow fishing during open hatchery hours only. (2) We prohibit the cleaning of fish on the hatchery. (f) Entiat National Fish Hatchery. (g) Green Lake National Fish Hatchery. (h) Harrison Lake National Fish Hatchery. (1) We only allow fishing from 1/2 1/2 (2) We prohibit the use of nets for the capture of fish in Herring Creek. (3) We prohibit the use of gasoline motors greater than 5 horsepower on watercraft. (i) Hotchkiss National Fish Hatchery. (j) Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery. (k) Lamar National Fish Hatchery. (l) Leadville National Fish Hatchery. (m) Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery. (n) Little White Salmon National Fish Hatchery. (o) North Attleboro National Fish Hatchery. (p) Orangeburg National Fish Hatchery. (1) We prohibit fishing after legal sunset. (2) We prohibit the cleaning of fish on the hatchery. (3) We prohibit motorized boats on the hatchery while fishing. (q) Pendill's Creek National Fish Hatchery. (r) Spring Creek National Fish Hatchery. (s) Tishomingo National Fish Hatchery. (t) Valley City National Fish Hatchery. (u) Willard National Fish Hatchery. [84 FR 47790, Sept. 10, 2019, as amended at 85 FR 54146, Aug. 31, 2020; 86 FR 48883, Aug. 31, 2021; 90 FR 41921, Aug. 28, 2025; 91 FR 56366, Sept. 1, 2026]

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