An online lottery is scheduled for this month for permits to build temporary duck blinds at the Cape Lookout National Seashore.
Applicants can create a Recreation.gov account before the lottery that begins 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 12, and ends 10 a.m. Aug. 13. Applicants must pay a $10 fee to enter the lottery.
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Recreation.gov will then randomly select the lottery order and assign an appointment time for applicants to arrive at the Harkers Island Visitor Center to select the location for their blind or blinds, complete the permit paperwork and pay their permit fees.
The appointments will be scheduled every 15 minutes from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Aug. 23, and Tuesday, Aug. 24.
Those selected are to be notified by email from Recreation.gov and receive their appointment times by email from Cape Lookout National Seashore.
Applicants may select a maximum of two blinds. There is a $50 permit fee for the first blind and a $25 fee for the second , or $75 total for two blinds. The fees are used to administer and monitor the duck blind program.
To obtain a duck permit, applicants must bring a valid North Carolina driver’s license or identification card, North Carolina hunting license, and a signed federal duck stamp or federal e-stamp. Those without all of the above documents will not be issued a permit and will forfeit their scheduled lottery appointment.
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Those not selected during the lottery or can’t make their scheduled appointment time may come to the Harkers Island Visitor Center on a first-come, first-served basis Wednesday, Aug 25.
Hunting is authorized within Cape Lookout National Seashore, subject to North Carolina hunting regulations, as well as federal law. The duck blind permit allows hunters to place and leave temporary duck blinds in the park from Sept. 10 until March 31, 2022. Blinds must be removed by the permittee no later than March 31, 2022.
Hunters are advised that failure to obtain a permit or failure to remove blinds at the end of the permit period may result in penalties, a bill for the cost of removing the blind, and/or exclusion from the program in future years. Construction of permanent duck blinds is illegal.
Illegal duck blinds found in the park will be removed without notice and the cost of removing illegal and abandoned blinds significantly adds to the cost of the program and may have to be passed on to the hunters in future years.
Commercial hunting or fishing guides must have a permit to conduct commercial activities in a national park. Guides should contact park Business Manager Katherine Cushinberry about permits at 252-838-8899.
The permit will run from Sept. 15, through Feb. 15, 2022. The cost for this permit is a $75 application fee and a permit fee of $237.50. Guides with this permit may advertise that they are an authorized hunting guide for Cape Lookout National Seashore. Those caught guiding without a CUA permit may be prosecuted and lose lottery/hunting privileges for a minimum of two years.
