Some commercial, recreational and research activities are allowed on national wildlife refuges only with a special use permit issued by the local office, and are subject to specific conditions and fees. This permit requirement is meant to ensure that all activities at the federal site are compatible with the refuge鈥檚 Congressionally mandated wildlife conservation goals.
Special use permits may limit the scope, timing and location of the activity, as determined by the refuge where the activity would take place.
The activities listed below are not necessarily conducted on every refuge. Contact the refuge manager to ask if a proposed use is appropriate or compatible at a particular refuge.
Activities Subject to Special Use Permits
- Agricultural activities (haying and grazing, and )
- Beneficial management tools used to provide the best habitat possible on some refuges (, , , and )
- Special events, group visits and other one-time events (, , , and )
- Recreational visitor service operations (, , and )
- Guiding for fishing, hunting, wildlife education, and interpretation ( and )
- Other commercial activities ( and )
- Building and using cabins to support subsistence or commercial activities (in Alaska) ( and )
- Research, inventory and monitoring, and other noncommercial activities ( and )
Related: Filming Activities in the National Wildlife Refuge System
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Apply for a Special Use Permit
The National Wildlife Refuge System has four Special Use Permit (SUP) Applications to enable the public to engage in permitted activities on a national wildlife refuge national wildlife refuge
A national wildlife refuge is typically a contiguous area of land and water managed by the鈥痓et365下载ios鈥 for the conservation and, where appropriate, restoration of fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.
Learn more about national wildlife refuge . These forms are available here in a fillable format. You can also obtain these forms and more detailed instructions from the national wildlife refuge office where the activity would take place or on the refuge鈥檚 website.
Prospective permit holders may fill out the corresponding application, print it, sign it, and return it to the refuge for processing. The permit is not valid until approved and signed by a refuge official.
The activities listed below are not necessarily conducted on every refuge. Contact the refuge manager to ask if a proposed use is appropriate or compatible at a particular refuge.
Commercial Activities Special Use Permit Application (bet365下载ios Form 3-1383-C) for
- Commercial activities such as guiding hunters, anglers or other outdoor users
- Agriculture (haying, grazing, crop planting, logging, and other agricultural products)
- Cabins (see also the General Special Use Application and Permit described below)
For recreational cabin and camping reservations and permits, please visit .
Research and Monitoring Special Use Permit Application (bet365下载ios Form 3-1383-R) for
- Research and monitoring activities by students, universities, or other non-bet365下载ios organizations
General Activity Special Use Permit Application (bet365下载ios Form 3-1383-G)
- Woodcutting
- Filming, still photography, and audio recording (when required based on group size and potential impacts; contact site manager for details)
- Miscellaneous events (fishing tournaments, one-time events, other special events)
- Cabins/subsistence cabins (depending on the information use requirement, you may need the commercial form)
- Trapping
- Education activity
- Other (any activity not mentioned above)
Oil and Gas Operations Special Use Permit Application (bet365下载ios Form 3-2469) for
- Operations associated with non-federal oil and gas rights and may only be conducted by operators who have demonstrated a bona fide property right to conduct the following types of activities:
- Temporary activities such as reconnaissance surveys
- Geophysical Exploration
- Drilling (e.g., accessing site, mobilizing equipment, building roads or grading wellpad)
- Production (e.g., operation of oil and gas well or compressor station, transportation of product off refuge)
- Plugging and abandoning well and site reclamation