The National Wildlife Refuge System turns 109 years old the week of Saturday, March 17, 2012.

Celebrate the anniversary with an interpretive program about this amazing system of public lands.
Event runs from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm at Eastern Neck NWR.

Meet at the Refuge Office/Visitor Contact Station.

Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge

Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in cooperation with the National Wild Turkey Federation will once again conduct a gobbler-only spring youth turkey hunt on the refuge. The Youth Turkey Hunt will include two Saturdays during the State season: April 28th and May 5th, 2012. A refuge hunt permit is required. A limited number of permits will be issued to ensure a high-quality and safe hunting experience. Three youth hunters between the ages of 10 and 15 will be randomly selected for each hunt day. Only youths ages 10 through 15 who were not chosen for a past Youth Turkey Hunt at Eastern Neck NWR will be eligible.

Applications for permits may be obtained:

online at https://www.fws.gov/northeast/easternneck/hunting.html
by writing to Eastern Neck NWR, 1730 Eastern Neck Road, Rock Hall, MD 21661
or by contacting Eastern Neck NWR at 410-639-7056.

There is no application fee. There are three ways to submit the completed application:

1) Completed applications sent via mail must be postmarked no later than Tuesday, March 27th, 2012.
2) Completed applications must be dropped off at the Eastern Neck NWR Refuge Office/Visitor Contact station by 4:00 pm on Tuesday, March 27th, 2012.
3) Completed applications must be emailed [email protected] by 4:00 pm on Tuesday, March 27th, 2012.

The drawing will be held on Friday, March 30th, 2012. All successful applicants will be notified by telephone following the drawing.

All youth hunters who have successfully drawn a 2012 turkey tag may access refuge lands for hunt scouting on Sunday, April 22nd and Sunday, April 29th from 7:30am until 1 hour after sunset. All youth hunters who have successfully drawn a 2012 turkey tag must attend a safety meeting the day before their scheduled hunt. This mandatory safety meeting will be held at the refuge at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, April 27th and Friday, May 4th at the Refuge Office/Visitor Contact Station. Youth hunters must present their valid hunting license at this time. Hunt permits will be issued at the briefing.

Members of the local chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will be guiding each of the youths selected for the hunt. The youths may be accompanied by a non-gun carrying parent or guardian. The bag limit is one bearded turkey per youth. All Maryland rules and regulations related to the State’s spring turkey season are applicable and will be enforced during the special hunt on Eastern Neck NWR. Detailed refuge-specific hunt regulations will be provided to the successful applicants.

Come explore bird life at Eastern Neck NWR on Presidents’ Day, Monday, February 20, during “Cedar Point Pond & Beyond,” a bird walk in areas normally closed to public visitation. Nancy Martin and Walter Ellison of the Kent County Bird Club will guide the walk.

This event is sponsored by Friends of Eastern Neck and the Center for Environment & Society of Washington College. Event runs from 9:30 am until 11:30 am. Pre registration is required, 18 participants may attend. There is no fee. To register, contact [email protected] or 410-778-7295.

Monday, February 20, 2012
9:30 am-11:30am

Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge

Come explore bird life at Eastern Neck NWR during “Cedar Point Pond & Beyond,” a special guided birding walk in areas of the refuge that are normally closed to public visitation.

Nancy Martin and Walter Ellison of the Kent County Bird Club will guide the walk. This event is sponsored by Friends of Eastern Neck and The Center for Environment & Society of Washington College.

Event runs from 9:30 am until 11:30 am. Pre registration is required, 18 participants may attend.
FREE
To register, contact [email protected] or 410-778-7295

Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge
1730 Eastern Neck Rd.
Rock Hall, MD 21661

Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) has closed its Boxes Point Trail to all visitors due to a pair of bald eagles nesting near the trail. In an attempt to minimize the threat of nest abandonment at this nest site, disturbance to the area is being kept to a minimum during this critical time. The trail will remain closed during the critical periods of egg incubation and chick development. If the pair successfully hatches young, the trail will likely remain closed into June.

Despite being removed from the endangered species list in 2007, efforts continue to protect bald eagle nest sites at the refuge. The bald eagle is still a federally protected species under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald Eagle Protection Act.

Excellent opportunities to view eagles and other wildlife exist along the other trails at Eastern Neck NWR, which will remain open for access. For further information, please contact the Refuge office at 410-639-7056.