Hunting & Fishing Restrictions Covid-19 Update

Update of currently impacted state turkey hunting and fishing seasons. Turkey season wraps up next week, with Maine closing in June. Updates may show promise for summer fishing. States with 14 Day Non Resident Quarantines are showing some progress in lifting the restriction.

Alaska– Phase 3/4 starts today, and with recommended guidelines and practices. Extended the travel restrictions on out-of-state travelers and residents returning to the state through June 2. link updated 5/22

Arkansas- Buffalo National River open to day use. link updated 5/22

California– Hunting, fishing on base is suspended until further notice. link Edwards Air Force Base -restricted to mission-essential personnel only. link Fort Hunter Liggett- All 2020 Fishing and 2019-20 Hunting permits sales have been suspended. link

Arizona– San Carlos Apache Reservation turkey hunts canceled  link

Colorado– playgrounds, campgrounds, dispersed camping and camping facilities (including yurts and cabins) at Colorado’s state parks as well as camping at State Wildlife Areas are beginning to open. San Juan County-all public lands closed. Fort Carson- hunting is NOT available on Fort Carson or Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site, USAF Academy “official business only”. Fishing the 5 lakes are open for all eligible users with a USAFA fishing permit linkupdated 5/22 Gunnison county banning any visitors until further notice. link

Delaware–  All out-of-state residents traveling into Delaware to immediately self-quarantine for 14 days  link

Florida– 30-day stay-at-home order. those who fly or drive into Florida from states with substantial community spread to self-isolate in Florida for 14 days or the duration of their trip, whichever is shorter. Some resources are closed link

Georgia– Fort Benning- Restricted to Authorized personnel only link Fort Gordon- Open to recreation if you have access link The Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests is temporarily shutting down all dispersed camping corridors, day-use areas, trailhead facilities and other recreation sites on the Blue Ridge Ranger District  link

Hawaii– All arriving residents and visitors thru 6/20 will immediately go into a 14-day quarantines upon entering the state link Lana‘i Axis Deer Hunt Canceled link

Idaho– Idaho Fish and Game resumes the sale of all nonresident hunting and fishing licenses, permits, and tags. link updated 5/22

Illinois– DNR to Reopen Select Sites for Limited Activities May 1 link

Kansas – travel quarantine from the following: International– China, South Korea, Japan, Italy and Iran States- California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts(new). New Jersey, New York. Rhode Island (new) Washington  Massachusetts and Rhode Island are new to the list, while California, Florida and Washington have been removed link Kansas has an “explicit ” call out of quarantine of 14 days before you can hunt link

Kentucky- All Fort Campbell iSportsman activities including hunting, fishing and general outdoor recreation are now open, Spring Turkey Season has been extended through 17 May 2020 link The state’s travel ban expired. updated 5/22

Massachusetts – All travelers arriving in the Commonwealth are instructed to self-quarantine for 14 days, link

Maine– all travelers coming to Maine quarantine for 14 days link Maine regular turkey season open two days early, on May 2. Turkey hunters will not be required to register their birds at tagging stations. Changes are temporary for 2020 only.  link

Maryland– Recreational fishing and hunting reopened, social distancing guidelines must be followed. l link updated 5/22

Michigan– charter fishing and guide operations are now permitted link updated 5/22 State harbors and marinas are closed through at least June 9 link

Missouri– Fort Leonard Wood – Restricted to Authorized personnel only link

Montana– travelers arriving from another state or country to Montana for non-work-related purposes undergo a 14-day self-quarantine.

New Hamshire– no longer issuing kid’s fishing derby permits or any bass tournament permits. Online sales only for licenses and permits link 

New York– West Point, Outdoor Recreation= Round Pond Recreation Area – Permitted Fishing and Passive Recreation Only, 9AM-5PM link

North Carolina– multiple boat access, camping, public land closures see: link Dare County- restrictions lifted link updated 5/22

North Dakota– All travelers arriving to North Dakota from international locations and states with widespread coronavirus outbreaks must quarantine immediately for 14 days link

Ohio– People traveling into Ohio to self-quarantine for 14 days. link non-resident hunting and fishing licenses suspended link

Oklahoma– order requiring travelers from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, California, Louisiana and Washington to undergo a 14-day quarantine. link

Pennsylvania- State parks and public campgrounds remain closed. link

Rhode Island–  all out-of-state travelers to quarantine for 14 days if they intend to stay in the state. Fishing system in place-staggers the days when licensed anglers can fish. Those with last names beginning with A through M can only fish on even numbered calendar days, and those with last names beginning with N through Z can only fish on odd numbered calendar days. link

South Carolina– All dates all SCDNR Lottery hunts on WMA properties have been canceled. Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge hunts remain open unless a “Stay Home” order is declared. link Fishing events link

Texas– Joint Base San Antonio – Hunting closed until further notice link 14 Day travel quarantine lifted link updated 5/22 Texas Attorney General Says Gunnison County’s Temporary Nonresident Ban Is Unconstitutional link

Utah– All recreational travel by nonresidents of San Juan County is prohibited link

Vermont– 14 Day travel quarantine from any state link

Virginia– Langly AFB outdoor recreation open link updated 5/22 Marine Corps Base Quantico- outdoor recreation canceled link

West Virginia– 14 Day travel quarantine lifted updated 5/22`

Wyoming– non resident quarantine has been lifted updated 5/22

CanadaUS Border currently closed to all non-essential travel

Not listed, check your state of interest as many have their park buildings and camping and restroom facilities either closed altogether or not taking reservations until later this summer. Also noted that some states are banning overnight camping on public lands or designated primitive sites.

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