be5f5cb8-9839-4827-98b3-c519aa546acc

## Drone Rules - Mingo NWR, Missouri

**Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210.

### Airspace / Site Context
- 21,676-acre bottomland hardwood swamp; up to 200,000 Canada geese winter here in November-December
- American alligator reaches its northern range limit in the Missouri Bootheel; refuge alligator population is managed as a heritage species
- Cape Girardeau Regional (CGI) Class D is ~50 NM north; Sikeston Memorial (SIK) Class G is ~20 NM west

### Key Rules
- Canada goose hunting season (adjacent lands): drone use near the refuge during open season has caused conflicts with waterfowl hunters on adjacent Conservation lands
- Alligator sunning areas (May-September) on dike levees: USFWS recommends no approaches closer than 100 yards
- USFWS Special Use Permit required; research applications go to USFWS Missouri Prairie Wetlands Complex

### Source
- USFWS Mingo: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/mingo

## Drone Rules - Cache River NWR, Arkansas

**Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Ramsar Wetland of International Importance since 1989; 58,000 acres of bottomland hardwood, swamp, and backwater sloughs
- The 2004-2006 ivory-billed woodpecker searches (Cornell/Auburn) established the refuge as a high-sensitivity research area; any aerial disturbance is scrutinized
- Little Rock Adams Field (LIT) Class C is ~65 NM southwest; Jonesboro Municipal (JBR) Class D is ~30 NM northeast

### Key Rules
- Bottomland hardwood canopy is dense; GPS signal is intermittent below the canopy -- return-to-home failures are common
- Wood duck nest boxes throughout the refuge attract spring and summer visitors; drone overflights during duckling emergence cause duckling scatter
- USFWS Special Use Permit required; research permits go to USFWS Cache River manager

### Source
- USFWS Cache River: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/cache-river

## Drone Rules - Tennessee NWR, Tennessee

**Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210; TVA dam structures at Kentucky Lake are critical infrastructure with a federal 500-ft buffer.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Three management units (Duck and Goose, Busseltown, Big Sandy) along Kentucky Lake and Tennessee River
- Nashville International (BNA) Class C outer ring does not extend this far (~80 NM east); Parsons-Decatur (PVE) Class G is the nearest
- Winter hunting seasons (October-January) mean active waterfowl hunters in adjacent private areas; drone/hunter conflicts have been reported

### Key Rules
- TVA Kentucky Lake: 500-ft no-fly buffer from dam structures applies to the impoundment areas
- USFWS Special Use Permit required; research permits go to USFWS Tennessee NWR manager
- Hunting season drone/hunter conflicts: Tennessee game wardens have cited drone operators for interfering with hunters near the refuge boundary

### Source
- USFWS Tennessee NWR: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/tennessee

## Drone Rules - Wheeler NWR, Alabama

**Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Up to 35,000 sandhill cranes winter on the refuge January-February; Decatur Municipal (DCU) Class D is ~5 NM north
- Wheeler Reservoir is managed by TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority); dam structures are critical infrastructure with a 500-ft no-fly buffer
- Redstone Arsenal (KHSV) Class D / Huntsville International Class C is ~15 NM east; military traffic from Redstone transits the area

### Key Rules
- LAANC required near HSV Class C for flights east of Wheeler; DCU Class D requires LAANC for flights near Decatur
- TVA dam structures: federal critical infrastructure 500-ft no-fly buffer applies to Wheeler Dam on the refuge
- USFWS Special Use Permit required; crane season (Jan-Feb) permits require USFWS Southeast Region approval

### Source
- USFWS Wheeler: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/wheeler

## Drone Rules - Mississippi Sandhill Crane NWR, Mississippi

**Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210 and ESA Section 9 for Mississippi sandhill crane (endangered).

### Airspace / Site Context
- Fewer than 120 Mississippi sandhill cranes exist; each individual bird is banded and tracked -- any drone encounter is documented as a disturbance incident
- Gulfport-Biloxi International (GPT) Class C is ~10 NM south; Biloxi Regional Approach Control monitors the area
- Pine savanna habitat is actively managed with prescribed fire; fire management aircraft create periodic TFRs

### Key Rules
- LAANC required near GPT Class C for any flight within ~15 NM of the refuge (southern boundary)
- Crane nest monitoring season (February-June): 1-mile no-fly buffer around all occupied territories (USFWS policy)
- USFWS Special Use Permit required; all research involving this species requires USFWS Southeast Region Crane Recovery Coordinator approval

### Source
- USFWS Mississippi Sandhill Crane NWR: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/mississippi-sandhill-crane

## Drone Rules - Lacassine NWR, Louisiana

**Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Located in southwest Louisiana; Lake Charles Regional (LCH) Class C is ~30 NM east; Lafayette Regional (LFT) Class C is ~40 NM east
- The largest freshwater impoundment in the Gulf Coast refuge system; levee management sustains wintering duck habitat
- Drone operations near the water control structures (levee tops) risk structural impact; USFWS prohibits any UAS operation near water control structures

### Key Rules
- LAANC check required for flights within LCH or LFT Class C rings (eastern refuge boundary is ~25 NM from LFT)
- No drones within 500 ft of water control structures (federal infrastructure protection rule)
- USFWS Special Use Permit required for research; mottled duck monitoring permits go to USFWS Louisiana Refuges Complex

### Source
- USFWS Lacassine: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/lacassine

## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without USFWS Special Use Permit
- ESA Species: ⚠️ Louisiana black bear habitat — heightened enforcement

## Geographic Boundaries
Tensas River NWR is located in Tensas and Madison Parishes, Louisiana,
in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley.
- Total area: ~70,442 acres
- Coordinates: 32.1333° N, 91.2167° W
- Includes bottomland hardwood forest, oxbow lakes, and Tensas River
  floodplain corridor
- Nearest city: Tallulah, LA (~20 miles northeast)

## Regulations
- USFWS Refuge UAS Policy prohibits all UAS without Special Use Permit
- 50 CFR § 27.34 — USFWS motorized equipment prohibition on refuges
- Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. § 1531) — Louisiana black bear
  (Ursus americanus luteolus) recovery habitat; UAS disturbance
  constitutes "harassment" under ESA Section 9
- Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — protects neotropical
  migratory songbirds using bottomland corridor
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide
- Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; surface Class G within refuge

## Penalties
- USFWS fines up to $5,000 per violation under 50 CFR § 27.34
- ESA Section 9 "take" violation: civil fines up to $25,000 +
  criminal penalties up to $50,000 + 1 year imprisonment
- MBTA fines up to $15,000 + 6 months per bird disturbance
- FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
- Equipment confiscation by USFWS officers

## Special Permissions
- USFWS Special Use Permit for scientific wildlife research
- ESA Section 10 Incidental Take Permit for bear-zone research
- Seasonal blackout periods during bear denning (November–March)
Submit requests to: Tensas River NWR Manager,
2312 Quebec Road, Tallulah, LA 71282

## Drone Rules - Tensas River NWR, Louisiana

**Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210.


### Airspace / Site Context
- Louisiana black bear (recently delisted from threatened) uses this forest as a core denning and feeding area; drone disturbance near den sites risks re-listing triggers
- Ivory-billed woodpecker searches were conducted here (2004-2006); the forest represents the highest-quality habitat for this possibly-extant species
- Monroe Regional (MLU) Class D is ~30 NM west; no controlled airspace within the refuge





### Key Rules
- Louisiana black bear denning season (January-April): 0.5-mile buffer around documented den trees
- Dense bottomland forest means GPS signal is intermittent below the canopy; drones can lose signal and fail to return-to-home correctly
- USFWS Special Use Permit required; Louisiana black bear research requires coordination with USFWS Lower Mississippi Valley Joint Venture







### Source
- USFWS Tensas River: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/tensas-river

## Drone Rules - Upper Mississippi River NWR

**Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210 across all 240,000 acres spanning Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Up to 4,000 bald eagles winter in the open-water sections of the river November-January; the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act adds a second federal prohibition layer
- The refuge corridor spans Class D airspace near Winona (ONA), La Crosse (LSE), and Dubuque (DBQ) airports
- Active barge and towboat traffic on the river create radio-interference issues for drone controllers near metal barge hulls

### Key Rules
- LAANC check required near LSE Class D (La Crosse), DBQ Class D (Dubuque), and ONA Class G before flights near the river
- Eagle roost disruption during winter (Nov-Jan) risks Bald Eagle Protection Act violations: $10,000 fine / year in prison per bird
- USFWS Special Use Permit required; multi-state corridor means application goes to the USFWS Upper Midwest Region in Bloomington, MN

### Source
- USFWS Upper Mississippi River NWR: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/upper-mississippi-river

## Drone Rules - Agassiz NWR, Minnesota

**Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Home to one of Minnesota's most stable resident gray wolf packs; USFWS wolf management requires no disturbance to den sites (March-July)
- Moose calving (May-June): cow moose with calves are aggressive and drones trigger flight responses; cow/calf separation increases calf mortality
- Thief River Falls Regional (TVF) Class D is ~30 NM west; no controlled airspace over the refuge

### Key Rules
- Wolf denning season (March-July): 0.5-mile buffer from known den sites; USFWS wolf biologist tracks pack GPS collar data
- Moose calving season (May-June): no UAS within 1 mile of documented calving areas
- USFWS Special Use Permit required; wolf-related research requires USFWS wolf team coordinator notification

### Source
- USFWS Agassiz: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/agassiz

## Drone Rules - Valentine NWR, Nebraska

**Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210.

### Airspace / Site Context
- 71,516 acres of lakes, marshes, and Sandhills prairie; the Sandhills grassland ecosystem is one of North America's most intact temperate grasslands
- Long-billed curlew and Sprague's pipit (candidate species) nest in the upland grasslands; drone overflights during incubation cause nest desertion
- Valentine Municipal (VTN) Class G; no controlled airspace within the refuge

### Key Rules
- Nesting season buffer (May-July): USFWS requests 600-ft lateral buffer from known curlew nesting territories
- Extremely remote; no cell service in most of the refuge -- download B4UFLY offline before departing Valentine
- USFWS Special Use Permit required; grassland bird research permits require USFWS Mountain-Prairie Region approval

### Source
- USFWS Valentine: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/valentine

## Drone Rules - Rainwater Basin NWR Complex, Nebraska

**Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210 on all Wetland Management District units.

### Airspace / Site Context
- 500,000+ sandhill cranes concentrate in the Platte River Valley (adjacent to the Basin) February-April; whooping cranes also stop here
- The playa basins are shallow; drone shadow creates panic flights that push birds off the wetlands prematurely before fueling for migration
- Lincoln Airport (LNK) Class C is ~60 NM east; Grand Island (GRI) Class D is ~20 NM north

### Key Rules
- Crane migration peak (mid-March): USFWS enforcement presence is highest of the year across all Basin units
- Many WMD units are interspersed with private agricultural land -- confirm parcel ownership before launching near basin edges
- USFWS Special Use Permit required; crane research permit requires USFWS Mountain-Prairie Region approval

### Source
- USFWS Rainwater Basin WMD: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/rainwater-basin

## All drone operations within the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge are strictly prohibited per Secretarial Directive 3379

## Drone Rules - Quivira NWR, Kansas

**Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210 and ESA protections for interior least tern and whooping crane.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Whooping cranes stop at Quivira during spring migration (March-April) between Texas and Canada; a flock of 30-50 birds may use the refuge for 1-2 days
- Interior least tern nests on the sand flats April-August; flock size is a population-level metric under ESA recovery monitoring
- Hutchinson Municipal (HUT) Class D is ~15 NM north; Wichita Eisenhower (ICT) Class C is ~50 NM east

### Key Rules
- Whooping crane migration window (March-April): USFWS zero-tolerance no-drone policy at all Central Flyway refuges during crane passage
- USFWS Special Use Permit required; whooping crane-season applications require USFWS Whooping Crane Recovery Team review
- Interior least tern nesting closes the sand flat area to all foot and air traffic May-August

### Source
- USFWS Quivira: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/quivira

## Drone Rules - Attwater's Prairie Chicken NWR, Texas

**Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210 and ESA Section 9 for Attwater's prairie chicken (critically endangered).

### Airspace / Site Context
- Fewer than 100 wild Attwater's prairie chickens exist; the booming lek displays (February-April) are critical for breeding success
- Drone noise during lek display disrupts booming competition; males that flush mid-display have reduced breeding success in subsequent seasons
- Houston Hobby (HOU) Class C is ~55 NM east; Austin Bergstrom (AUS) Class C is ~80 NM west; local airspace Class G

### Key Rules
- February-April lek season: USFWS maintains no-entry/no-fly buffer of 0.5 miles around occupied boom grounds
- Captive-reared bird release program involves telemetered birds; USFWS recovery coordinator must be notified before any airspace use near the refuge
- USFWS Special Use Permit required; all research involving this species requires USFWS Attwater's Prairie Chicken Recovery Team approval

### Source
- USFWS Attwater's Prairie Chicken NWR: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/attwater-prairie-chicken

## Drone Rules - Balcones Canyonlands NWR, Texas

**Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210 and ESA protections for golden-cheeked warbler and black-capped vireo.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Located ~30 NM northwest of Austin; Austin-Bergstrom International (AUS) Class C outer ring does not extend this far, but Round Rock/Georgetown development creates drone density concerns
- Golden-cheeked warbler nests exclusively in Ashe juniper/Texas oak habitat in central Texas; the refuge protects ~25,000 acres of prime habitat
- Black-capped vireo nests in low dense shrubs; drone shadow and noise trigger alarm calls and nest abandonment

### Key Rules
- Warbler nesting season (March-July): USFWS enforces strict no-approach buffer zones near occupied territories
- Leander/Georgetown area airports Class G; no LAANC required but USFWS refuge boundary must be respected
- USFWS Special Use Permit required for research; songbird nest monitoring permits require USFWS Texas Midcoast NWR Complex approval

### Source
- USFWS Balcones Canyonlands: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/balcones-canyonlands

## Drone Rules - Santa Ana NWR, Texas

**Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Subtropical thornscrub habitat in the Rio Grande Valley; 490+ bird species on the checklist including clay-colored thrush and hook-billed kite
- McAllen Miller International (MFE) Class D is ~15 NM northwest; Edinburg Airport (T23) is ~10 NM west
- CBP border surveillance aircraft and drones routinely operate below 500 ft AGL in the Rio Grande corridor adjacent to the refuge

### Key Rules
- CBP surveillance drones and FLIR helicopters operate at low altitude along the Rio Grande at all hours; introducing recreational UAS creates deconfliction issues
- Ocelot and jaguarundi (both ESA endangered) have been documented on camera trap in the refuge; overflight disturbance applies
- USFWS Special Use Permit required; research permits here require USFWS South Texas Refuges Complex manager approval

### Source
- USFWS Santa Ana: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/santa-ana

## Drone Rules - Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge

**Drones are not allowed** at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge.






### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights within refuge boundaries
- Research use requires a Special Use Permit
- One of only two locations in the US with a wild ocelot population; drone disturbance could threaten the estimated 20 ocelots remaining

### Source
- FWS Refuge Regulations: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/laguna-atascosa

## Drone Rules - Laguna Atascosa NWR, Texas

**Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210 and ESA protections for ocelot (endangered) and aplomado falcon (endangered).

### Airspace / Site Context
- Ocelot population (~80 individuals in the US) depends on dense thornscrub cover; drone noise and shadow cause documented flight responses in ocelot camera trap footage
- Brownsville/South Padre Island International (BRO) Class C is ~30 NM south; the Rio Grande Valley is heavily trafficked by CBP surveillance aircraft
- CBP Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS) operates near the border; pilots must avoid the TARS cable and exclusion zones

### Key Rules
- Ocelot habitat disturbance is treated as a potential ESA Section 9 take; the USFWS ocelot recovery plan prescribes strict no-drone buffers
- CBP TARS exclusion zones may overlap the southern portion of the refuge; check NOTAMs before any flight near the Rio Grande
- USFWS Special Use Permit required for research; ocelot-related permits require USFWS ocelot recovery coordinator approval

### Source
- USFWS Laguna Atascosa: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/laguna-atascosa

## Drone Rules - Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge

**Drone use is prohibited** at Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge.






### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights within refuge boundaries
- Research use requires a Special Use Permit
- Peak fall counts exceed 1 million ducks and 300,000 geese in the Sacramento Valley's largest wildlife refuge

### Source
- FWS Refuge Regulations: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/sacramento

## Drone Rules - Sacramento NWR, California

**Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210; the Sacramento NWR Complex (five units) is managed under a single prohibition.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Up to 350,000 ducks and 50,000 geese stage in the Sacramento Valley refuges from October through February
- Red Bluff Municipal (RBL) Class D is ~30 NM north; Sacramento International (SMF) Class C outer ring extends into the northern Central Valley
- Aleutian cackling goose (recently recovered from ESA threatened) still congregates here -- a recovery success story that drone disturbance could undermine

### Key Rules
- LAANC check required near RBL and SMF for flights in the Sacramento Valley corridor
- USFWS Special Use Permit required; waterfowl banding research permits require USFWS migratory bird permit from the Pacific Region
- Auto tour route (3-mile loop) is open daily; launching from the tour route is a federal violation

### Source
- USFWS Sacramento NWR: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/sacramento

## Drone Rules - Tule Lake NWR, California

**Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210; adjacent Lower Klamath NWR (Oregon/California) is under the same blanket prohibition.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Klamath Basin peak migration (October): 500,000 to 1 million waterfowl creates the highest bird density in the Western Hemisphere in a finite airspace column
- Bald eagles congregate to feed on crippled ducks; up to 1,000 bald eagles winter in the basin -- Bald Eagle Protection Act applies
- Klamath Falls Airport (LMT) Class D is ~30 NM north; Medford (MFR) Class C is ~60 NM west

### Key Rules
- October waterfowl migration: drone launch near the basin during peak would create immediate multi-species disturbance event
- The Klamath Basin NWR Complex (six refuges) is managed as a unit; a single USFWS Special Use Permit covers all six but requires regional office review
- Bald Eagle Protection Act violation carries up to $10,000 fine per bird disturbed

### Source
- USFWS Klamath Basin: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/tule-lake

## Drone Rules - Malheur National Wildlife Refuge

**Drone use is prohibited** at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.






### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights within refuge boundaries
- Research use requires a Special Use Permit
- One of the most important shorebird and waterbird staging areas in the interior Pacific Northwest

### Source
- FWS Refuge Regulations: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/malheur

## Drone Rules - Malheur NWR, Oregon

**Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Up to 400 bird species recorded; greater sandhill crane pairs require 500-ft minimum disturbance distance during nesting (April-July)
- Steens Mountain and the Blitzen Valley create strong orographic updrafts that push small UAS off course rapidly
- Burns Municipal (BNO) Class G; no controlled airspace within the refuge

### Key Rules
- The refuge headquarters at Frenchglen is 60 miles from Burns -- no cell service; download offline B4UFLY before leaving town
- Snowy plover (threatened) and long-billed curlew nest on the dry lake beds in the southern refuge
- USFWS Special Use Permit required; scientific research applications go to USFWS Oregon State Office in Portland

### Source
- USFWS Malheur: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/malheur

## Drone Rules - Charles M. Russell NWR, Montana

**Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210; the UL Bend Wilderness (20,800 acres) adds a Wilderness Act prohibition.

### Airspace / Site Context
- 1.1 million acres of Missouri River Breaks badlands; the UL Bend Wilderness is the core bison/elk management zone
- Greater sage-grouse leks are active February-May; drone noise during lek displays causes lek site abandonment
- Lewistown Airport (LWT) Class G; Great Falls International (GTF) Class C is ~70 NM west

### Key Rules
- Wilderness designation at UL Bend provides independent drone prohibition
- Remote location (40+ miles from pavement): downloading offline USGS topo and FAA charts before departure is mandatory
- USFWS Special Use Permit required for research; sage-grouse lek permit applications go to USFWS Montana State Office

### Source
- USFWS Charles M. Russell: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/charles-m-russell

## Drone Rules - Red Rock Lakes NWR, Montana

**Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210; the Red Rock Lakes Wilderness (40,000 acres) adds a Wilderness Act prohibition.

### Airspace / Site Context
- The refuge is the historic stronghold that pulled trumpeter swans back from near-extinction in the 1930s (fewer than 100 individuals remained)
- Nesting pairs are highly sensitive to aerial disturbance during incubation (April-June); drone flush events cause nest abandonment
- Extremely remote; West Yellowstone (WYS) Class D is ~50 NM east; Dillon (DLN) Class G is ~50 NM west

### Key Rules
- Wilderness designation for the core nesting area provides an independent prohibition beyond USFWS Director's Order 210
- USFWS Special Use Permit required; trumpeter swan research applications are reviewed by the Rocky Mountain Trumpeter Swan Recovery coordinator
- The refuge road (gravel) is open seasonally; wildlife managers monitor for drone activity at the trailheads

### Source
- USFWS Red Rock Lakes: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/red-rock-lakes

## Drone Rules - Necedah NWR, Wisconsin

**Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210 and ESA protections for whooping crane and Karner blue butterfly.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Whooping crane chicks have been reared at Necedah since 2001; drone noise during chick-rearing (May-September) is a documented cause of pair abandonment
- Karner blue butterfly (ESA endangered) depends on lupine patches managed on the refuge; ground vibration from nearby landings must be avoided
- La Crosse Regional (LSE) Class D is ~60 NM west; Madison Dane County (MSN) Class C is ~75 NM east

### Key Rules
- Whooping crane release and monitoring flights require USFWS-Washington level approval for any co-use of the airspace
- Sandhill cranes (parent species for ultralight-led migration) also nest here; USFWS uses ultralight aircraft with strict protocols separate from recreation
- USFWS Special Use Permit required; applications involving the crane recovery area require whooping crane recovery coordinator sign-off

### Source
- USFWS Necedah: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/necedah

## Drone Rules - Horicon NWR, Wisconsin

**Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210; adjacent Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area (WI DNR) also prohibits UAS.

### Airspace / Site Context
- 500,000 Canada geese staging in October creates extreme mid-air collision risk for small UAS; goose flocks frequently move at 150-200 ft AGL
- Dodge County Airport (UNU) Class G; Milwaukee Mitchell International (MKE) Class C is ~55 NM south
- The combined 33,000-acre refuge-state wildlife area complex is surrounded by active agricultural fields that are not restricted

### Key Rules
- October Canada goose staging: USFWS and WI DNR actively coordinate to intercept drone operators at the main parking areas
- Launching from the Wisconsin DNR portion still violates state rules; USFWS boundary begins immediately east of the state area
- USFWS Special Use Permit required for research; goose season applications require US Fish & Wildlife Service-Midwest Regional Office approval

### Source
- USFWS Horicon: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/horicon

## Drone Rules - Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge

**Drone flights are banned** at Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge.






### Key Rules
- No recreational drone use within refuge boundaries
- Research use requires a Special Use Permit from the refuge manager
- North Carolina's largest natural lake hosts up to 50,000 tundra swans each winter -- disturbance disrupts their critical staging

### Source
- FWS Refuge Regulations: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/mattamuskeet

## Drone Rules - Mattamuskeet NWR, North Carolina

**Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Up to 35,000 tundra swans winter on the lake November-February; flocks in flight create mid-air collision risk for UAS at low altitude
- Bald eagle nests are present along the treeline bordering the lake; the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act adds a second federal prohibition
- Dare County Regional (MQI) is ~40 NM northeast; Kinston Regional (ISO) is ~40 NM west; local airspace is Class G

### Key Rules
- Tundra swan season (Nov-Feb): USFWS enforces zero-tolerance no-drone policy; swan biologist on duty at the lodge
- Launching from Hyde County roads around the lake and overflying refuge is a federal violation
- USFWS Special Use Permit required for research; swan population monitoring studies require specific USFWS-Washington approval

### Source
- USFWS Mattamuskeet: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/mattamuskeet

## Drone Rules - Pea Island NWR, North Carolina

**Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Located on Hatteras Island; Dare County Regional (MQI) Class D is ~25 NM north near Manteo
- The refuge spans the full width of the barrier island; ocean-to-sound width is only 0.25 miles in places -- drone coverage is unavoidable
- Sharp-shinned hawks, merlins, and peregrine falcons funnel through the refuge in October; drone presence disrupts hawk counts used for population monitoring

### Key Rules
- Piping plover nesting closures (April-August): the entire Atlantic beach is closed; drone overflight of the closure zone triggers ESA concern
- NPS Cape Hatteras National Seashore management area surrounds the refuge; NPS no-fly applies outside refuge boundary
- USFWS Special Use Permit required for research or film; hawk migration season permits are rarely granted

### Source
- USFWS Pea Island: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/pea-island