WELLS — The hunt program at Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge is transitioning to an online permit system for the 2019-2020 season.

Big game, migratory bird, upland game bird, and falconry permits will available only by using RecAccess.com, a leading provider of online fee collection solutions to federal, state, and local government agencies. Hunters may create a RecAccess account now by following the link: https://rhc.recaccess.com/#/create-account.

Hunt permits are not yet available for purchase. The 2019-2020 Refuge hunt permits will be available for on-line purchase through RecAccess on Monday, Aug. 19.

All hunters must possess a current Maine hunter’s license in order to purchase a Refuge hunt permit. A hunt packet with refuge hunt regulations, maps, a permit, and parking pass will only be available for download after the hunter has purchased a permit through RecAccess.

Hunters wishing to hunt migratory birds will also be required to have a Federal Duck Stamp in addition to their Maine license.

Duck Stamps are available for purchase at the Refuge administrative office at 321 Port Road, in Wells. Hours of operation are from 8 a.m. to 4:30 pm. Monday through Friday. The office is closed on federal holidays.

The Duck Stamp fee is $25, cash or check. Checks should be made payable to the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service recognizes hunting to be an effective tool for wildlife management, and hunting has been identified as an appropriate wildlife-dependent public use at Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge.

For more information, contact Cindy Phillips at 646-9226, ext. 24.

Updates will be posted to the refuge website at https://www.fws.gov/refuge/rachel_carson/.