Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge

Special Use Permits

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’s Congressionally mandated wildlife conservation goals. Permits enable the public and scientific communities to engage in legitimate wildlife-related activities that would be otherwise prohibited by law. Service permit programs ensure that such activities are carried out in a manner that safeguards wildlife.   

Special Use Permits

The Service has developed three different Special Use Permit (SUP) forms which may enable the public to engage in activities considered a) commercial b) research and c) other general uses.

1. National Wildlife Refuge System Commercial Activities Special Use Application and Permit (FWS Form 3-1383-C) for:

• Commercial activities such as guiding hunters, anglers or other outdoor users; 
• Commercial filming (audio, video, and photographic products of a monetary value); 
• Agriculture (haying, grazing, crop planting, logging, beekeeping, and other agricultural products).

2. National Wildlife Refuge System Research and Monitoring Special Use Application and Permit (FWS Form 3-1383-R) for:

• Research and monitoring activities by students, universities, or other non-FWS organizations.
  
   

3. National Wildlife Refuge System General Special Use Application and Permit (FWS Form 3-1383-G) for:

• Woodcutting; 
• Nocturnal possum/raccoon hunting and frog-gigging;
• Hunting Dog retrieval
• Miscellaneous events (fishing tournaments, one-time events, other special events); 
• Other (any activity not mentioned above and not usually available to the general public). 

The above-referenced activities are not necessarily conducted on every refuge. Contact the Refuge manager to inquire whether we consider the proposed use appropriate or compatible on Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge.

See below for permit files. Prospective permit holders may fill out the corresponding application and return it to the refuge for processing. Please allow a minimum of two weeks for permit processing. 

By email: alligatorriver@fws.gov

By mail:
Alligator River NWR
P.O. Box 1969
Manteo, NC 27954

The permit is not valid until approved and signed by a refuge official.

Commercial Kayak Tour Special Use Permits

The refuge issues Special Use Permits to allow commercial companies to offer guided kayak tours on the refuge. Due to the high level of interest and the limited infrastructure on the refuge, these special use permits have stipulations to allow for sustainable use. 

The launch site at the end of Buffalo City Road experiences very high use and has additional stipulations. In order to plan for each summer's level of use, the refuge requires commercial kayak tour operators interested in a permit at the Buffalo City launch site to submit an application at the beginning of each year. Applications for Summer 2024 are due no later than February 29, 2024. The application form, FWS Form 3-1383-C, can be found at the link below. 

Please fill out the application form in as much detail as possible, including the number of tours per day you would operate. If there are not enough openings for tours on the refuge to permit that number of tours, the refuge may allocate a specific day for an additional tour. Please also note your preferred weekday if an additional tour were to be permitted.