| Among the countless activities one can partake in | | | | caretakers, servants and guides, providing them |
| while in Currituck County, North Carolina, hunting | | | | with much needed income. |
| near the Currituck Sound has been popular with | | | | For over 75 years, Currituck's waters were |
| locals and visitors alike for many years. Currituck | | | | hunted until the bird population was nearly |
| Sound was connected directly to the Atlantic | | | | decimated. Stringent wildlife protection laws closed |
| Ocean until the early 1800s by one or more inlets | | | | the hunt clubs and the population of waterfowl |
| through the Outer Banks. Shifting sands eventually | | | | has steadily increased. |
| closed the inlets, changing the Sound from a | | | | Before hunting for duck or other waterfowl, a |
| high-salinity estuarine environment to a low-salinity | | | | few of rules and regulations must be followed:o |
| estuarine environment. The marshes and waters | | | | Public waterfowl hunting is allowed by permit only |
| of Currituck sound became well known for prime | | | | from designated sites in the Wildlife Refuge. A |
| water hunting grounds. | | | | North Carolina Waterfowl Hunt Permit or a |
| Since the early 1800s, the Currituck Sound is on | | | | Refuge Hunt permit, a valid hunting license, State |
| the migration path for ducks, Canada geese, and | | | | and Federal waterfowl stamps must be carried |
| other water birds. The village of Duck in Currituck | | | | when hunting.o Youth hunters (under the age of |
| County was named for the large numbers of | | | | 16) may participate in any hunt provided they |
| waterfowl that once made their home in the area. | | | | have passed the State-approved hunter safety |
| Currituck Sound, which borders the Outer Banks | | | | course and are accompanied by an adult who is |
| from Kitty Hawk north to the Virginia Line, was | | | | at least 21 years old.o November to January is |
| once the most bountiful and popular waterfowl | | | | state waterfowl season. Mid-January through |
| hunting destinations in the country. Historians | | | | March is snow geese only season. Hunting is only |
| noted that the fresh water of the Currituck | | | | allowed on Wednesdays and Saturdays.o All |
| Sound attracted so many water birds that when | | | | hunters are subject to inspections of permits, |
| they lifted in flight, they would actually block out | | | | licenses, bag limits, hunting equipment, boats, |
| the sun. | | | | vehicles and their contents during compliance |
| In the late nineteenth century, northern | | | | checks.o Possession of alcoholic beverages is |
| businessmen began buying tracts of land in the | | | | prohibited while hunting.o Taking any wildlife or |
| marshes and the small islands to construct hunt | | | | plants away from the designated hunting areas is |
| clubs. The most famous of these is the Currituck | | | | prohibitedo Use of an un-permitted guide is |
| Club in Corolla. In the winter months, hunters | | | | prohibited.o Littering is prohibited. If you pack it in, |
| would arrive from Pennsylvania, New York and | | | | pack it out. |
| New Jersey. Local residents would serve as | | | | |