By U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
On August 9, Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke proposed to open or expand hunting and fishing opportunities at 10 national wildlife refuges.
If finalized, it would bring the number of refuges where the public may hunt up to 373, and up to 312 where fishing would be permitted.
The USFWS is seeking comments from the public for 30 days regarding information pertaining to the proposed rule. For additional information, go to docket no. FWS-HQ-NWRS-2017-0005 at www.regulations.gov.
The proposed rule will publish in the Federal Register on August 10, 2017. Comments must be received by September 8, 2017.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages hunting and fishing programs to ensure sustainable wildlife populations while also offering other traditional wildlife-dependent recreation on public lands, such as wildlife watching and photography.
The network of 566 national wildlife refuges and 38 wetland management districts means there is a national wildlife refuge within an hour’s drive of most major metropolitan areas.
Hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities contributed more than $144.7 billion in economic activity across the United States according to the USFWS National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation. The survey is published every five years.
See the report here.
More than 90 million Americans, or 41 percent of the United States’ population 16 and older, pursue wildlife-related recreation.
Refuges where hunting and/or fishing will expand or be opened include:
Georgia and South Carolina—the Savannah River National Wildlife Refuge: Expand migratory game bird hunting, upland game and big game hunting. The refuge is already open to migratory game bird hunting, upland game and big game hunting and sport fishing.
Indiana—Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge: Expand migratory game bird hunting, upland game and big game hunting and sport fishing. The refuge is already open to migratory game bird hunting, upland game and big game hunting and sport fishing.
Minnesota—Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge: Expand migratory game bird hunting, upland game and big game hunting. The refuge is already open to migratory game bird hunting, upland game and big game hunting and sport fishing.
North Dakota—Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge: Open moose hunting for the first time. The refuge is already open to upland game and other big game hunting.
The Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge: Open moose and turkey hunting for the first time. Expand upland game and big game hunting. The refuge is already open to upland game hunting, other big game hunting and sport fishing.
Oklahoma—Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge: Expand upland game and big game hunting. The refuge is already open to migratory game bird hunting, upland game and big game hunting and sport fishing.
Oregon—Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge: Expand migratory game bird hunting. The refuge is already open to migratory game bird hunting.
Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge: Open sport fishing for the first time. The refuge is already open to migratory game bird hunting.
Wisconsin—Horicon National Wildlife Refuge: Expand migratory game bird hunting and upland game and big game hunting. The refuge is already open to migratory game bird hunting, upland game and big game hunting and sport fishing.
Fox River National Wildlife Refuge: Expand big game hunting. The refuge is already open to big game hunting.
Under the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, the Service permits hunting and fishing along with four other types of wildlife-dependent recreation, including wildlife photography, environmental education, wildlife observation and interpretation, when they are compatible with an individual refuge’s purpose and mission.
Hunting, within specified limits, is currently permitted on 336 wildlife refuges and 36 wetland management districts. Fishing is currently permitted on 276 wildlife refuges and 33 wetland management districts.