Refuges Expand Hunting and Fishing Opportunities

*WASHINGTON, D.C.* – In advance of National Hunting and Fishing Day on
September 28th, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell today announced that
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to expand fishing and
hunting opportunities throughout the National Wildlife Refuge System,
opening up new hunting programs on six refuges and expanding existing
hunting and fishing programs on another 20 refuges. The proposed rule also
modifies existing refuge-specific regulations for more than 75 additional
refuges and wetland management districts.



“Sportsmen and women were a major driving force behind the creation and
expansion of the National Wildlife Refuge System more than a century ago
and continue to be some of its strongest supporters, especially through
their volunteer work and financial contributions,” Jewell said. “Keeping
our hunting and angling heritage strong by providing more opportunities on
our refuges will not only help raise up a new generation of
conservationists, but also support local businesses and create jobs in
local communities.”



Under the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, the
Service can permit hunting and fishing along with four other types of
wildlife-dependent recreation where they are compatible with the refuge’s
purpose and mission. Hunting, within specified limits, is permitted on more
than 329 wildlife refuges. Fishing is permitted on more than 271 wildlife
refuges.



“Hunting and fishing are healthy, traditional outdoor pastimes deeply
rooted in America’s heritage and have long been enjoyed on hundreds of
national wildlife refuges under the supervision of our biologists and
wildlife managers,” said Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Dan
Ashe. “After careful consideration and review from the Service, this
proposal represents one of the largest expansions of hunting and fishing
opportunities on wildlife refuges in recent years.”

National wildlife refuges generate important benefits from the conservation
of wildlife and habitat through spending and employment for local
economies. According to the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and
Wildlife-Associated Recreation, published every five years by the Service,
more than 90 million Americans, or 41 percent of the United States’
population age 16 and older, pursued wildlife-related recreation in 2011.
They spent more than $144 billion that year on those activities. Nearly 72
million people observed wildlife, while more than 33 million fished and
more than 13 million hunted.



The Service manages its hunting and fishing programs on refuges to ensure
sustainable wildlife populations, while offering historical
wildlife-dependent recreation on public lands.



Other wildlife-dependent recreation on national wildlife refuges includes
wildlife photography, environmental education, wildlife observation and
interpretation.

*The Service proposes opening the following refuges to hunting for the
first time:*



*New York*

· Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife
Refuge<http://www.fws.gov/refuge/shawangunk_grasslands/>:
Open to big game hunting.

* *

*Oregon*

· Baskett Slough National Wildlife
Refuge<http://www.fws.gov/WillametteValley/baskett/>:
Open to migratory bird hunting.

· Nestucca Bay National Wildlife
Refuge<http://www.fws.gov/oregoncoast/nestuccabay/index.htm>:
Open to migratory bird hunting.

· Siletz Bay National Wildlife
Refuge<http://www.fws.gov/oregoncoast/siletzbay/>:
Open to migratory bird hunting.



*Pennsylvania*

· Cherry Valley National Wildlife
Refuge<http://www.fws.gov/refuge/cherry_valley/>:
Open to migratory bird, upland game and big game hunting.



*Wyoming*

· Cokeville Meadows National Wildlife
Refuge<http://www.fws.gov/seedskadee/cokevillemeadows.htm>:
Open to migratory bird, upland game and big game hunting.



*Meanwhile, under the proposal, the Service would expand hunting and sport
fishing on the following refuges:*



*California*

· Colusa National Wildlife Refuge <http://www.fws.gov/refuge/colusa/>:
Expand migratory bird and upland game hunting.

* *

*Florida***

· Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife
Refuge<http://www.fws.gov/loxahatchee/>:
Add big game hunting. The refuge is already open to migratory bird hunting.

· St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge <http://www.fws.gov/saintmarks/>:
Expand migratory bird hunting, upland game hunting and big game hunting.

* *

*Idaho*

· Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge<http://www.fws.gov/refuge/kootenai/>:
Expand upland game hunting. The refuge is already open to migratory bird
hunting and big game hunting.

* *

*Illinois*

· Cypress Creek National Wildlife
Refuge<http://www.fws.gov/refuge/cypress_creek/>:
Expand migratory bird hunting, upland game hunting and big game hunting.

· Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife
Refuge<http://www.fws.gov/refuge/middle_mississippi_river/>:
Expand migratory bird hunting, upland game hunting and big game hunting.

* *

*Indiana*

· Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge and Management
Area<http://www.fws.gov/refuge/patoka_river/>:
Expand migratory bird hunting, upland game hunting and big game hunting.

* *

*Iowa*

· Neal Smith National Wildlife
Refuge<http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Neal_Smith/>:
Expand migratory bird hunting, upland game hunting and big game hunting.

· Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife
Refuge<http://www.fws.gov/refuge/northern_tallgrass_prairie/>:
Expand migratory bird hunting, upland game hunting and big game hunting.

· Port Louisa National Wildlife
Refuge<http://www.fws.gov/refuge/port_louisa/>:
Expand migratory bird hunting, upland game hunting, big game hunting and
sport fishing.

* *

*Maine*

· Rachel Carson National Wildlife
Refuge<http://www.fws.gov/refuge/rachel_carson/>:
Expand migratory bird hunting, upland game hunting and big game hunting.

* *

*Missouri*

· Mingo National Wildlife Refuge <http://www.fws.gov/refuge/mingo/>:
Expand migratory bird hunting, upland game hunting and big game hunting.

*
New Mexico*

· San Andres National Wildlife
Refuge<http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/newmex/sanandres/>:
Expand big game hunting.

* *

*Oregon*

· Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, OR and
WA<http://www.fws.gov/oregoncoast/bandonmarsh/index.htm>:
Expand migratory bird hunting. The refuge is also already open to sport
fishing.

· Julia Butler Hanson Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer, OR
and WA <http://www.fws.gov/jbh/>: Expand migratory bird hunting. The refuge
is already open to big game hunting.

· Malheur National Wildlife Refuge <http://www.fws.gov/malheur/>:
Expand migratory bird hunting and sport fishing. The refuge is already open
to upland game hunting and big game hunting.

* *

*Texas*

· Aransas National Wildlife Refuge <http://www.fws.gov/refuge/aransas/>:
Add migratory bird hunting. The refuge is already open to big game hunting.

· Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife
Refuge<http://www.fws.gov/refuge/balcones_canyonlands/>:
Expand hunting for migratory birds, upland game and big game.

* *

*Vermont*

· Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife
Refuge<http://www.fws.gov/r5soc/>:
Expand migratory bird hunting, upland game hunting and big game hunting.

* *

*Washington*

· Willapa National Wildlife Refuge <http://www.fws.gov/refuge/willapa/>:
Expand migratory bird hunting and big game hunting. The refuge is already
open to upland game hunting.



Notice of the 2013-2014 proposed Refuge-Specific Hunting and Sport Fishing
Regulations will publish in the *Federal Register* September 24, 2013.
Written comments and information can be submitted by one of the following
methods:



· Federal eRulemaking Portal <http://www.regulations.gov/> Follow the
instructions for submitting comments to Docket No. [FWS-HQ-NWRS-2013-0074];
or

· U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, Attn: [
FWS-HQ-NWRS-2013-0074]; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, MS 2042–PDM; Arlington,
VA 22203.




Comments must be received within 30 days, on or before October 24, 2013.
The Service will post all comments on regulations.gov*.* The Service is not
able to accept email or faxes.



Comments and materials, as well as supporting documentation, will also be
available for public inspection at regulations.gov under the above docket
number. In addition, more details on the kinds of information the Service
is seeking is available in the notice.



To view a complete list of all hunting/sport fishing opportunities on
refuges, click here <http://www.fws.gov/refuges/hunting/huntFishRegs.html>.