In March, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) officals announced that the agency will expand hunting and fishing 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 rule also modifies existing refuge-specific regulations for more than 75 additional refuges and wetland management districts.
Under the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, the Service can permit hunting and fishing where they are compatible with the refuge’s purpose and mission. Hunting, within specified limits, is permitted on more than 335 wildlife refuges. Fishing is permitted on more than 271 wildlife refuges.
The following refuges will allow hunting for the first time:
New York
Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge
Oregon
Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge
Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Pennsylvania
Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge
Wyoming
Cokeville Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
USFWS is expanding hunting on the following refuges:
California
Colusa National Wildlife Refuge
Florida
Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge
Idaho
Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge
Illinois
Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge
Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge
Indiana
Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge and Management Area
Iowa
Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge
Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge
Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge
Maine
Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge
Missouri
Mingo National Wildlife Refuge
New Mexico
San Andres National Wildlife Refuge
Oregon
Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge
Julia Butler Hanson Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer (OR and WA)
Malheur National Wildlife Refuge
Texas
Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge
Vermont
Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge
Washington
Willapa National Wildlife Refuge
To view a complete list of all hunting/sport fishing opportunities on refuges, please visit the following guides: http://www.fws.gov/refuges/hunting/ and http://www.fws.gov/refuges/fishingguide/.
source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
