USA National Wildlife Refuge Hunting Opportunities

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

2011 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Hunting Survey

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2011 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation found that hunters nationwide increased by 9 percent.

In 2011, 13.7 million people, 6 percent of the U.S. population 16 years old and older, went hunting. They spent $34.0 billion on trips, equipment, licenses, and other items in 2011, an average of $2,484 per hunter.

Nearly 38 percent of all Americans participated in wildlife-related recreation in 2011, an increase of 2.6 million participants from the previous survey in 2006.

Overall, sportsmen spent $145 billion on related gear, trips and other purchases, such as licenses, tags and land leasing and ownership, representing 1 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product.

The U.S. Census Bureau interviewed 48,627 households across the country to obtain samples of sportspersons and wildlife watchers for detailed interviews. Information was collected through computer-assisted telephone and in-person interviews.

source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

USDA Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program

In June, the USDA announced the approval of eight additional states and one tribal government to participate in the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP).

The VPA-HIP grant program encourages private landowners to provide public access to their lands for wildlife-dependant recreational opportunities, including fishing and hunting.

California, Georgia, Hawaii, Montana, New Hampshire, Texas, Virginia and Wyoming will join Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin as states participating in the VPA-HIP program.

Also participating are the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation. The total amount of VPA-HIP funds to be obligated in 2011 is $17.8 million with $4.6 million of that total being allocated as part of the June 2011 announcement.

The VPA-HIP program expands existing efforts or develops new initiatives to encourage owners and operators of privately held farm, ranch and forest land to voluntarily provide public access for the enjoyment of wildlife-dependent recreation, including hunting or fishing, in exchange for financial incentives or other assistance under programs implemented by state or tribal governments.

VPA-HIP is a competitive grants program that is only available to state and tribal governments. Funding may be used to expand existing public access programs, create new public access programs or provide incentives to improve wildlife habitat on enrolled lands.

Up to $50 million is authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill through VPA-HIP through fiscal year 2012. State and tribal grant recipients use the federal funding to provide additional landowner incentives or assistance in order to increase the number of acres available for public access.


For more information on VPA-HIP, visit http://www.fsa.usda.gov/vpa

source: USDA

USDA to Fund Public Access for Hunting, Fishing, Recreation and Habitat Restoration

On Jan. 19, 2011, USDA officials announced that an additional $8 million is available to create or expand existing public access programs or provide incentives to increase access to hunting and fishing and to improve wildlife habitat on enrolled lands. The funding is being provided through the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP).

The funding is authorized under the 2008 Farm Bill. Approximately $11.75 million of VPA-HIP funds were awarded to 17 states in 2010.

Twenty-six states have public access programs for hunting, fishing and other related activities. These programs provide rental payments and other incentives, such as technical or conservation services to landowners who, in return, allow public hunting, fishing or other compatible recreational activities on their land.

States and tribal governments can submit VPA-HIP applications for 2011 funding through the federal government's grants portal - www.grants.gov to the Farm Service Agency (FSA) for consideration. Funding will be awarded to those state and tribal governments whose proposals are accepted by FSA. States with approved applications and funding awarded in 2010 associated with multi-year VPA-HIP proposals do not need to re-submit request for application in 2011.

For more information on VPA-HIP, visit http://www.fsa.usda.gov/vpa

source: USDA