The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced this week that they are opening up 53 new hunting and sport fishing opportunities on approximately 211,000 acres nationwide in the National Wildlife Refuge System, a move heralded by pro-gun and pro-hunting organizations.
Twelve national wildlife refuges, managed by the service, are proposing to open and expand opportunities for hunting and fishing. These refuges are in Kentucky, Louisiana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Carolina, Texas, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin. These include first-ever hunting opportunities on Green River National Wildlife Refuge in Kentucky, expanded waterfowl and archery deer hunting on newly acquired acres at Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuge in Louisiana and expanded fishing on Horicon National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin. Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge in Illinois is proposing to close 111 acres to hunting for other visitor uses, including camping.
“Hunting and fishing are traditional recreational activities deeply rooted in America’s heritage. Today, nearly 80 percent of service stations offer hunting and fishing access that helps boost local economies and connects people with nature,” said Service Director Martha Williams. “We are pleased to expand access and offer new opportunities that are compatible with National Wildlife Refuge System purposes and are committed to responsibly manage wildlife health and these areas for the benefit of future generations.”
The refuge system is made up of a network of 571 national wildlife refuges and 38 wetland management districts. There is a national wildlife refuge within an hour’s drive of most major metropolitan areas. More than 68 million Americans visit refuges every year. National wildlife refuges provide vital habitat for thousands of species and access to world-class recreation, from fishing, hunting, and boating to nature watching, photography and environmental education.
Hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities contributed more than $394 billion in economic expenditures in communities across the United States in 2022, with hunters and anglers accounting for over $144 billion in expenditures, according to the service’s National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation. The survey also found that, in 2021, an estimated 39.9 million Americans over the age of 16 fished and 14.4 million hunted.
Under the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, the Service 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, with gun or bow within specified limits, is currently permitted on 400 wildlife refuges and 36 wetland management districts. Fishing is currently permitted on 343 wildlife refuges and 35 wetland management districts. The Service manages hunting and fishing programs to ensure sustainable wildlife populations while also offering other wildlife-dependent recreation on public lands.
Currently, the refuge system does not support any shooting ranges, nor do most, if not all, permit recreational shooting unless conducted in conjunction with hunting. National and state forests as well as some state wildlife management areas, however, do often offer some public ranges and permit target shooting in certain areas. Always look up the specific refuge or public land on which you want to recreate to see what and when certain activities are permitted.
Read the full article here
