Government Proposes Expansion of Hunting and Fishing in National Wildlife Refuge System

The US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) announced Tuesday a proposal to expand hunting and fishing programs in the National Wildlife Refuge System.

FWS is proposing new hunting programs on six national wildlife refuge sites and expanding the existing hunting and fishing programs on an additional 20 sites.

National wildlife refuges across the country provide habitat for hundreds of different species of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, as well as more than 1,000 species of fish. Nearly 400 threatened or endangered plants or animals are protected on the refuges, according to the FWS.

The proposal would allow hunting for the first time on six refuge sites in New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Wyoming, as well as hunting and fishing programs on refuge sites in 13 other states.

Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell made the announcement ahead of Sept. 28, which is National Hunting and Fishing Day.

"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 in a statement. "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."

According to FWS, the National Wildlife Refuge System includes more than 560 refuges, 38 wetland management districts and other protected areas encompassing 150 million acres of land and water from the Caribbean to the remote Pacific.

At least one national wildlife refuge is in every state and US territory and many are within one hour's drive of most major metropolitan areas.

Currently, hunting is permitted within specific areas of 329 wildlife refuges and fishing is allowed on 271.

Below is a list of the proposed additions to hunting and fishing in the National Wildlife Refuge System:

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

New York

Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge: Open to big game hunting.

Oregon

Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge: Open to migratory bird hunting.
Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge: Open to migratory bird hunting.
Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge: Open to migratory bird hunting.

Pennsylvania

Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge: Open to migratory bird, upland game and big game hunting.

Wyoming

Cokeville Meadows National Wildlife Refuge: 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: Expand migratory bird and upland game hunting.

Florida

Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge: Add big game hunting. The refuge is already open to migratory bird hunting.
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge: Expand migratory bird hunting, upland game hunting and big game hunting.

Idaho

Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge: Expand upland game hunting. The refuge is already open to migratory bird hunting and big game hunting.

Illinois

Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge: Expand migratory bird hunting, upland game hunting and big game hunting.
Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge: Expand migratory bird hunting, upland game hunting and big game hunting.

Indiana

Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge and Management Area: Expand migratory bird hunting, upland game hunting and big game hunting.

Iowa

Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge: Expand migratory bird hunting, upland game hunting and big game hunting.
Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge: Expand migratory bird hunting, upland game hunting and big game hunting.
Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge: Expand migratory bird hunting, upland game hunting, big game hunting and sport fishing.

Maine

Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge: Expand migratory bird hunting, upland game hunting and big game hunting.

Missouri

Mingo National Wildlife Refuge: Expand migratory bird hunting, upland game hunting and big game hunting.

New Mexico

San Andres National Wildlife Refuge: Expand big game hunting.

Oregon

Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, OR and WA: 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: Expand migratory bird hunting. The refuge is already open to big game hunting.
Malheur National Wildlife Refuge: 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: Add migratory bird hunting. The refuge is already open to big game hunting.
Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge: Expand hunting for migratory birds, upland game and big game.

Vermont