The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is proposing to expand hunting and sport fishing opportunities at several U.S. national wildlife refuges.
The proposed rule includes opening sport fishing of state-regulated species for the first time at Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge in South Dakota, and expanding areas available for sport fishing at Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge in Indiana.
In addition, the proposal modifies existing refuge-specific regulations on more than 70 additional refuges and wetland management districts throughout the National Wildlife Refuge System.
USFWS proposes opening Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge in South Dakota to sport fishing for the first time. The refuge is already open to migratory game bird hunting, upland game hunting, and big game hunting.
USFWS also proposes to expand sport fishing on Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge and Management Area in Indiana. The refuge is already open to migratory game bird hunting, upland game hunting, big game hunting, and sport fishing.
The Service is seeking comments from the public for 30 days regarding information pertaining to the proposed rule. Please go to www.regulations.gov, docket no. FWS-HQ-NWRS-2016-0007, for additional information. The proposed rule will publish in the Federal Register on July 14, 2016, comments must be received by August 15, 2016.
Under the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, the Service permits 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, within specified limits, is now permitted on 336 wildlife refuges. Fishing is now permitted on 275 wildlife refuges.
For more information, visit: www.fws.gov.
source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service