Why It Matters: As one of the top reasons why sportsmen and women no longer participate in hunting and fishing, access is critical to carry forward our time-honored outdoor traditions. This expansion across lands and waters managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) recognizes the importance of improving access opportunities for sportsmen and women, which is strongly supported by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF).
Highlights:
- Earlier today, the Department of the Interior announced a proposal to open or expand more than 1,450 hunting and fishing opportunities across 111 stations covering 32 states within the National Wildlife Refuge System, which marks the largest expansion of hunting and fishing opportunities in the history of FWS.
- The National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) is a unique structure of federal public lands as the only network of lands established for the sole purpose of wildlife.
- This announcement further demonstrates the commitments of Department of the Interior Secretary Burgum and FWS Director Nesvik to America’s sportsmen and women.
This morning, the Department of the Interior announced a proposal that will represent the largest expansion of hunting and fishing opportunities in the history of FWS by opening and expanding more than 1,450 opportunities across 111 stations spanning 32 states.
“The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation extends our appreciation to Secretary Burgum and Director Nesvik for their commitment to our nation’s hunters and anglers,” said CSF Senior Vice President Taylor Schmitz. “This expansion further recognizes that hunting and fishing are critical to the health of the National Wildlife Refuge System, and we are grateful to see this announcement.”
For more than 100 years, the National Wildlife Refuge System has not only served as critical habitat for fish and wildlife, but it has also provided invaluable access opportunities for hunters and anglers. Between the NWRS and the National Fish Hatchery System, FWS annually supports more than 2.5 million hunting days and almost 8 million fishing days. Once implemented, this proposal will make more than 92 million acres (over 95%) of NWRS lands and waters open to hunting and fishing opportunities.
CSF again thanks Secretary Burgum and Director Nesvik for announcing the largest expansion of hunting and fishing opportunities within the National Wildlife Refuge System.