Since the fall of 2010, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has been working to create a renewed vision for the National Wildlife Refuge System. The new vision, titled Conserving the Future: Wildlife Refuges and the Next Generation includes 24 recommendations, which incorporated extensive suggestions from the public, nongovernmental organizations, state wildlife agencies, and employees of the Service. The Service is currently working to develop strategic plans in order to implement these recommendations. Implementation is expected to be largely completed in about five years.
The Hunting, Fishing, and Outdoor Recreation implementation team has finalized their draft strategy for Recommendation 17: The Service will work closely with state fish and wildlife agencies to conduct a review of its current hunting and fishing opportunities, especially opportunities currently offered for youth and people with disabilities. Based on this review, the Service and states will work cooperatively to prepare a strategy for increasing quality hunting and fishing opportunities on national wildlife refuges. The draft is available for a 45-day public comment period on www.AmericasWildlife.org.
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) staff is currently reviewing the draft strategic plan and will work with partners to submit comments during the comment period to ensure hunting and recreational fishing opportunities are protected and advanced in the refuge system.
Studies conducted at both the state and federal level have found that the number of hunters and trappers have been on a generally declining trend over the past several decades. To increase recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of hunters and trappers, which initiative do you think would have the greatest impact?
