What are the National Wildlife Refuge System’s policies regarding recreational uses?
Two of the primary policies guiding recreational uses on a refuge are appropriateness and compatibility. Our Appropriate Refuge Uses Policy states: Recreational activities which are dependent on wildlife, known as the Big Six priority public uses—fishing, hunting, wildlife photography, wildlife observation, environmental education, and wildlife interpretation—are automatically considered to be appropriate activities on a national wildlife refuge, whereas other uses are not. Generally, to be considered appropriate, uses other than the Big Six priority uses must, among other considerations, contribute to the public’s understanding and appreciation of the refuge’s natural or cultural resources or be beneficial to the refuge’s natural or cultural resources. They also must not impair existing wildlife-dependent recreational uses or reduce the potential to provide quality, compatible, wildlife-dependent recreation into the future. According to our Compatibility Policy, once a recreational ac
