What does the law say about hunting and fishing on national wildlife refuges?
The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, the organic legislation of the system, designates hunting and fishing as two of the six “priority public uses” that receive preferential treatment on national wildlife refuges. The other priority uses are wildlife observation and photography, and environmental education and interpretation. National policy encourages refuges to offer these opportunities and seek out additional resources if needed to do so. With some exceptions, most refuge hunting and fishing is conducted in accordance with regulations set by state wildlife management agencies. How can hunters and anglers participate in the management of their local refuge? Refuges across the country actively seek the opinions of hunters, anglers and other members of the public as they develop conservation plans to guide all aspects of refuge management, and will begin making “compatibility determinations”–reviews of hunting, fishing and other public uses. Hunters and anglers
