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New Hunting Opportunities on Refuges in Fourteen States

The USFWS announced the opening of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge  in Michigan to migratory bird hunting, upland game hunting and big game hunting for the first time, while expanding hunting activities at 16 national wildlife refuges in 14 states. Notice of the 2012-2013 Refuge-Specific Hunting and Sport Fishing Regulations published in the Federal Register on September 11, 2012. The rule provides additional public hunting opportunities in fulfillment of the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997.

Notice of the proposed rule change was published in the Federal Register on July 11, 2012; public comments were accepted through August 10, 2012.

�By expanding hunting in our National Wildlife Refuge System, we are supporting a heritage that has been handed down from generations and helping to achieve the goal of President Obama�s America�s Great Outdoors initiative to connect Americans to the natural world through outdoor recreation,� said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. �Hunters have been a mainstay of conservation in America for more than 100 years, and expanding hunting opportunities helps ensure that we will have the resources to care for our wildlife and its habitat in the future.� 

"The National Wildlife Refuge System, one of America's greatest conservation success stories, is committed to offering quality hunting and fishing programs -- for all Americans -- wherever they are compatible with refuge purposes," said Service Director Dan Ashe. 

The rule will close Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge, HI, to big game hunting. With this change, the refuge will be closed to all hunting activity. The refuge is also closed to sport fishing. The new rule will also close Santee National Wildlife Refuge, SC, to migratory bird hunting. The refuge is open to sport fishing. 

It should be noted that all refuges are open to sport fishing

All but two of the refuges affected by the rule change will remain open to sport fishing. 

Other changes include:    

• Big Muddy National Fish & Wildlife Refuge, MO, expands area for migratory bird, upland and big game hunting.

• Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge, IN, expands big game hunting area. The refuge is also open to upland game hunting

• Block Island National Wildlife Refuge, RI, adds deer to the refuge�s big game hunting program.

• Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, GA, adds migratory bird hunting and upland game hunting; expands area for big game hunting and addition of wild turkey to big game hunting program.

• Chickasaw National Wildlife Refuge, TN, expands area for migratory bird hunting, upland game hunting and big game hunting.

• Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge, ID, expands area for big game hunting. The refuge is also open to migratory bird and upland game hunting.

• Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, TX, adds turkey for big game hunting. The refuge is also open to migratory bird and upland game hunting

• Saddle Mountain (Hanford Reach) National Wildlife Refuge, WA, expands area for migratory bird hunting, upland game hunting and big game hunting. Adds chukar (a member of the pheasant family) to upland game hunting program. Julia Butler Hanson Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer, OR, expands area for migratory bird hunting.

• Lower Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge, TN, expands area for migratory bird hunting, upland game hunting and big game hunting.

• Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, MN, expands area for migratory bird hunting, upland game hunting and big game hunting.

• Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge, RI, adds deer to species for big game hunting program. The refuge is also open to sport fishing.

• Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, MT, expands area for migratory bird hunting and big game hunting.

• Upper Ouachita National Wildlife Refuge, LA, expands area for migratory bird hunting, upland game hunting and big game hunting.

• Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge, SC, expands area for big game hunting. Adds woodcock to species for migratory bird hunting. The refuge is also open to upland game hunting

• William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge, OR, expands area for big game hunting.

While definitions of hunting categories vary by refuge and state, migratory bird hunting generally includes ducks and geese. Upland game hunting may cover such animals as game birds, rabbit, squirrel, opossum and coyote. Big game hunting may include such animals as wild turkey, deer and feral hogs.  

Under the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, the Service can permit hunting and fishing along with four other types of wildlife-dependent recreational uses where they are compatible with refuge purpose and mission. Hunting, within specified limits, is permitted on more than 300 national wildlife refuges. Fishing is permitted on more than 270 national wildlife refuges. Other wildlife-dependent recreation on national wildlife refuges includes wildlife observation, photography, interpretation and education. 

To find hunting programs offered in the National Wildlife Refuge System, please visit:  http://www.fws.gov/refuges/hunting/. To find the final regulations in the Federal Register: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-09-11/pdf/2012-22099.pdf 

The National Wildlife Refuge System, managed by the Service, is the nation's premier system of public lands and waters set aside to conserve America's fish, wildlife and plants.  More than 320 refuges currently permit hunting as a traditional recreational use of renewable natural resources.

Report shows rise in Hunting, Fishing and Wildlife-Related recreation participation in 28 States

Billions of dollars generated for local economies and conservation

Participation in wildlife-associated recreation increased in 28 states since 2006, according to the findings of the 2011 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation State Overview Report released by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today.  The State Overview Report is the second in a series of reports to be released by the Service over the next few months highlighting results from the National Survey. 

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar released the first report on August 15, 2012.  The National Survey, conducted since 1955, measures participation in these activities and related spending on trips and equipment across the nation and in individual states. The 2011 National Survey data show that hunters, anglers and wildlife watchers spent $145 billion last year on related gear, trips and other purchases such as licenses, tags and land leasing or ownership.

�Hunting, fishing and wildlife watching are part of our national heritage, and the trip and equipment-related spending of participants� forms significant support for local economies across the country,� said Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe. �These survey results are good news for the small businesses and rural communities who depend on wildlife-related tourism, and it shows an encouraging increase in personal investment of citizens in the future of wildlife and wild places.�

Public lands managed by federal and state agencies support much of the fishing, hunting, and wildlife-associated recreation that Americans enjoy. The State Overview, released today provides national survey data on wildlife-related recreation at the state level, which helps state natural resource agencies to plan and provide wildlife-related recreation opportunities.

�The State by State data from the National Survey is where the rubber meets the road for state fish and wildlife agencies,� said Dr. Jonathan Gassett, Commissioner of the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Resources Commission and President of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. �These results help each state set the course for future fish and wildlife conservation and they help quantify the results of investments that each state has made in its wildlife-related recreation programs, especially hunter and angler recruitment and retention programs.�

Highlights from this overview include the following information:

�              Of the 28 States with increases in the number of wildlife-related recreation participants from 2006 to 2011, the largest percentage increases were seen in Alaska (47 percent) and Louisiana (40 percent).

�              South Dakota had the highest proportion of state residents who hunted� 21 percent.

�              Alaska had the highest proportion of state residents who fished� 40 percent.

�              Vermont had the highest proportion of state residents who wildlife watched� 53 percent.

Overall, the 2011 Survey found that 38 percent of all Americans 16 years of age and older participated in wildlife-related recreation in 2011, an increase of 2.6 million participants from the previous survey in 2006. Participation in recreational fishing increased by 11 percent and hunting

was up 9 percent.  This increase reverses a trend over previous Surveys  

showing a 10% decline in hunting participation between 1996 and 2006.  The 2011 Survey reports a corresponding increase in hunting equipment expenditures, which are up 29 percent from 2006.

Through landmark conservation laws supported by American sportsmen and women, funds collected by states through the sale of hunting and fishing licenses are combined with federal funds from excise tax on sport weapons and ammunition and on angling equipment to pay for fish and wildlife conservation and associated recreational opportunities. Together, these laws support the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs, first established 75 years ago.  Since then, hunters and anglers have paid more than $11 billion in excise taxes on purchases of firearms, ammunition, archery, fishing and boating equipment toward thousands of conservation projects, wildlife-associated recreational opportunities and access, and sport shooting ranges around the nation.

The National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, conducted every five years since 1955, has become one of the most important sources of information on fish and wildlife recreation in the United States. Federal, State, and private organizations use the rigorously-compiled and detailed information to manage wildlife and wildlife-related recreation programs, market products, and forecast trends in participation and economic impacts.

The 2011 report was requested by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, coordinated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service�s National Survey Branch of the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program, and administered by the U.S. Census Bureau.  The Census Bureau conducted detailed interviews from individuals at 48,627 households across the country to obtain samples of sportspersons and wildlife watchers. Information was collected through computer-assisted telephone and in-person interviews. The Survey is funded through a Multi-State Conservation Grant from the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program.

The Survey is being released in phases � the first report was issued in August 2012 and presented data for the nation as a whole.  The final national report will be available in November 2012, and the detailed state reports will be issued on a flow basis beginning in December 2012.   

The full State Overview Report can be downloaded at http://library.fws.gov/Pubs/natsurvey2011-prelim-state.pdf.

Connect with the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program:

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/USFWSWSFR

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/USFWS_WSFR

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov. Connect with our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/usfws, follow our tweets at www.twitter.com/usfwshq, watch our YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/usfws and download photos from our Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwshq

Weekly Great Lakes Water Levels for Sept 14, 2012 

WEATHER CONDITIONS

Precipitation fell across most of the Great Lakes basin on Friday and Saturday, with the exception of the Lake Superior basin which has been very dry so far this month. Temperatures over the weekend were near seasonal averages. Conditions have been dry across the entire region since Saturday, but a cold front moving slowly through the region will likely bring some showers Thursday and Friday. After the front passes, expect dry weather and rebounding temperatures over the weekend.

LAKE LEVEL CONDITIONS

The water level of Lake Superior is 1 inch lower than the level of one year ago, while Lake Michigan-Huron is 9 inches lower than its level of a year ago. Lakes St. Clair, Erie, and Ontario are 13, 13, and 9 inches, respectively, lower than their levels of a year ago. Over the next month, Lake Superior is forecasted to drop 1 inch from its current level, while Lake Michigan-Huron is expected to fall 2 inches. The water levels of Lakes St. Clair, Erie and Ontario are forecasted to fall 3, 4, and 3 inches, respectively, over the next thirty days. See our Daily Levels web page for more water level information.

FORECASTED MONTHLY OUTFLOWS/CHANNEL CONDITIONS

Lake Superior's outflow through the St. Marys River is projected to be below average for the month of September. Lake Huron's outflow into the St. Clair River and the outflow from Lake St. Clair into the Detroit River are

also expected to be below average throughout the month of September.

Lake Erie's outflow through the Niagara River and the outflow of Lake Ontario into the St. Lawrence River are predicted to be below average in September.

ALERTS

Lake Superior is near chart datum while Lake Michigan-Huron is below chart datum. Users of the Great Lakes, connecting channels and St. Lawrence River should keep informed of current conditions before undertaking any activities that could be affected by changing water levels. Mariners should utilize navigation charts and refer to current water level readings.

Federal Premium Ammunition�s Dangerous Game returns to NBC Sports Network

ANOKA, Minn. � Sept. 12, 2012 - The award-winning Federal Premium� Ammunition�s Dangerous Game has returned to NBC Sports Network for its eighth season. The show continues the tradition of taking viewers on a thrill ride as hunters use Federal Premium Ammunition to take on some of the world�s deadliest beasts.

Hosted by Jeff Rann and Chris Dorsey, this season features hunters on once-in-a-lifetime hunting expeditions matching wits with the likes of Cape

buffalo, lion, elephant, brown bear, leopard and more. The show has already featured Chris Dorsey traveling to Hungary to take part in a driven boar hunt and another with Dorsey joining David Morris to try and take down a resilient water buffalo.

Dangerous Game airs on NBC Sports Network on Wednesday at 3 p.m. EST starting Sept 5, 2012 and running until January 2, 2013. Catch the prime time airings on Sunday nights at 7 p.m. EST starting October 7, 2012.

Fall colors on national forests never fail to impress
Forest Service provides website and phone hotline for best viewing options this autumn

Fall colors are about to burst all over the country and the U.S. Forest Service wants you to get outdoors and enjoy one of nature�s most spectacular seasons in your national forests.

�Autumn is a wonderful time of the year to plan a trip to see the beauty of your national forests,� said Tom Tidwell, Chief of the U.S. Forest Service. �As tree experts, we have incredible resources on our website to help you plan a great adventure this fall season.�

From coast to coast, state and local economies are boosted because of the fall season and for many rural communities, fall color tourism is a major source of revenue. Hotels, restaurants and local shops rely on the influx of dollars generated by fall visitors. For example, the New England area receives an estimated $8 billion in local revenues annually due to fall activities. Throughout the Midwest, millions of visitors hit the road to enjoy the sights. In the West, the mountains provide destinations filled with tourists seeking a glimpse of shimmering gold aspens. 

Weather conditions in all areas impact peak viewing dates, so information provided on the Forest Service website and phone hotline will help visitors best plan their trips.

The Forest Service�s Fall Colors 2012 website includes clickable maps that link to forest-by-forest fall color information and to state tourism and fall color websites. Some of our most popular family friendly features include locations of scenic drives and trails, coloring pages for kids, the science behind the season, and links to a tree database. Photographs from visitors nationwide will be added to the site.  

Following tradition, the Forest Service has turned on its Fall Colors Hotline � 1-800-354-4595. The hotline provides audio updates on the best places, dates and routes to take for peak viewing of fall colors on national forests.

The mission of the Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity and productivity of the nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world. Forest Service lands contribute more than $13 billion to the economy each year through visitor spending alone. Those same lands provide 20 percent of the nation�s clean water supply, a value estimated at $27 billion per year.

Public Invited to Lake Ontario Visioning Workshops September 24-29

In Lyndonville, Piffard, Webster, Henderson, Sodus and Oswego
Citizens living along Lake Ontario and its tributaries are being invited to provide input at a series of six Lake Ontario Basin Communities "Visioning for a Healthy Lake" workshops, September 24-29.
 
New York Sea Grant, the Finger Lakes � Lake Ontario Watershed Protection Alliance (FLLOWPA), and the Niagara County Soil and Water Conservation District are holding the workshops in Lyndonville, Piffard, Webster, Henderson, Sodus, and Oswego to provide information on issues related to Lake Ontario and its priority tributaries, including the Genesee and Oswego Rivers, and to gather input from the public on lake basin conditions and priorities for a healthy lake system.
 
�This important series of workshops calls on citizens of the Lake Ontario watershed to provide input on the current status of the watershed and to identify priorities, barriers and potential strategies for removing those barriers for a healthy coastal ecosystem,� says co-organizer New York Sea Grant Coastal Community Development Specialist Mary Penney.
 
�Participants will help identify the assistance they need for their communities to more fully engage in the protection and responsible use of Lake Ontario,� says co-organizer FLLOWPA Program Coordinator Kristy LaManche.
 
The Lake Ontario Basin Communities Visioning for a Healthy Lake Workshops schedule is:
►    September 24, 2012: Lyndonville, Fire Department, 148 N. Main Street, 5-7pm
►    September 25, 2012: Piffard, Town of York Office, 2668 Main St, 6-8pm
►    September 26, 2012: Webster, Liberty Lodge, 850 Maple Drive, 5-7pm
►    September 27, 2012: Henderson, Fire Department, 8939 NY Rt 178, 5-7pm
►    September 29, 2012: Sodus, Wallington Fire Department, 7863 Ridge Rd, 10am-12pm
►    September 29, 2012: Oswego, SUNY Oswego Campus Center Room 201, 2-4pm.

Workshop discussion will include review of the current Bi-National Lake Ontario Lakewide Management Plan and Lake Ontario Area of Concern Remedial Action Plans.

Workshop participants are expected to include local elected officials and planning boards, county agencies and water quality coordinating committees; watershed, lake and outdoor recreation associations; public agency representatives, and private citizens and business owners.

Proceedings of the September workshops� series on the current condition of the Lake Ontario Watershed Basin, stakeholders� concerns, and the resources and funding sources needed for implementation of priority projects and planning initiatives will be shared with local, State and federal decision-makers, and posted online at www.nyseagrant.org http://www.nyseagrant.org and www.fllowpa.org.

The free workshops are funded in part by Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grant for the Lake Ontario Education and Outreach Project. For more information, contact New York Sea Grant at 315-312-3042 or FLLOWPA at 315-592-9663. #
 
More Info:
The Bi-National Lake Ontario Lake Ontario Lakewide Management Plan (LaMP) includes representatives of the U.S. and Canadian federal governments, New York State, the province of Ontario, and diverse stakeholders organizations. Learn more at http://epa.gov/greatlakes/ontario.html.

Areas of Concern:
►    Designated by International Joint Commission to concentrate available resources to clean up the most polluted areas in the Great Lakes.
►    U.S. and Canadian entities are cooperating to ensure Remedial Action Plans (RAP) are developed and implemented for each Area of Concern (AOC).
►    New York State has six AOCs: Buffalo River, Eighteen Mile Creek, Rochester Embayment, Oswego River/Harbor (delisted in 2006), Niagara River, St. Lawrence River at Massena, NY.