News Release

Fish and Wildlife Service

For release October 28, 1994           Hugh Vickery  202-208-5634


         SERVICE EXPANDS HUNTING, FISHING OPPORTUNITIES
               ON NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will begin new hunting programs on four national wildlife refuges during the 1994-95 season, increasing to 272 the total number of refuges open to hunting.

The Service will open Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge in West Virginia to hunting of migratory game birds, upland game, and deer; Rydell National Wildlife Refuge in Minnesota to deer hunting; Rock Lake National Wildlife Refuge in North Dakota to deer hunting; and Bayou Cocodrie National Wildlife Refuge in Louisiana to upland game and deer hunting.

"In the last year, the Service has begun 12 new hunting programs, and we will continue to open up new refuges to hunting wherever possible," said Mollie Beattie, the Service's director. "The Service supports hunting as a recreational activity that also contributes to wildlife management."

The Service also is starting a new fishing program at Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge in California, increasing to 254 the number of refuges open to angling. Last year, the Service started three new fishing programs on the system.

At each of the refuges, the Service has certified that the new hunting or fishing program is compatible with the purposes for which the refuge was established and that there is funding available to manage the program, as required by the Refuge Recreation Act and the National Wildlife Refuge Administration Act.

-DOI-