Republican Shutdown Stops Hunting and Fishing on National Wildlife Refuges, Hurts Gateway Communities
WASHINGTON, DC--The Republican government shutdown is depriving Americans of the opportunity to hunt and fish on national wildlife refuges and could cost nearby communities millions of dollars in lost business related to hunting and fishing trips.
Normally, hunting would just be starting on the more than 360 national wildlife refuges where it’s permitted. The hunting season in most states extends from September to November for big game, September to November or December for small game, and September to January for waterfowl. Every state has at least one refuge that allows hunting.
“Sportsmen that eagerly anticipate the start of hunting season have been shut out of our public lands and wildlife refuges because of this irresponsible government shutdown. This is bad for outdoor enthusiasts, it’s bad for the local communities that need this economic activity, and it’s bad for the small businesses that supply the sportsmen. National Wildlife Refuges generate $1.7 billion in annual sales for nearby communities, many of which depend heavily on nature tourism for their survival. Each day of this wasteful and unnecessary shutdown, local businesses lose $4.5 million in sales. We need to end this shutdown, put the government back to work, and open our public lands back up,” said Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee.
Because of the Republican shutdown, the hunting season has ended prematurely on national wildlife refuges and untold numbers of hunters will be denied access. In 2011, almost five million U.S. residents hunted on public land (including national wildlife refuges as well as recreation areas and national forests, which remain accessible during the shutdown, along with state and local land), according to the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, which is conducted by the Census Bureau for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Fishing also is permitted at more than 250 national wildlife refuges in 48 states. The number of anglers denied access because of the shutdown likely will be even greater than the number of hunters. Hunters in 2011 spent more than $40 million on public land-use fees (including federal, state and local fees), while anglers spent almost $238 million on such fees.
Fees and other recreational spending related to hunting and fishing contribute to the management and upkeep of national wildlife refuges. Refuges lose money each day they are closed during prime hunting and fishing season. Consequently, their budgets are being cut even if Congress ultimately approves a continuing resolution to reopen the government.
Communities and businesses near national wildlife refuges also stand to lose millions of dollars if the Republican shutdown continues and hunters and anglers remain unable to access nearby wildlife refuges where hunting and fishing is permitted. Hunters spent 22 percent of their hunting days on public land compared to private land (61 million days out of 282 million days) and spent $34 billion for hunting trips, including equipment expenses, on both private and public land, according to the Census Bureau survey. Anglers, meanwhile, spent almost $42 billion on fishing trips.
The table on the following pages lists the national wildlife refuges that are normally open for hunting and fishing in October and November. Communities near these refuges were preparing to celebrate National Wildlife Refuge Week during events scheduled from Oct. 13-19. But they are instead bearing the brunt of the Republican shutdown of hunting and fishing, with the celebration on hold.
House Democrats held a Special Order to discuss the Sportsman Shutdown. To view the floor speeches, click here: http://www.youtube.com/user/NaturalResourcesDems/videos
|
Refuge Name |
State |
Hunting |
Allowed in Oct/Nov? |
Fishing |
Allowed in Oct/Nov? |
|
ALABAMA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge |
AL |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
|
Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge |
AL |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Choctaw National Wildlife Refuge |
AL |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge |
AL |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge |
AL |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
|
Key Cave National Wildlife Refuge |
AL |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
|
Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge |
AL |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
|
Sauta Cave National Wildlife Refuge |
AL |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
|
Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge |
AL |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
ALASKA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge |
AK |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge |
AK |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Arctic National National Wildlife Refuge |
AK |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Becharof National Wildlife Refuge |
AK |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Innoko National Wildlife Refuge |
AK |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Izembek National Wildlife Refuge |
AK |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge |
AK |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge |
AK |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge |
AK |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Koyukuk National Wildlife Refuge |
AK |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Nowitna National Wildlife Refuge |
AK |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Selawik National Wildlife Refuge |
AK |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge |
AK |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Togiak National Wildlife Refuge |
AK |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge |
AK |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge |
AK |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
ARIZONA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge |
AZ |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge |
AZ |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
|
Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge |
AZ |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
|
Cibola National Wildlife Refuge |
AZ |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
|
Havasu National Wildlife Refuge |
AZ |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y* |
|
Imperial National Wildlife Refuge |
AZ |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Kofa National Wildlife Refuge |
AZ |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
|
San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge |
AZ |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
|
ARIZONA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge |
AR |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge |
AR |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Cache River National Wildlife Refuge |
AR |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge |
AR |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge |
AR |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Overflow National Wildlife Refuge |
AR |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
|
Pond Creek National Wildlife Refuge |
AR |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Wapanocca National Wildlife Refuge |
AR |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
White River National Wildlife Refuge |
AR |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
CALIFORNIA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cibola National Wildlife Refuge |
CA |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
|
Clear Lake National Wildlife Refuge |
CA |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Colusa National Wildlife Refuge |
CA |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
|
Delevan National Wildlife Refuge |
CA |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
|
Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge |
CA |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Havasu National Wildlife Refuge |
CA |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge |
CA |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Imperial National Wildlife Refuge |
CA |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Kern National Wildlife Refuge |
CA |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
|
Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge |
CA |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
|
Merced National Wildlife Refuge |
CA |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
|
Modoc National Wildlife Refuge |
CA |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
|
Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge |
CA |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Salinas River National Wildlife Refuge |
CA |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
|
San Luis National Wildlife Refuge |
CA |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge |
CA |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
|
Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge |
CA |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
|
Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge |
CA |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
|
Sutter National Wildlife Refuge |
CA |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
|
Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge |
CA |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
|
COLORADO |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge |
CO |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
|
Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge |
CO |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge |
CO |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge |
CO |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
|
Rocky Mountain Arsenal |
CO |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge |
CT |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
|
DELAWARE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge |
DE |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
|
Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge |
DE |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
FLORIDA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge |
FL |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge |
FL |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
|
Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge |
FL |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge |
FL |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
|
Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge |
FL |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
|
J. N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge |
FL |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
|
Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge |
FL |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge |
FL |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge |
FL |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge |
FL |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
|
Pinellas National Wildlife Refuge |
FL |
N |
N |
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