• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • WHAT’S ON FOX
  • ABOUT
    • Meet Our Team
      • Our Journalists
      • Job Openings
      • Sales & Programming
    • Contact WSFX
      • Sales & Programming
  • Welcome Home

Fox Wilmington WSFX-TV

Wilmington, NC | Local news Weather and Sports

  • Local News
    • Unsung Heroes
      • Nominate an Unsung Hero
  • Local Weather
  • National
  • Sports
    • Panthers 2023 Game Schedule
    • Carolina Panthers
    • High School Football
  • Politics
    • NC Voter Information
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • What’s on TV?
  • MORE…
    • Technology
    • Science
    • Lifestyle
    • What’s Happening Wilmington

Trump administration announces plan to open more wildlife refuge land to hunting, fishing

April 9, 2020 By Brady McCombs

The Trump administration plans to open 2.3 million acres of land for hunting and fishing at more than 100 national wildlife refuges and fish hatcheries under a proposal unveiled Wednesday that is aimed at giving Americans more recreational access on public lands.

The plan earned applause from several hunting and fishing groups, but criticism from one conservation organization that called it “tone deaf” to focus on this during the COVID-19 pandemic.

WASHINGTON BANS RECREATIONAL FISHING TO SLOW CORONAVIRUS SPREAD

The proposal would allow fishing for the first time at several national wildlife refuges, including San Diego Bay in California, Alamosa in Colorado, Bombay Hook in Delaware and Umbagog in Maine and New Hampshire and Everglades Headwaters in Florida, according to a list posted online.

Over 100 wildlife refuges across the nation, including Hart Mountain National Wildlife Refuge, seen here, are among those where the Trump administration plans to expand hunting and fishing to 2.3 million additional acres. (AP Photo/Don Ryan, File)

It would also allow alligator hunting at three national wildlife refuges: Banks Lake in Georgia, Laguna Atascosa in Texas and Savannah in Georgia and South Carolina.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

In Arizona, hunters would be able to go after mountain lions and mule deer at Cabeza Prieta and bobcats, fox, and mountain lions at Buenos Aires, both national wildlife refuges. In Oregon, migratory bird hunting will be allowed for the first time at Wapato Lake and Hart Mountain national wildlife refuges.

“America’s hunters and anglers now have something significant to look forward to in the fall as we plan to open and expand hunting and fishing opportunities across more acreage nationwide than the entire state of Delaware,” Interior Secretary David Bernhardt said in a statement.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS

The plan was announced as part of the Interior Department’s annual review ahead of the upcoming hunting season, department spokesman Conner Swanson said.

A critic from a conservation group called the plan “tone-deaf” in the time of the coronavirus crisis, adding that it “by no means could ever make up for the hunting opportunities and wildlife lost as a result of Trump’s deregulatory agenda decimating our public lands and environmental protections.” (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Western Values Project director Jayson O’Neill criticized the timing of the announcement and other decisions the Trump administration has made that he contends damages public lands.

“Instead of responding to pleas by state and local officials for needed agency resources, assistance, and help during this generational pandemic, Secretary Bernhardt made a tone-deaf announcement that by no means could ever make up for the hunting opportunities and wildlife lost as a result of Trump’s deregulatory agenda decimating our public lands and environmental protections,” O’Neill said.

People will have 60 days to comment on the proposal.

CLICK HERE FOR FOX NEWS’ CONTINUING CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE

Ducks Unlimited CEO Adam Putnam said in a statement the timing is perfect since Americans hunkered-down during the pandemic are looking for open spaces to recreate.

“As millions of people around the country feel trapped in their own homes due to the COVID-19 virus, having the opportunity to hunt and fish in the quiet of the wilderness or the tranquility of a lake is perhaps more important now than its ever been,” Putnam said. “There’s never been a better time to enjoy the solitude of our public lands and distance yourself from the crowds.”

Filed Under: National Headlines

Primary Sidebar


 

Follow Us On Facebook



TRENDING NOW

Damian Lillard says months following trade request ‘left a sour taste in my mouth’: report

Swimming 6-Month-Old Who Went Viral Is Now 8 and Loves the Pool

Travis Kelce responds to Mark Cuban’s suggestion Taylor Swift should dump Chiefs’ star for Mavericks player

Heartwarming Video Shows Adorable Boy Flagging Down His Dad for Goodbye Hug

Packers’ Matt LeFleur gets testy with reporter over ‘BS’ question after brutal loss: ‘We got our a– kicked’

Footer

PUBLIC FILE INFO

Individuals with disabilities who have questions about the content of our public file or website may contact Isabella Gano by phone at
(910) 343-8826 or by email at Isabella.gano@foxwilmington.com

 
 » WSFX FCC Public File
»EEO Report
»Closed Captioning

SITE MAP

  • Local Headlines
  • Coronavirus
  • Local Weather
  • National Headlines
  • Sports
  • Politics
  • Health

WSFX TV

  • Livestream Newscast
  • Meet Our Team
  • Sales & Programming
  • WELCOME HOME
  • Go With The Pros
  • Medically Speaking
  • WHAT’S ON FOX

Copyright © 2023 · American Spirit Media LLC · WSFX TV · Wilmington NC · Terms of Service · Privacy Policy