[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 139 (Wednesday, July 20, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43339-43340]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-18199]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R2-R-2011-N114; 1261-0000-29154-4A]
Hunt Fee at Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge, TX
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to Implement a Hunt Fee.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce our
intent to implement a hunt fee at Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge
(Refuge), located in Texas, as authorized by Federal Lands Recreation
Enhancement Act (REA). The Refuge's proposed fee is $12.50 for lottery
deer and feral hog hunt. Under REA provisions, the Refuge will identify
and post the specific fee.
DATES: Submit your comments on this action by August 19, 2011. Unless
we publish a notice in the Federal Register withdrawing this action, we
will implement the hunt fee on January 16, 2012 at the Refuge.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments by one of the following methods:
By U.S. mail to: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Attn:
Visitor Services, 500 Gold Ave., SW., Room 4504, Albuquerque, NM 87102.
By fax to: (505) 248-6621.
By e-mail to: Ken_Garrahan@fws.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ken Garrahan, at (505) 248-6635.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
(TPWD) is the regulatory agency for wildlife in Texas. To monitor deer
population dynamics throughout the state, TPWD has identified 33 unique
Resource Management Units (RMUs) having similar soils, vegetation types
and land use practices. TPWD collects, compiles, and analyzes deer
population data from identified RMUs and associated ecoregions
throughout the state and adjusts deer hunting regulations accordingly.
Caddo Lake NWR is within RMU 16 where deer densities increased from
8.7 to 15.1 deer per 1,000 acres and recruitment decreased almost 50
percent from 2005 to 2008. The Refuge has worked in cooperation with
TPWD biologists and staff to monitor the deer herd on Caddo Lake NWR.
In 2008 and 2009, Refuge and TPWD staff conducted spotlight
surveys, browse surveys, forest understory evaluations and review of
historic and ongoing Army deer hunt data (prior to 2004, the land was
under the jurisdiction of the United States Army, Department of
Defense). The data indicate that the Refuge deer herd is at/near
carrying capacity (K) levels, or that it exceeds K levels in certain
areas of the Refuge. During this 2-year period, deer density on the
refuge has increased from 34.3 to 58.9 deer per 1,000 acres. Estimated
doe per buck ratio also increased from 2:1 to 3:1, while recruitment
remained low, at near 0.15 fawns per doe. Accordingly, the proposed
limited deer hunt will reduce the number of deer to obtain a more
healthy and sustainable population on the Refuge.
Feral hogs are an extremely invasive exotic species that is not
considered a game species by the State of Texas. Texas is home to an
estimated 2 million feral hogs. This is due in part to intentional
releases, suitable habitat, disease eradication, limited natural
predators, and high reproductive potential. There are very few
inhibiting factors to curtail this population growth. The hunting of
feral hogs has become a popular sport in the State, and the public
interest would best be served by allowing this activity on the refuge.
The damaging effects of feral hogs were present prior to the
establishment of the refuge, and their numbers and damaging effects on
the habitat and native wildlife species will continue to increase
without a control mechanism. If a control mechanism (i.e. hunting or
trapping) is not established and implemented, feral hogs will degrade
the refuge habitat and have a negative impact on native wildlife
species.
We announce our intent to implement a $12.50 hunt fee for a lottery
deer and feral hog hunt at the Refuge under 16 U.S.C. 6802(g) of the
REA. The Refuge plans to use collected fees to defray costs associated
with a hunting program on the Refuge. Fees garnered through this
program will be used to offset expenses in operating the hunt,
including providing refuge hunt permits/brochures, boundary line/hunt
area signage, maintenance of overtime by law enforcement officers,
employee salaries dedicated to the administration of the hunts, and for
expansion and improvement of parking areas, and improved accessibility
for mobility impaired hunters. It is our policy to only allow
activities that are appropriate and compatible with the Refuge's
purposes.
Public Availability of Comments
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be
able to do so.
Authorities and Requirements of the REA
In December 2004, the REA became law (16 U.S.C. 6801-6814). The REA
provides authority through December 2014 for the Secretaries of the
Departments of the Interior and Agriculture to establish, modify,
charge, and collect recreation fees for use at some Federal recreation
lands and waters, and contains specific provisions addressing public
involvement in the establishment of recreation fees. The REA also
directed the Secretaries of the Departments of the Interior and
Agriculture to publish advance notice in the Federal Register whenever
bureaus
[[Page 43340]]
establish new recreation fee areas under their respective
jurisdictions.
Should public comments provide substantive reasons why we should
not implement a hunt fee at the Refuge, we may reevaluate our plan and
publish a subsequent notice in the Federal Register withdrawing this
action. Otherwise, we will implement a hunt fee at the Caddo Lake
Refuge on the date specified in the DATES section of this document, and
the Refuge will post fee amounts and expenditures onsite.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 6801-6814.
Dated: April 27, 2011.
Joy E. Nicholopoulos,
Acting Regional Director, Region 2.
[FR Doc. 2011-18199 Filed 7-19-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P