The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released, for public review, a hunt plan and draft environmental assessment (EA) proposing to expand hunting opportunities within Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge (New York and New Jersey). The proposed hunt plan includes management actions that promote consistency with New York and New Jersey hunting regulations and were approved in the refuge’s comprehensive conservation plan in 2009.
The hunt plan and draft EA will be available for public review and comment for 30 days, through September 8 2014. The Service will consider all comments before completing a final EA for the proposed hunt. The document can be viewed online at www.fws.gov/refuge/wallkill_river.
The proposed hunt plan and draft EA would open up new lands to hunting, including portions of the refuge falling within the State of New York. The plan also includes the addition of small game and bear hunting on all portions of the refuge. Existing deer, migratory game bird and turkey hunts will continue under the proposed hunt plan.
Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge was established to conserve and enhance populations of wildlife and their habitats, to protect and enhance water quality, and to provide opportunities for wildlife-dependent recreation and research. The refuge conserves the biological diversity of the Wallkill Valley by protecting and managing land, with a special emphasis on forest-dwelling and grassland birds, migrating waterfowl, wintering raptors, and endangered species. The North American Waterfowl Management Plan identifies the Wallkill River bottomlands as a priority focus area for waterfowl management within New Jersey.
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