A draft Sport Hunting Plan and Environmental Assessment for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is in the process of proposing to expand hunting on Wapanocca National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) including the Round Pond and Pigmon Units in St. Francis County. Prior to opening new hunts and new lands for hunting on the Refuge, Federal law requires that the Service first determine that these uses are compatible with Refuge purposes. A compatible use is any use of a National Wildlife Refuge that, based on sound professional judgment, will not materially interfere with or detract from the fulfillment of the National Wildlife Refuge System mission or the purposes for establishing the Refuge. The Service develops a compatibility determination to facilitate evaluation of proposed refuge uses, including anticipated impacts and stipulations necessary to ensure compatibility. A draft compatibility determination has been crafted for the proposed uses and is currently available for public review.
The Sport Hunting Plan describes three alternatives for hunting on the refuge: (1) the no action alternative would continue the hunting program that is currently in place (2) the proposed action would open additional land and hunting opportunities to include big game and waterfowl and (3) the maximum hunting alternative describes hunting of all species within the State of Arkansas regulations.
Copies of the Hunt Plan, Environmental Assessment, and Compatibility Determinations can be requested from the refuge and copies are available for review at the following libraries:
Woolfolk Library, 100 North Currie Street, Marion
West Memphis Public Library, Oliver at Avalon, West Memphis
Crawfordsville Public Library, 104 South Main, Crawfordsville
Written comments, requests for the document, or questions can be directed to Glen Miller, Wildlife Refuge Manager, at P.O. Box 279, Turrell, AR 72384; (870) 343-2595. Email comments can be provided to the following address: glen_miller@fws.gov.
The Wapanocca National Wildlife Refuge is currently 5,484 acres and is located in Crittenden County, Arkansas
