You can hunt on a refuge?
That’s the response National Wild Turkey Federation Director of Education Christine Rolka heard from some of her colleagues after returning from a course at the National Conservation Training Center, a U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service training facility in Shepherdstown, WV. The training showcased ways to collaborate on the shared goals in Conserving the Future: Wildlife Refuges and the Next Generation and increasing opportunities to hunt, fish and recreate on refuges caught Rolka’s eye. The National Wild Turkey Federation is now partnering with national wildlife refuges from across the country to educate their local chapters about the vast hunting opportunities on refuges. Read more in the feature story:
A New Look At Your National Wildlife Refuges
The NWTF and the Hunting, Fishing and Outdoor Recreation Implementation team are working closely to develop resources and foster these partnerships and look forward to introducing more of the public to the outdoors, especially hunting. Find out more in A New Look At Your National Wildlife Refuges, an article featured in the latest NWTF magazine Turkey Country.
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The vast majority of refuge visitors are engaging in nonconsumptive, wildlife-dependent uses like wildlife observation, photography and environmental education. Yes, hunting and fishing are valid uses where compatible. But why is the outdoor recreation team so disproportionately focused on consumptive uses?
I agree with Dave Prayer’s comment and echo the same question, what is the driver of this increased focus on consumption uses? I believe we should increase our marketing of the National Wildlife Refuges throughout the system, but FWS should advocate for all of the Big 6 uses with the same level energy and passion.
I am in total agreement with David and Nancy on this issue. I am co-founder of the Wildlife Conservation Stamp project – a grassroots effort initiated by birders, photographers and conservationists to create an alternative revenue stream for our National Wildlife Refuges.
As passionate users of our Refuge system, we believe that a new Federal Wildlife Conservation Stamp, funded by non-consumptive users, will provide a robust source of income for our Refuges while also giving birders and wildlife watchers a dedicated platform through which to contribute their support. I invite you to read the proposal at our website, and hope you will join us in supporting and advocating for a new Wildlife Conservation Stamp.
Larry Jordan, Co-Founder
http://WildlifeConservationStamp.org
email: