A draft management plan for the Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge has been released for public comment by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  The 7300-acre refuge is located in Bibb and Twiggs Counties. 

The plan offers three alternative approaches to managing the refuge for the next 15 years.  All three alternatives would continue existing deer and hog hunting.  Alternative C would add small game, wild turkey and waterfowl hunts and open the west side of the refuge to hunting once access is provided. 

The deadline for comments is July 22 and should be sent to Carolyn Johnson, Assistant Refuge Manager at Piedmont@fws.gov or by mail to 718 Juliette Road, Hillsboro, GA 31038.  The plan can be viewed on line at http://southeast.fws.gov/planning.  For further information, please call 478-986-5441. 

The Fish and Wildlife Service needs to receive encouragement and support from the hunting community in Georgia that increasing access to the refuge and providing additional hunting opportunities need to be components of the final plan.  If you hunting in the refuge, it is imperative that you submit comments in support of Alternative C.