The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced that it will begin to draft a plan for the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge that will guide refuge management for the next 15 years.  The 187,000-acre refuge located in Harney County is one of the largest freshwater marshes in the country.  Waterfowl hunting is available on approximately half of Malheur Lake and upland bird hunting is available on approximately one quarter of the refuge. 

One of the issues that the Service will be addressing is the adequacy of access and facilities for all of the wildlife dependent uses, like hunting and fishing, and opportunities to expand these programs. 

The Service is inviting comments from the public to gather suggestions and information on the scope of the issues to consider during the planning process.  Comments are due by October 15 and can be emailed to FW1PlanningComments@fws.gov.  Include "Malheur CCP" in the subject line of the message. 

Public meetings will be held and announced on the refuge's website at http://www.fws.gov/malheur.  For further information you may call 541-493-2612. 

It is important that those who hunt and fish in the refuge to become active participants in the planning process to ensure that sportsmen's interests are well represented in the plan that will be drafted.