US Fish and Wildlife Service Seeking Comments on Improving Hunting at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge

The US Fish and Wildlife Service  is developing a new plan that will guide management of the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge for the next 15 years.  The 10,000-acre Refuge located in Sussex County was established in 1963 expressly for the protection of migratory birds.  The Service has identified preliminary issues, concerns, and opportunities that it will address in the plan and is inviting the public to comment, and to notify them of any additional issues of concern.

One of the topics identified is hunting and the Service notes that “On the Delmarva Peninsula, hunting is a traditional outdoor pastime that is deeply rooted in American and Delaware heritage” and that opportunities for public hunting are decreasing with increasing private land development.  Thus, refuge lands are becoming increasingly important for the region’s hunters.  The Service states that hunting has and will continue to be an integral component of the public use program at the Refuge and is inviting suggestions on how to improve the current hunting program.

For all NRA members who hunt or have hunted at Prime Hook, this is an exceptional opportunity to participate in the planning process for the Refuge and to ensure that improvements to the hunting program, where needed, are incorporated in the plan.  Public comments on this first phase of planning are due by June 23rd and can be emailed to [email protected].  Please include “Prime Hook CCP” in the subject line of the message.  Further information about the Refuge and the planning process can be obtained by calling Michael Stroeh, Project Leader, at 302-653-9345.