Oregon: New Hunting Programs Proposed for Three Wildlife Refuges

New Hunting Programs Proposed for Three Wildlife Refuges  The US Fish and Wildlife Service has released draft management plans for the Bandon Marsh, Nestucca Bay, and Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuges to guide management of these refuges for the next 15 years.  The Refuges are located in Coos, Tillamook, and Lincoln Counties.

The Service proposes to expand waterfowl hunting on Bandon Marsh by allowing hunting on 300 acres of the Ni-les'tun Unit in addition to the present program that allows hunting seven-days-a-week on the 256 acre-Bandon Marsh Unit.  Alternative B would allow seven-days-a-week of new hunting on the Ni-les'tun Unit vs. Alternative C which would reduce that to three-days-a-week.

A waterfowl hunting program is planned for Nestucca Bay on 180 acres at Brooten Marsh, 33 acres at the mouth of the Little Nestucca River, and 82 acres at the Little Nestucca Restoration Site under Alternative B.  However, under Alternative C, the Restoration Site would not be open to hunting.

The nearly 2000-acre Siletz Refuge would be open to waterfowl hunting seven-days-a-week on 80 acres west of Highway 101, as well as three-days-a-week on 225 acres north and south of Millport Slough and east of Highway 101.  Slight changes to the proposed waterfowl program are made in Alternative C.

More information about the management plans for these refuges and the hunting opportunities being offered can be found at http://www.fws.gov/oregoncoast/CCP_NES_SLZ_BDM.htm.   Public comments are invited until October 22^nd and can be emailed to [email protected].  Please include "Bandon Marsh, Nestucca Bay, and Siletz Bay draft CCP and EA" in the subject line.

Hunter support through public comment is extremely important in order to keep Federal wildlife refuges open to hunting and encouraging the Service to enhance and expand hunting opportunities.  Please take a few minutes to email your comments to the Service.