Finalizes nearly 1,500 new hunting and fishing opportunities at refuges in 32 states

The U.S. Department of the Interior has finalized a major expansion of hunting and fishing opportunities on public land across 32 states. Outdoor recreation could rise, but the change also renews questions about whether refuge staff and resources will be enough to keep areas healthy and safe. The update adds 1,488 hunting and fishing opportunities at 111 national wildlife refuges and fish hatcheries. Those 107 refuges and four hatcheries cover 92 million acres—about 95% of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Interior said no previous expansion matched this breadth and acreage and expected completion before hunting season. The final plan matches an earlier draft, with first-ever hunting or fishing opportunities at 14 refuges and three hatcheries.