Media contact: Greg Duncan, Blue Heron Communications, 405?364?3433, greg@blueheroncomm.com

Boone and Crockett Club Thanks Department of the Interior for Expanding Hunting and Fishing Opportunities on 97 National Wildlife Refuges

MISSOULA, MT– The Boone and Crockett thanked Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt for his proposal to expand hunting and fishing opportunities on more than 2.3 million acres of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) properties across the country. The proposal announced today would provide new or expanded recreational opportunities on 97 national wildlife refuges in almost every state. Of particular note is the opening of Bamforth National Wildlife Refuge near Laramie, Wyoming for upland and big game hunting for the first time, as well as opening the Everglades Headwaters NWR in Florida, Fallon NWR in Nevada and Leslie Canyon NWR in southeastern Arizona for migratory bird, upland and big game hunting for the first time. When finalized, the new rule will continue to add to the Administration’s efforts to expand hunting and fishing access on refuges bringing the total expansion to 4 million acres nationwide.

“As the oldest wildlife conservation organization in the country, the Boone and Crockett Club was involved in President Theodore Roosevelt’s vision over one hundred years ago to create the national wildlife refuge system. The action today by Secretary Bernhardt to create new access opportunities on many of these properties shows the tremendous success of wildlife restoration efforts to build the sustainable populations that allow regulated hunting and fishing programs to expand,” commented Club President Timothy C. Brady. “We thank Fish and Wildlife Service Director Aurelia Skipwith, Secretary Bernhardt and President Trump for this Administration’s continued commitment to the sportsmen and women of this country.”

About the Boone and Crockett Club

Founded by Theodore Roosevelt in 1887, the Boone and Crockett Club is the oldest conservation organization in North America, which helped to establish the principles of wildlife and habitat conservation, hunter ethics, as well as many of the institutions, expert agencies, science, and funding mechanisms for conservation. Its contributions include enlarging and protecting Yellowstone, and establishing Glacier and Denali national parks, founding the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service and National Wildlife Refuge System, the Pittman-Robertson and Lacey Acts, creating the Federal Duck Stamp program, and developing the framework for modern game laws. The Club continues to be the leader in the hunter-conservationist community through its work in conservation policy, research and education programs at major universities, hunter ethics, and collaboration with similarly focused organizations. The Club is headquartered in Missoula, Montana. For details, visit www.boone-crockett.org.