US Fish And Wildlife Service Accepting Comments On Hunt Fees
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The US Fish and Wildlife Service is accepting public comments on the proposal to charge a fee for hunting permits on Roanoke River National Wildlife Refuge.
The proposal is to charge a fee of $15 for limited-entry 3-day hunting permits for waterfowl, turkey, deer (gun), and deer (archery). Since 1981, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has had authority to collect recreation fees. Since 1997, the Service has been able to retain fees collected at the station, first under the Recreation Fee Demonstration Program and then, in 2004, under the authority of Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA). The FLREA was established to provide funding for recreation program improvements. Typical projects paid for by recreation fee funds include road and parking lot maintenance, brochures, passes and envelops handling and mailings of quota hunt permits, and salaries for law enforcement.
On Roanoke River National Wildlife Refuge, the NC Wildlife Resources Commission coordinates the selection and issues permits for all public limited-entry hunts. Applicants apply with the Commission and pay a $5 application fee each for all hunts for which they seek consideration. Successful applicants are sent a state permit by the Commission for specific 3-day hunts on the refuge. Beginning 2016, successful applicants will also be required to request a $15 refuge permit to participate in their assigned refuge hunt. This fee will bring Roanoke River National Wildlife Refuge in line with other North Carolina National Wildlife Refuges who charge hunting fees.
Also, Roanoke River Refuge is open to small game hunting. A State small game license is required; however, no refuge or Commission permit is needed. There is no fee for small game hunting on Roanoke River Refuge.
For the 2015 hunts, several other national wildlife refuges in North Carolina proposed changes to fee amounts. This change for Roanoke River Refuge will make fees for hunting on North Carolina refuges consistent throughout the state.
A fee analysis has been done by refuge staff, and these fees are proposed based on what nearby facilities and national wildlife refuges are requesting. The refuge is proposing to make these fees effective July 1, 2016.
We are interested in hearing from you regarding the proposed new fee requirement and are requesting public comments beginning now through April 30, 2015. Please submit any comments via email to [email protected], phone (252-473-1131 X224), or by mail to P. O. Box 1969, Manteo, NC 27954. All comments will be reviewed and considered before a final decision is made on the implementation of these fees.
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