We are both opening new hunting and fishing programs and expanding programs on national wildlife refuges for the 2004-2005 Season. In all, more than 300 public hunting programs and more than 280 public fishing programs are available on national wildlife refuges and wetland management districts.

?With the expansion of our hunting and fishing programs, more families can enjoy the diverse recreational activities that refuges have to offer,? said USFWS Director Steve Williams.

The new programs being offered are:

∙ Sport Fishing: Red River NWR, LA and Cypress Creek NWR, IL

∙ Migratory Bird, Upland Game, and Big Game Hunting: Waccamaw NWR, SC; Mountain Longleaf NWR, AL; and Red River NWR, LA.

We expanded the following programs on refuges that already offer hunting and fishing:

∙ Migratory Bird: Crescent Lake NWR, NE; Cross Creeks and Tennessee NWR, TN; Big Oaks NWR, IN; and Savannah NWR, GA/SC.

∙ Upland Game: Trinity River NWR, TX and Big Oaks NWR, IN

∙ Big Game: Trinity River NWR, TX

In 2003, there were 2.2 million hunting visits and 6.6 million fishing visits to national wildlife refuges and wetland management districts.