The past week has seen significant developments for Game and Fish agencies and wildlife management across the United States. The Department of the Interior has just announced a notable expansion of hunting and fishing access, opening up over eighty-seven thousand acres across the National Wildlife Refuge System and National Fish Hatchery System for the upcoming 2025 and 2026 seasons. Sixteen units within these refuges and one hatchery, stretching across states like Alabama, California, Idaho, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina, Texas, and Washington, will now offer new or expanded hunting and sport fishing opportunities. This move comes with a commitment to align federal access closely with state wildlife regulations and continue reducing regulatory burdens. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, these changes aim to foster broader participation in outdoor traditions that contribute significantly to both conservation efforts and the national recreation economy. Recent federal data indicate that, in 2021, almost forty million Americans over the age of sixteen fished and more than fourteen million hunted, with national expenditures by hunters and anglers exceeding one hundred forty-four billion dollars in 2022.

In the Midwest, South Dakota’s Game, Fish and Parks Commission convened in Rapid City to discuss updates to species management and hunting rules. They are currently soliciting public input on their North American River Otter Action Plan for 2025 to 2029 and have added the Prussian Carp to the state’s Aquatic Invasive Species list to confront threats to native fish populations. Notably, the commission adjusted regulations for live crayfish sales and realigned rules for certain non-native fishes. Changes to hunting rules now allow an expanded use of dogs in specified Black Hills areas and modify mountain lion hunting access permit requirements. The commission also advanced a proposal to increase the share of resident licenses for Custer State Park bison tags.

Waterfowl management is seeing both new opportunities and conservation-driven restrictions. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s latest survey, released this week, found duck populations steady compared to last year, though numbers remain about four percent below the long-term average. Dry conditions have reduced pond abundance across key breeding grounds, especially in the north-central U.S., impacting migration and potentially limiting hunting seasons. Arkansas, for example, will see an increased daily limit for pintails under a new harvest strategy, allowing three pintails per day for the next three years as long as the population supports it. However, persistently low blue-winged teal numbers have led to a shortened nine-day special teal season, impacting hunters targeting these early migrants.

Out West, Oregon’s Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted its 2025 Priority Fish Passage Barrier list with updated scoring to address emerging challenges for migratory fish, while Arizona’s Governor’s Office has opened applications for a new Game and Fish position, signaling ongoing investment in agency leadership.

Together, these updates demonstrate a nationwide focus on balancing access, habitat conservation, and adaptive regulation in response to changing environmental and wildlife population conditions, with agencies seeking more extensive input from the public and partners to guide future decisions.

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