Rule2026-19723
National Wildlife Refuge System; 2026-2027 Station-Specific Hunting and Sport Fishing Regulations; Correction
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
September 25, 2026
Effective
September 25, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentFish and Wildlife Service
Abstract
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS or Service), are correcting a final rule that appeared in the Federal Register on September 1, 2026. The rule opened or expanded hunting opportunities on 111 field stations, including 107 units of the National Wildlife Refuges System (Refuge System or NWRS) and 4 units of the National Fish Hatchery System (Hatchery System or NFHS).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 185 (Friday, September 25, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 185 (Friday, September 25, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 60900-60902]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-19723]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FWS-HQ-NWRS-2026-1223; FXRS12610900000-267-FF09R20000]
RIN 1018-BI71
National Wildlife Refuge System; 2026-2027 Station-Specific
Hunting and Sport Fishing Regulations; Correction
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Correcting amendments.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS or Service), are
correcting a final rule that appeared in the Federal Register on
September 1, 2026. The rule opened or expanded hunting opportunities on
111 field stations, including 107 units of the National Wildlife
Refuges System (Refuge System or NWRS) and 4 units of the National Fish
Hatchery System (Hatchery System or NFHS).
[[Page 60901]]
DATES: This rule is effective September 25, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie Henning, Branch Chief of
Conservation Planning and Policy, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#503a253c39350f38353e3e393e37103627237e373f26"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="85eff0e9ece0daede0ebebecebe2c5e3f2f6abe2eaf3">[email protected]</span></a>, 571-389-3584.
Individuals in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of
hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or
TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services. Individuals
outside the United States should use the relay services offered within
their country to make international calls to the point-of-contact in
the United States.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We are correcting the final rule that
appeared in the Federal Register on September 1, 2026, at 91 FR 56290
(FR document 2026-17895). The rule opened or expanded hunting
opportunities on 111 field stations, including 107 units of the
National Wildlife Refuges System (Refuge System or NWRS) and 4 units of
the National Fish Hatchery System (Hatchery System or NFHS). The
September 1, 2026, final rule included erroneous paragraph designations
for NFHS units as part of amendatory instruction 33 on page 56365 which
resulted in incorrect paragraph designations for several new entries.
This document corrects paragraph designations and cross references for
regulations in title 50 Code of Federal Regulations part 71 at Sec.
71.11 National fish hatcheries open for hunting. For clarity, we revise
and republish Sec. 71.11 with this document.
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 71
Fish, Fishing, Hunting, Wildlife.
Regulation Promulgation
Accordingly, part 71, subchapter E of chapter I, title 50 of the
Code of Federal Regulations is corrected by making the following
correcting amendments:
PART 71--HUNTING AND SPORT FISHING ON NATIONAL FISH HATCHERIES
0
1. The authority citation for part 71 continues to read as follows:
Authority: Sec. 4, Pub. L. 73-121, 48 Stat. 402, as amended;
sec. 4, Pub. L. 87-714, 76 Stat. 654; 5 U.S.C. 301; 16 U.S.C. 460k,
664, 668dd, 1534.
0
2. Revise and republish Sec. 71.11 to read as follows:
Sec. 71.11 National fish hatcheries open for hunting.
The following hatcheries are open for hunting as governed by
applicable Federal and State regulations, and are listed in
alphabetical order with additional hatchery-specific regulations.
(a) Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery--(1)Migratory game bird
hunting. We allow the hunting of migratory game bird species authorized
by the State on designated areas of the hatchery subject to the
following conditions:
(i) We prohibit night hunting.
(ii) Hunters may enter the hatchery 1 hour before legal sunrise and
must leave no later than 1 hour after legal sunset.
(iii) We allow only portable stands and blinds for hunting, and
they must be removed at the end of each day's hunt.
(2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of upland game species
authorized by the State on designated areas of the hatchery subject to
the conditions set forth at paragraphs (a)(1)(i) through (iii) of this
section.
(3) Big game hunting. We allow hunting of big game species
authorized by the State on designated areas of the hatchery subject to
the conditions set forth at paragraphs (a)(1)(i) through (iii) of this
section.
(b) Green Lake National Fish Hatchery--(1) Migratory game bird
hunting. We allow the hunting of migratory game bird species,
authorized by the State on designated areas of the hatchery subject to
the following conditions:
(i) We prohibit night hunting.
(ii) Hunters may enter the hatchery 1 hour before legal sunrise and
must leave no later than 1 hour after legal sunset.
(iii) We allow only portable stands and blinds for hunting, and
they must be removed at the end of each day's hunt.
(iv) Trapping, baiting, or hunting over bait is prohibited for all
species.
(2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of upland game species
authorized by the State on designated areas of the hatchery subject to
the conditions set forth at paragraphs (b)(1)(i) through (iv) of this
section.
(3) Big game hunting. We allow hunting of big game species
authorized by the State on designated areas of the hatchery subject to
the conditions set forth at paragraphs (b)(1)(i) through (iv) of this
section.
(c) Iron River National Fish Hatchery--(1) Migratory game bird
hunting. We allow duck, goose, coot, rail, snipe, woodcock, dove, and
crow hunting on designated areas of the hatchery.
(2) Upland game hunting. We allow pheasant, bobwhite quail, ruffed
and sharp-tailed grouse, Hungarian partridge, rabbit/hare, squirrel,
coyote, fox, bobcat, raccoon, opossum, skunk, weasel, and woodchuck
hunting on designated areas of the hatchery.
(3) Big game hunting. We allow white-tailed deer, turkey, and bear
hunting on designated areas of the hatchery subject to the following
conditions:
(i) You must label tree stands and ground blinds with the owner's
State hunting license number. The label must be readable from the
ground.
(ii) You may place tree stands and ground blinds on the hatchery
only from September 1 to December 31 annually.
(d) Jordan River National Fish Hatchery--(1) Migratory game bird
hunting. We allow the hunting of migratory game bird species authorized
by the State on designated areas of the hatchery subject to the
following conditions:
(i) We allow entry into the hatchery 1 hour before legal sunrise
and require hunters to leave the hatchery no later than 1 hour after
legal sunset.
(ii) We prohibit shooting on or over any hatchery road and shooting
within 50 feet (15 meters) from the centerline.
(iii) We allow the use of dogs while hunting, provided the dog is
under the immediate control of the hunter at all times.
(iv) We allow the harvest of pigeon during any open season.
(v) You must remove all personal property, including but not
limited to boats, decoys, blinds, blind materials, stands, platforms,
and cameras, brought onto the refuge at the end of each day's hunt (see
Sec. Sec. 27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter).
(2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of upland game species
authorized by the State, except hunting of English sparrow and European
starling, on designated areas of the hatchery subject to the following
conditions:
(i) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (d)(1)(i) through (v) of
this section apply.
(ii) We prohibit night hunting of upland game from 30 minutes after
legal sunset until 30 minutes before legal sunrise the following day.
(iii) We allow the harvest of feral hogs, including Russian boar,
during big game hunting.
(3) Big game hunting. We allow hunting of bear, elk, white-tailed
deer, and turkey on designated areas of the hatchery subject to the
conditions set forth at paragraphs (d)(1)(i) through (v) of this
section.
(e) Leadville National Fish Hatchery--(1) Migratory game bird
hunting. We allow migratory game bird hunting on designated areas of
the hatchery.
(2) Upland game hunting. We allow upland game hunting on designated
areas of the hatchery.
[[Page 60902]]
(3) Big game hunting. We allow big game hunting on designated areas
of the hatchery subject to the following conditions:
(i) You must label tree stands and ground blinds with the owner's
State hunting license number. The label must be readable from the
ground.
(ii) You may place tree stands and ground blinds on the refuge only
from September 1 to December 31 annually.
(4) Sport fishing. See Sec. 71.12(l) for hatchery-specific fishing
regulations for this hatchery.
(f) Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery--(1) Migratory game bird
hunting. We allow migratory game bird hunting on designated areas of
the hatchery subject to the following condition: We allow the use of
dogs for hunting in accordance with State of Washington hunting
regulations.
(2) Upland game hunting. We allow upland game hunting on designated
areas of the hatchery subject to the following condition: We allow the
use of dogs for hunting in accordance with State of Washington hunting
regulations.
(3) Big game hunting. We allow big game hunting on designated areas
of the hatchery subject to the following condition: We allow the use of
dogs for hunting in accordance with State of Washington hunting
regulations.
(4) Sport fishing. See Sec. 71.12(m) for hatchery-specific fishing
regulations for this hatchery.
(g) Little White Salmon National Fish Hatchery--(1) Migratory bird
hunting. We allow hunting of crow on designated areas of the hatchery
subject to the following conditions:
(i) We only allow portable blinds and temporary blinds constructed
of nonliving natural materials. Hunters must remove all equipment at
the end of each day's hunt.
(ii) We allow the use of dogs when hunting.
(2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of bobcat, grouse,
partridge, and porcupine on designated areas of the hatchery subject to
the conditions set forth at paragraphs (g)(1)(i) and (ii) of this
section.
(3) Big game hunting. We allow hunting of bear, elk, black-tailed
deer, mule deer, and turkey on designated areas of the hatchery subject
to the conditions set forth at paragraphs (g)(1)(i) and (ii) of this
section.
(4) Sport fishing. See Sec. 71.12(n) for hatchery-specific fishing
regulations for this hatchery.
(h) Southwest Native Aquatic Resources and Recovery Center-- (1)
Migratory game bird hunting. We allow the hunting of sandhill crane,
light and dark goose, duck, merganser, coot, mourning and white-winged
dove, and band-tailed pigeon on designated areas of the center.
(2) Upland game hunting. We allow the hunting of Eurasian collared-
dove; dusky (blue) grouse; pheasant; scaled quail; and Abert's, red,
gray, and fox squirrel on designated areas of the center.
(3) [Reserved]
(i) Pendill's Creek National Fish Hatchery--(1) Migratory game bird
hunting. We allow hunting of migratory game bird species authorized by
the State on designated areas of the hatchery subject to the following
conditions:
(i) We allow entry into the hatchery 1 hour before legal sunrise
and require hunters to leave the hatchery no later than 1 hour after
legal sunset.
(ii) We prohibit shooting on or over any hatchery road and shooting
within 50 feet (15 meters) from the centerline.
(iii) We allow the use of dogs while hunting, provided the dog is
under the immediate control of the hunter at all times.
(iv) We allow the harvest of pigeon during any open season.
(v) You must remove all personal property, including but not
limited to boats, decoys, blinds, blind materials, stands, platforms,
and cameras, brought onto the refuge at the end of each day's hunt (see
Sec. Sec. 27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter).
(2) Upland game hunting. We allow the hunting of upland game
species authorized by the State, except for English sparrows and
European starlings, on designated areas of the hatchery subject to the
following conditions:
(i) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (i)(1)(i) through (v) of
this section apply.
(ii) We prohibit night hunting of upland game from 30 minutes after
legal sunset until 30 minutes before legal sunrise the following day.
(iii) We allow the harvest of feral hog, including Russian boar,
during big game hunting.
(3) Big game hunting. We allow white-tailed deer, turkey, and bear
hunting on designated areas of the hatchery subject to the conditions
set forth at paragraphs (i)(1)(i) through (v) of this section.
(j) Spring Creek National Fish Hatchery--(1) Migratory bird
hunting. We allow hunting of crow on designated areas of the hatchery
subject to the following conditions:
(i) We only allow portable blinds and temporary blinds constructed
of nonliving natural materials. Hunters must remove all equipment at
the end of each day's hunt.
(ii) We allow the use of dogs when hunting.
(2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of bobcat, grouse,
partridge, and porcupine on designated areas of the hatchery subject to
the following condition: The conditions set forth at paragraphs
(j)(1)(i) and (ii) of this section apply.
(3) Big game hunting. We allow hunting of bear, elk, black-tailed
deer, mule deer, and wild turkey on designated areas of the hatchery
subject to the following condition: The conditions set forth at
paragraphs (j)(1)(i) and (ii) of this section apply.
(4) Sport fishing. We allow sport fishing on designated areas of
the hatchery subject to the following condition: We only allow fishing
from legal sunrise to legal sunset.
Jillian Eanett,
Acting Chief, Policy and Regulations Branch, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-19723 Filed 9-24-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 25, 2026.
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