Boone and Crockett Club Applauds New U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Refuge Recommendations

On November 6, 2026, the Boone and Crockett Club announced its support for a comprehensive review of the National Wildlife Refuge System during an event at the Audubon National Wildlife Refuge north of Bismarck, theoutdoorwire.com reported.

The review provides clear directives for active habitat management, conservation collaboration with neighboring landowners, and field-based staff leadership on federal refuges.

Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Brian Nesvik attended the North Dakota announcement alongside Boone and Crockett Club member and Silencer Central CEO Brandon Maddox, according to theoutdoorwire.com.

The evaluation relied on staff surveys, site visits, and consultations with internal service personnel and supporting organizations.

However, habitat must be actively managed to provide the diverse requirements for the many fish and wildlife species that depend on our wildlife refuges, said Mary Webster, president of the Boone and Crockett Club, as reported by theoutdoorwire.com.

One wildlife researcher. Sea turtles, wolves, and whitetails. The connection between them isn't obvious. Boone and Crockett Fellow Jacob Hill built a career around finding it. 🔗☣️ Link in bio.#WildlifeResearch pic.twitter.com/8J9SkKO4Ie

— Post by @BC_Club1887 on X

Webster also thanked Director Nesvik and his team for providing a disciplined vision for the future of the public lands resource.

The Refuge Review defines stewardship as hands-on practices that maintain, improve, and care for land, water, and wildlife.

This active management approach includes grazing, agriculture, and forestry designed to advance specific conservation objectives, alongside recommendations to redeploy staff from offices directly into the field.

The review emphasizes that the success of national wildlife refuges depends on coordination both inside refuge boundaries and on surrounding private lands.

Hunters dollars supported acquisition of millions of acres of the Refuge system, and hunters are strong advocates and partners for wildlife conservation, Webster noted in the report by theoutdoorwire.com. We look forward to working with the Service as they implement the findings of this review.

The club previously extended its thanks to the U.S.

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Specific new access points include first-ever hunting opportunities at the Southern Maryland Woodlands National Wildlife Refuge, newly opened hunting at the Grasslands Wildlife Management Area, and first-ever sport fishing access at the North Attleboro National Fish Hatchery.