/'^ 



II. S. OEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



J J <^ row UlNlITED STATES 



DEPARTMENT OF THE INV,^,,o:OU m^ 2 1964 



U,S„ Fish and Wildlife Service 

 Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife 



Washington 25, D, C. CURRENT SEkIAl RECORDS 



PUBLIC USE OF NATIONAL VJILDLIFE REFUGES--1951 TO 1961 



The increase in public use on the National Wildlife Refuges in 1961 

 continued a trend begun in 1951 — the first year such records \jexe gathered-- 

 when 3% million visitors were on these areas. In 1961, the number of 

 visitors exceeded 11 million. 



This increased use is most evident in connection with the enjojmient of 

 the refuges for wildlife observations, photography, picnicking, and swim- 

 ming c The nmaber of areas on which public use has been permitted increased 

 also during this period from a few over 100 to the present 153 out of 

 284 refuges* Thei-e has been liberalization, through congressional legis- 

 lation, in opening refuges to public hunting. In 1951, hunting was permitted 

 on parts of 41 areas j, while in 1961, some type of hunting was permitted on 

 90 refuges o 



Recreation on National Wildlife Refuges is limited to designated areas 

 where such activities can be accommodated without interfering with the 

 primary function of the refuges in protecting and propagating wildlife 



resources » 



Public use by major categories is shown in the following summary: 



Year 



Hunting 

 Use 



Fishing 

 Use 



Miscellaneous 

 Use 



Total 



1951 



222,470 



1,309,362 



1,911,085 



3,442,917 



1952 



250,340 



1,524,731 



2,475,718 



4,260,789 



1953 



347,988 



1 ,433 ,445 



2,905,476 



4,686,909 



1954 



361,366 



1,612,189 



3,228,705 



5,202,260 



1955 



406,219 



2,677,452 



3,890,776 



6,974,447 



1956 



435,046 



2,765,611 



4,354,677 



7,555,334 



1957 



388,995 



2,908,435 



5,371,150 



8,668,580 



1958 



352,155 



3,330,125 



5,431,385 



9,113,665 



1959 



#1,504 



3,185,342 



6,269,299 



9,936,145 



1960 



363,466 



3,328,479 



7,062,047 



10,753,992 



1961 



302,472 



3,334,361 



7,484,145 



11,120,933 



WL-443 

 June 196!L 









8789 - 62 



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