White River Refuge seeks comments on proposed hunting permit fee increase

April 4, 2018

Randy Zellers

Assistant Chief of Communications

ST. CHARLES – Dale Bumpers White River national Wildlife Refuge is seeking public comments on a proposal to increase its permit fee from $12.50 to $25, and expand it to include all hunting, fishing camping and boating access on a yearly basis.

According to a recent release, “Beginning August 1, 2018, Dale Bumpers White River NWR is proposing to require each person who is hunting, applying for quota hunts, fishing, launching a boat or utilizing a campground to possess an Annual Public Use Permit. The permit fee will be $25 for those 16 years of age and over and free to all those 15 years of age and younger. Hunters will not be required to pay an additional permit fee if they are drawn for quota hunts.”

Refuge Manager Charles “Bo” Sloan says the permit fee will provide more funding to improve and maintain refuge roads, trails, boat ramps and other amenities vital to the public’s enjoyment of the refuge. 

Visit https://www.fws.gov/refuge/white_river for more information on the proposal and how to submit comments to the Federal Refuge system.