National Wildlife Refuge System: 2026-2027 Station-Specific Hunting and Sport Fishing Regulations; Correction

What it does

• •Corrects erroneous paragraph designations and cross-references in 50 CFR Part 71 Section 71.11 that appeared in a final rule published September 1, 2026.
• •Revises and republishes Section 71.11 to establish hunting and sport fishing regulations for nine National Fish Hatchery System units, including Craig Brook, Green Lake, Iron River, Jordan River, Leadville, Leavenworth, Little White Salmon, Southwest Native Aquatic Resources and Recovery Center, and Pendill's Creek.
• •Specifies species-specific hunting regulations (migratory game bird, upland game, and big game) and operational conditions for each hatchery, such as hunting hours, equipment restrictions, and seasonal placement periods for stands.

Why it matters

• •Resolves technical errors in the original rule that would have created confusion regarding which regulations apply to specific hatchery units.
• •Implements the September 1, 2026 rule that expanded hunting opportunities on 111 field stations including 107 National Wildlife Refuge units and 4 National Fish Hatchery units by correcting regulatory text.

Who is affected

• •Hunters and sport fishermen using the four affected National Fish Hatchery System units in the United States.
• •Fish and Wildlife Service and state wildlife management agencies responsible for administering hunting regulations on federal hatcheries.

What happens next

This correcting amendment is effective as of September 25, 2026, and reflects the regulations as currently corrected.