A couple of comments I used to live in Eugene and every fall it would
really upset me to understand that The word Refuge was only applied 7-
8 months out of the year. The other months it was a public
concentration of ducks. The initiative that is being proposed in Wash.
to stop unfair hunting pratices like Bear baiting, is ironic because
I would like anyone to tell me how Bear baiting (w/ a platform above
the baiting area) is different then Setting up habitat and Duck
Decoys to entice Ducks to a nearby duck blind.

Second, Don yes the Hunters did buy the refuges originally. But
seriously do you think they bought the refuges for the preservation
of even ducks. Yes admittedly they do work towards some conservation
because they want to preserve the populations of ducks (especially
dabbling ducks). Furthermore refuges do not just support only ducks.
A refuge such as Fern Ridge, Nisqually or Turnbull should be as
concerned as the land species (Savanna Sparrows) as the waterfowl, i.
e. if your going to protect and create duck habitat then keep
grasslands and shrub for passerines and other species. One example
was that I was visiting Turnbull NWR about 3 weks ago and I found it
astounding that with all of the suitable riparian habitat Red Eyed
Vireo, Veery, and CAtbird had not been recorded on the refuge this
year to the knowledge of the Wildlife Bologist that we talked to.
Natinal Wildlfe Refuges should mean just that - Refuges for Wildlife.

Scott Downes