§109.2.  Preservation of wildlife management areas; wildlife refuges; public hunting grounds and recreation areas

A.  The commission shall exercise its authority to manage wildlife management areas, wildlife refuges, public hunting grounds and recreation areas in a manner to support, promote and enhance public hunting, fishing, and recreational opportunities to the extent authorized by law.  The commission shall recognize, to the extent authorized by law, hunting, fishing, and recreational opportunities as primary uses of wildlife management areas, wildlife refuges, public hunting grounds and recreation areas that are available for public hunting, fishing, and recreational opportunities.  The commission shall make land management decisions based on criteria that include public hunting, fishing, and recreational opportunities as a primary consideration.

B.  Before March first of each calendar year, the commission shall submit to the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment a written report containing a listing of all acreage owned by the department and managed by the commission that is available for public hunting, fishing, and recreational opportunities and a listing of all acreage that was lost or gained for such purposes.

Acts 2006, No. 561, §2; Acts 2008, No. 580, §7.