Rule 2026-17895

One rule opening more than 1,450 opportunities across 111 stations — amending site-by-site conditions all at once

Department of the Interior Published Sep 1, 2026 91 FR 56290

The Fish and Wildlife Service issued a final rule opening or expanding hunting and fishing at 111 field stations. More than 1,450 opportunities are covered, and the rule also rewrites existing provisions for clarity.

Document overview (primary data)

  • Document typeRule
  • AgencyDepartment of the Interior
  • Citation91 FR 56290

Key points

  • The Fish and Wildlife Service issued a final rule opening or expanding hunting and fishing at 111 field stations.
  • These comprise 107 national wildlife refuge units and 4 fish hatchery units, with 17 opening opportunities for the first time.
  • More than 1,450 opportunities are opened or expanded across the two systems.
  • The same rule improves the clarity and accuracy of existing provisions, citing plain-language standards.
  • Review of the information collection requirements in the rule proceeds as a separate, parallel procedure.

1Amending site-by-site rules together

At national wildlife refuges, which animals may be hunted where and when, and how fishing may be done on which waters, are set in detail station by station, because terrain, species present and patterns of use all differ. The regulations therefore become a collection of station-specific provisions. This rule amends many of them at once.

2The scale

Field stations covered111107 refuges and 4 fish hatcheries
Stations opening opportunities for the first time1714 refuges and 3 hatcheries
Opportunities opened or expandedMore than 1,450Across both systems

Counting more than 1,450 opportunities counts combinations of station, species and season. Where one station opens opportunities for several species, the count rises accordingly. The bulk of the rule follows from that granularity.

3Opening, and rewriting

The part opening or expanding opportunitiesThe part tidying the text
Aimed at increasing accessAimed at improving clarity and accuracy
New hunting or fishing becomes possibleReadability improves without changing substance
Station conditions are added or changedConsistency is secured across the agency lands and waters

Two kinds of work sit in one rule: changing what is actually permitted, and improving how existing provisions are written. Compliance with plain-language standards is given as the reason for the latter. Where a rule is hard to read, both those bound by it and those enforcing it are left uncertain. Tidying the text is treated as work bearing on whether regulation actually functions.

4A parallel procedure on paperwork

The rule carries a note on the information collection requirements it contains: the Office of Management and Budget must decide between 30 and 60 days after publication, with a separate comment deadline. Review of the paperwork burden runs alongside the rule taking effect.

This site also covers the regime requiring the government to estimate and publish burden before asking the public for information, showing rulemaking and paperwork clearance proceeding as separate procedures.

Why it matters

Substantive change and textual tidying appear in one rule. Treating readability as part of whether regulation functions reflects a basic stance of those who operate the system.

FAQ

Why do rules differ station by station?
Terrain, species present and patterns of use differ at each station, so the regulations become a collection of station-specific provisions.
Why is tidying the text part of the same rule?
A rule that is hard to read leaves both those bound by it and those enforcing it uncertain, so clarity is treated as bearing on whether regulation functions.

Sources (primary)

Source: Federal Register (federal documents, public domain). Links go to the official site.

#Fish and Wildlife Service#National Wildlife Refuges#Hunting#Fishing#Interior
Disclaimer: This site independently summarizes and classifies information based on official data sources. Always verify the latest and accurate information with the official sources. Content on finance, health, legal, and security is information, not advice. This site is not an official website of the U.S. government.