OAK HARBOR— An Ohio nature preserve was the backdrop Wednesday for the U.S. Secretary of the Interior to announce a new initiative making more public land available for hunting and fishing.

  • Expanded access to include 297 acres for public hunting
  • 218 Acres for fishing
  • Land includes Ottawa and Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge

Soon there will be more fishing holes available to anglers—and land for hunters, for Ohio's upcoming recreation seasons.

Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt visited the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge in northwest Ohio Wednesday to announce plans to increase access to hunting and fishing on 1.4 million acres of public land nationwide.  Here in Ohio, the plan includes more access to the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge and Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge, both in northern Ohio.  

 

 

“The lack of access truthfully is one of the most common reasons people don’t begin hunting and angling or don’t keep doing it. Another reality is that the complicity of our regulations also is a frustration for folks beginning to fish or hunt or continuing to,” said Bernhardt.

Jason Lewis, Ottawa Wildlife Refuge manager, says one of the biggest challenges for hunters is access to public lands.

"We are opening 297 acres for public hunting and 218 acres for fishing and now there is going to be more areas for anglers and hunters to enjoy the resources here in Ohio," Lewis said.

 

 

If the proposal is approved this fall, hunters & fisherman will have more room to do what they love.

Government officials say they hope to have the plan finalized in time for the upcoming 2019-2020 fishing and hunting season.