Draft Environmental Assessment for Pronghorn and White-Tailed Deer Hunting on the National Elk Refuge April 2021 Prepared By Frank Durbian, Project Leader National Elk Refuge 675 East Broadway, Jackson, WY 83001 307-201-5409 Table of Contents Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 3 Proposed Action .......................................................................................................... 3 Background ................................................................................................................. 3 Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action ................................................................ 4 Alternatives ......................................................................................................................... 5 Alternatives Considered .............................................................................................. 5 Alternative A – Open Hunting Opportunities for Pronghorn and White-Tailed Deer – Proposed Action Alternative ................................................................................................... 5 Alternative B – Current Conditions – No Action Alternative ................................................ 7 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences ............................................ 7 Monitoring ................................................................................................................ 29 Summary of Analysis ................................................................................................. 29 Alternative A – Pronghorn and White-Tailed Deer Hunting (Proposed Action Alternative) ............................................................................................................................................... 29 Alternative B – Current Management Strategy (No Action Alternative) ............................. 29 List of Sources, Agencies and Persons Consulted ...................................................... 30 List of Preparers ........................................................................................................ 30 State Coordination .................................................................................................... 30 Tribal Consultation .................................................................................................... 30 Public Outreach ......................................................................................................... 30 Determination ........................................................................................................... 31 Signatures ................................................................................................................. 31 References ......................................................................................................................... 32 1 List of Figures Figure 1. National Elk Refuge Boundary and Roads. ................................................................... 34 Figure 2. Map of the National Elk Refuge Proposed Pronghorn Hunting Units, Including Refuge Hunt Unit 6 and Refuge Hunt Unit 8. ........................................................................................... 35 Figure 3. Map of the National Elk Refuge Proposed White-tailed Deer Hunting Units, Including Hunting Unit 6. ............................................................................................................................. 36 List of Tables Table 1. Potential for Adverse Impacts from Proposed Action and Alternatives ........................... 8 Table 2. Affected Natural Resources and Anticipated Direct and Indirect Impacts of the Proposed Action and Any Alternatives. ......................................................................................................... 9 Table 3. Affected Visitor Use and Experience and Anticipated Direct and Indirect Impacts of the Proposed Action and Any Alternatives......................................................................................... 24 Table 4. Affected Refuge Management and Operations and Anticipated Direct and Indirect Impacts of the Proposed Action and Any Alternatives. ................................................................ 26 Table 5. Affected Socioeconomics and Anticipated Direct and Indirect Impacts of the Proposed Action and Any Alternatives. ....................................................................................................... 28 Appendices Other Applicable Statutes, Executive Orders, and Regulations ...........................33 Maps of the National Elk Refuge and Proposed Action ......................................34 2 Draft Environmental Assessment for Pronghorn and White-Tailed Deer Hunting on the National Elk Refuge Date: April 2021 This environmental assessment (EA) is being prepared to evaluate the effects associated with this proposed action and to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in accordance with Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] 1500-1508), Department of the Interior (43 CFR 46; 516 DM 8), and United States (U.S.) Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) (550 FW 3) regulations and policies. NEPA requires examination of the effects of proposed actions on the natural and human environment. Introduction Proposed Action The Service is proposing to open the National Elk Refuge (NER or refuge) to pronghorn and white-tailed deer hunting in accordance with the refuge’s Draft Pronghorn and White-Tailed Deer Hunting Plan (USFWS 2021), and Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s (WGFD) hunting regulations. The details regarding the refuge’s proposed hunt locations, policies, and procedures are all available for review in the hunting plan. The proposed action may evolve during the NEPA process, as the agency refines its proposal and gathers feedback from the public, tribes, and other agencies. Therefore, the final proposed action may be different from the original. The proposed action will be finalized at the conclusion of the public comment period for the draft EA. Background National wildlife refuges are guided by the mission and goals of the National Wildlife Refuge System (Refuge System), the purposes of an individual refuge, Service policy, and laws and international treaties. Relevant guidance includes the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (NWRSAA), as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (Improvement Act) (16 U.S. Code 668dd et seq.), Refuge Recreation Act of 1962, and selected portions of the Code of Federal Regulations and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Manual. The refuge was established in 1912 as a “winter game (elk) reserve” pursuant to 37 Stat 293, 16 U.S. Code 673. In the following year, Congress designated the area as “a winter elk refuge” (37 Stat 847). In 1921, all lands included in the refuge or that might be added in the future were reserved and set apart as “refuges and breeding grounds for birds” (Executive Order 3596), which was affirmed in 1922 (Executive Order 3741). In 1927, the refuge was expanded to provide “for the grazing of, and as a refuge for, American Elk and other big game animals” (44 Stat 1246, U.S. Code 673a). 3 The mission of the Refuge System, as outlined by the NWRSAA, as amended by the Improvement Act (16 U.S. Code 668dd et seq.), is: “. to administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management and, where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.” The NWRSAA mandates the Secretary of the Interior in administering the Refuge System (16 U.S. Code 668dd[a][4]) to: • provide for the conservation of fish, wildlife, and plants, and their habitats within the Refuge System; • ensure that the biological integrity, diversity, and environmental health of the Refuge System are maintained for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans; • ensure that the mission of the Refuge System described at 16 U.S. Code 668dd(a)(2) and the purposes of each refuge are carried out; • ensure effective coordination, interaction, and cooperation with owners of land adjoining refuges and the fish and wildlife agency of the states in which the units of the Refuge System are located; • assist in the maintenance of adequate water quantity and water quality to fulfill the mission of the Refuge System and the purposes of each refuge; • recognize compatible wildlife-dependent recreational uses as the priority general public uses of the Refuge System through which the American public can develop an appreciation for fish and wildlife; • ensure that opportunities are provided within the Refuge System for compatible wildlife- dependent recreational uses; and • monitor the status and trends of fish, wildlife, and plants in each refuge. In accordance with the comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) for the refuge (USFWS 2015), the National Elk Refuge currently allows elk and bison hunting as wildlife-dependent recreational uses and population control measures for the Jackson elk and bison herds. Approximately 98% of the refuge is open to hunting for these species. The remaining 2% is closed to hunting due to employee and public safety reasons. Big game hunting in the Jackson, Wyoming, area is a longstanding tradition and has strong