GRAYSON COUNTY TX-- A new Bill being introduced by Congressman Dan Boren is aimed at protecting the rights of sportsmen to have access to Federal land.

A new bill introduced by Congressman Dan Boren wants to increase the amount of federal lands that are open for the public to hunt on, at Hagerman wildlife refuge that is already the case where people are allowed to hunt a few times a year .
The 17 square mile Hagerman Wildlife Refuge is just a small piece of federally owned land in Texoma.
The Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage and Opportunities Act, would ensure that federal land managers include provisions to allow for outdoor recreation on Public property.
The bill would also prevent Public lands from being closed to hunters unless prior notice is given.

"It contains a provision called the open until closed approach so we can keep lands open to the public as much as possible," said Congressman Dan Boren.

While the main priority of the refuge is to protect wildlife, Hagerman Assistant Manager Rick Cantu says they are exploring ways to allow more hunting on the refuge in the future.

"If there is any possibility that we can open up future hunts, we will be looking in to those," said Cantu.

While the main thrust of the Bill is to preserve the people's rights to hunt on the peoples land, opening up more federal property would also drive down to cost of what has become a very expensive sport.

"We have got to have a sport that is open not just for those that can afford it, but for everybody," said Congressman Boren.

No word on when that bill is expected to come to a vote, but Congressman Boren believes it will pass.