AGENDA - Draft

Hunting and Wildlife Conservation Council
Summer Meeting: Thursday, July 23, 2025
2:00 PM EST 鈥� 4:00 PM EST

Meeting Venue: Virtual meeting via Microsoft Teams

Please refer to the Federal Register Notice for more meeting details.

July 23, 2025
All times are eastern time 

2:00pm 

Convene
Welcome and Council member roll call/introductions:
    - John Devney, HWCC Chair
    - Doug Hobbs, HWCC Designated Federal Officer
2:05pm Opening Commentss:
Comments from representatives of the Department of the Interior and Department of Agriculture
    - Kevin Lilly - Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish & Wildlife & Parks, Department of the Interior
    - Justin 鈥淛鈥� Shirley - Principal Deputy Director, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 
    - Ellen Shultzabarger - Senior Advisor (acting) - Natural Resources and Environment, U.S. Department of Agriculture
2:40pm Review of HWCC recommendations & identification of critical wildlife conservation issues
    - HWCC Chair & members
     Correspondence Summary 
3:00pmPublic comment session
    - Jean Public
    - Lauren McCain - Animal Welfare Institute -  Comments
3:10pm

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuge System updates -  Presentation

     - Cynthia Martinez, Chief 鈥� National Wildlife Refuge System, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Chronic Wasting Disease update
     - Samantha Gibbs, Wildlife Veterinarian - National Wildlife Refuge System, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Update on the National Wildlife Refuge System voluntary lead-free ammunition incentive program
     - Nick Kaczor, National Coordinator 鈥� National Wildlife Refuge System, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Update on the 2025/2026 National Wildlife Refuge System Hunt/Fish Annual Rule
     - Debbie DeVore, Chief - Division of Natural Resources and Conservation Planning, National Wildlife Refuge System, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Tentative: Update on U.S. Department of Agriculture issues
     - Steve Lohr, Natural Resources Director - U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture

4:00pmADJOURN
Two hunters in dirt camouflage bunker with shot guns raised to the sky.
"The Hunting and Wildlife Conservation Council's purpose is to provide recommendations to the Federal Government, through the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, that (a) benefit wildlife resources; (b) encourage partnership among the public; sporting conservation...
Program