Hunters and anglers may soon have more access on two National Wildlife Refuges in Oregon.

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke on Wednesday proposed expanded access for hunters and anglers on 10 wildlife refuges. Two of those public sites – the Baskett Slough and Siletz Bay refuges – are in Oregon.

Hunting and fishing is already legal on several refuges in the state.

Zinke, a former Montana congressman, said he grew up hunting and fishing on public lands with his father and grandfather. "As the steward of our public lands, one of my top priorities is to open up access wherever possible for hunting and fishing so that more families have the opportunity to pass down the heritage," he said in a statement. "The last thing I want to see is hunting and fishing become elite sports. These ten refuges will provide incredible opportunities for sportsmen and anglers across the country to access the land and connect with the wildlife."

The announcement kicked off a 30-day public comment period before the proposals can be finalized.

The rule change at Baskett Slough, which is roughly 14 miles west of Salem, will create a new season in fall 2018 for hunters 17 and under.

Hunting migratory birds such as geese and ducks is currently not allowed on the 1,173-acre refuge.

The fishing proposal applies to Siletz Bay refuge, which sits just south of Lincoln City.

Brent Lawrence, a spokesman for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Oregon, said the new federal rules will open up fishing from the bank for the first time. "We've had this in the plans for quite a while," Lawrence said, saying the trail discussion has been in the works for years and was cited in a 2015 Comprehensive Conservation Plan for the refuge.

Federal officials recently completed a half-mile trail that stretches to a bank at the coastal refuge. Anglers will be able to fish for chinook salmon, steelhead and cutthroat trout.

Lawrence said anglers can already fish from a boat in the refuge. "This is ideal for people who don't have boats," he said.

If approved, the new fishing regulations could be in effect this fall.

-- Andrew Theen

atheen@oregonian.com

503-294-4026

@andrewtheen