Perhaps the fastest growing activity on National Wildlife Refuges in the past ten years has been wildlife photography. That’s not surprising – the growth in digital cameras and cell phones with ever-improving picture-taking abilities are increasing the number of nature photographers at a rapid rate.
Nearly 12 million people visit outdoor areas each year to photograph wildlife, and National Wildlife Refuges and Waterfowl Production Areas naturally are at the top of the list. Photographers should take care when stopping on roads and should not park in front of gates or access areas. Commercial photography requires a Special Use Permit.