Nearly everyone has a slightly different view of what the refuge system is, or should be.
Most duck hunters view the refuges as an essential cog in perpetuation of their sport.
Some see the associated public shooting grounds as the actual site of their sport. A few resent the concentration of birds in the refuges and propose general hunting to drive the birds out. State fish and game departments are pleased to have the federal budget support wildlife areas in their states but want maximum public hunting and fishing on these areas. The General Accounting Office in Washington seems to view the refuges as units of a duck factory that should produce a fixed quota of ducks per acre or of bird days per duck stamp dollar. The Bureau of Outdoor Recreation sees the refuge system as 29 million acres of public playgrounds.