GOLDEN POND, Ky. (AP) — Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area says wildlife refuges that have been closed since last fall will reopen next week.

The areas reopening on March 16 are Rushing Bay, Duncan Bay, Duncan Lake, Smith Bay, Fulton/Honker Bay, Honker Lake Refuge, Long Creek Waterfowl Refuge and portions of Energy Lake. Hematite Lake will also open for bank fishing only.

Wildlife Program Manager Steve Bloemer says the areas are closed from Nov. 1 to March 15, mostly to serve as waterfowl and eagle refuges. He says most begin migration north by early to mid-March.

Land Between The Lakes manages more than 170,000 acres in western Kentucky and Tennessee as part of the U.S. Forest Service and Department of Agriculture's public lands program. It draws more than 1.4 million visitors annually.