In late August the Department of the Interior announced 42 new hunting and sport-fishing opportunities across more than 87,000 acres within the National Wildlife Refuge System and National Fish Hatchery System, which is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The final update more than triples the number of opportunities and quintuples the number of units opened or expanded compared to the previous administration, underscoring a strong national commitment to outdoor recreation and conservation.
“Hunting and fishing are more than just traditional pastimes, as they are also vital to the conservation of our lands and waters, our outdoor recreation economy and our American way of life,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. “The Trump administration is committed to promoting good government by reducing regulatory burdens by working with states to make access to these outdoor activities a reality for every American family.”
The Service is opening or expanding opportunities for hunting and sport fishing at 16 units within the National Wildlife Refuge System and one unit in the National Fish Hatchery System. These units are located in Alabama, California, Idaho, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina, Texas and Washington. The Service is committed to ensuring that all hunting and fishing opportunities align with state fish and wildlife regulations and continues to work closely with our state partners to maintain consistency, and align our update with state regulations, whenever possible.
The final update includes inaugural hunting opportunities at Southern Maryland Woodlands National Wildlife Refuge and the formal opening of hunting opportunities at Grasslands Wildlife Management Area, as well as inaugural sport fishing at North Attleboro National Fish Hatchery.
The Service is also making administrative changes to existing station-specific regulations to improve the clarity and accuracy of regulations, reduce the regulatory burden on the public and comply with a Presidential mandate for plain-language standards. This supports President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14192 of Jan. 31, 2025, “Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation,” to reduce federal regulations and their associated costs and complexities leading to significant cost savings, promote economic growth and encourage innovation. It is further supported by Secretary’s Order 3356 Hunting, Fishing, Recreational Shooting, and Wildlife Conservation Opportunities and Coordination with States, Tribes, and Territories.
“We are pleased to offer these new hunting and fishing opportunities that are compatible with our conservation mission,” said Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service Brian Nesvik. “Hunting and fishing significantly benefit the outdoors by helping manage wildlife populations, promote outdoor stewardship and contribute to local economies. These refuges and hatcheries provide incredible opportunities for sportsmen and sportswomen and their families across the country to pass on a fishing and hunting heritage to future generations.”
The final 2025-2026 update also aims to better align Service regulations with state regulations and promote consistency across national wildlife refuges and national fish hatcheries, addressing the challenges hunters and anglers face in navigating complex federal and state requirements.
A complete list of all units opening or expanding opportunities is in the final rule, which was published in the Federal Register on Aug. 28, 2025, and is available at regulations.gov, Docket Number: FWS-HQ-NWRS-2025-0031. The updates will be effective for the upcoming 2025-2026 hunting seasons and began on Sept. 2, 2025.
