Renewed Hunting and Fishing Focus on Interior Department-Managed Property

On Jan. 7 U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum issued an order stating, “…public and federally managed lands should be open to hunting and fishing unless a specific, documented, and legally supported exception applies.” The new policy applies to the millions of acres managed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

“For years, hunters and anglers have had to deal with outdated and confusing regulations when choosing to hunt on federal lands,” said John Commerford, Executive Director of NRA-ILA. “This decision will streamline much needed changes to existing policy and demonstrates a true commitment to sportsmen and women by the Trump Administration.”

Each service and bureau must now identify any restriction that limits access for hunters and fishermen for sporting purposes. Those regulations must then be removed in any cases deemed practical. The change will also reduce the volume of confusing and often conflicting regulations in areas where an Interior Department managed property lies adjacent to state- or tribal-owned property.

Sec. Burgum’s order mandates managers, “Expand access and opportunities where compatible with law, refuge purposes, park enabling statutes, reclamation area requirements, safety, and conservation needs.”

To ensure any new restrictions receive a thorough review, it also requires officials to, “Elevate any proposed reduction or incompatibility determination involving hunting or fishing to appropriate Bureau or Office leadership for transparent and accountable review.”

The move is the latest change Sec. Burgum—former North Dakota governor—has made benefitting sportsmen since he was sworn into office in early 2025. In August, for example, the Department of the Interior announced it was opening another 87,000 acres to hunting and fishing in 42 locations, including regions on the National Fish Hatchery system and National Wildlife Refuge System. That area will increase with his Jan. 7 secretarial order.