Headline: Executive Order Expands Hunting Access on Public Lands

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Headline: Executive Order Expands Hunting Access on Public Lands

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On September 17, 2026, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order titled “Reinvigorating America’s Hunting Heritage” to expand access for hunting and fishing on public lands and waterways. This action is part of a broader effort to reduce regulations and promote outdoor recreation. The order directs the Secretaries of the Interior, Agriculture, Defense, and Commerce to identify and propose changes that would expand access, promote healthy wild game populations, and open more coastal areas to recreational fishing.

A key provision of the order aims to roll back Biden-era restrictions, including those requiring non-lead ammunition for certain hunts in national wildlife refuges managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This follows a significant expansion in August 2026, where the Interior Department announced its largest-ever increase in hunting and sport-fishing access, making over 92 million acres, or more than 95% of the refuge system’s total acreage, available for these activities.

The administration’s rationale for these policy shifts includes the outdoor recreation sector’s economic contribution, which accounts for over $1.2 trillion in annual activity and supports more than 5 million jobs. The executive order also instructs the Department of the Interior to streamline regulations for migratory game bird hunting and encourages states to expand Sunday hunting opportunities on state and federal lands. Additionally, it directs various secretaries to identify opportunities to cultivate hunting traditions among young Americans and veterans.

Prior to this executive order, in May 2026, the Trump administration had already directed the Department of the Interior to relax restrictions on hunting and trapping at numerous National Park Service sites, including national recreation areas and wildlife refuges. This earlier directive mandated that any hunting closures not required by state law be reduced to the minimum necessary for public safety or resource protection. Critics have expressed concerns that these changes may bypass environmental studies and public consultation.

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