The Trump administration is pushing to expand hunting and fishing access in national parks, wildlife refuges and wilderness areas by eliminating many existing restrictions on federal lands.In January, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum directed agencies within the U.S. Department of the Interior to remove what he called “unnecessary regulatory or administrative barriers” to hunting and fishing. Agencies must also justify any restrictions they want to retain.“Expanding public access to hunting and fishing on department-managed lands not only strengthens conservation outcomes, but also supports rural economies, public health and access to America’s outdoor spaces,” Burgum wrote. “The department’s policy is clear: Public and federally managed lands should be open to hunting and fishing unless there are specific, documented and legally supported exceptions.”
What changes might happen to the park
The order applies to 55 National Park Service sites in the lower 48 states, according to the National Parks Conservation Association.The review found that some sites have begun removing restrictions on tree-destroying hunting grounds, training hounds, using vehicles to retrieve game and hunting along trails.Specific park changes include:
- Spring and summer hunting available at Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts
- Lake Meredith National Recreation Area in Texas lets hunters clean animals in park bathrooms
- Louisiana’s Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve to allow alligator hunting
The move comes as hunting participation in the United States continues to decline.According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Census data, only about 4.2% of Americans over the age of 16 will identify as hunters by 2024. That reduces revenue for state wildlife agencies that rely on hunting license sales and taxes on firearms and ammunition.Hunting supporters and conservative policymakers have been looking for ways to keep hunting active by expanding access to public lands, creating more hunting opportunities and encouraging women and children to participate.
Current hunting access on National Park Service lands
The National Park Service already allows hunting on about 51 million acres at 76 sites, but only about 8 million acres are in the contiguous United States, with the remainder mainly in Alaska.Fishing is allowed at 213 locations.While national parks generally comply with state hunting and fishing laws, they often add stricter local rules to protect visitor safety and wildlife, including limiting hunting on trails or near structures.Dan Wink, a former Yellowstone National Park superintendent and former deputy director of operations for the National Park Service, said the rules were developed through years of public discussion and collaboration.“A lot of things in this administration have never seemed to be hampered by process,” Wink said in a phone interview with The Associated Press. “It’s never been a big issue. I’d love to know what we’re trying to solve. Then I’ll be able to understand what it’s going to cost in terms of resources and visitor safety to solve this problem.”Elaine Leslie, the former chief of the National Park Service’s Division of Biological Resources, also criticized the move, saying it undermined scientific management.“I don’t want to take my young grandchildren to the park only to have a hunter drag an eviscerated elk they shot through the visitor center parking lot,” Leslie said in a text message to The Associated Press. “Nor do I want to go into the restroom where hunters are cleaning their kills.” “There is a time and place for hunting, trapping and fishing… But that doesn’t mean every place has to be open to all activity, especially at the expense of others and degrading our public resources.“
Home Office defends order
Interior Department spokesperson Elizabeth Pease called the order a “common sense approach to public lands management.”She said any closures or restrictions necessary for public safety, legal compliance or resource protection will remain in place.“Athletes have been the strongest stewards of our public lands for decades,” she said, “and this order ensures their participation is not unnecessarily restricted by outdated or overly broad restrictions that are not required by law.”Hunting and conservation groups that support expanded access applauded the order. The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership says it supports wildlife management and outdoor traditions. Ducks Unlimited also supports the move, saying, “This process will streamline federal regulations, bring them more in line with existing state regulations and make more public lands available for outdoor recreation. Thank you Secretary Burgum for prioritizing America’s hunters and anglers. “
