Summary (tl;dr)

U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has issued an order to expand hunting and fishing access on federal lands by removing what he terms "unnecessary regulatory barriers," a move that has garnered support from hunting advocates but raised concerns among conservationists regarding environmental and public safety impacts.

Essential Background

In January 2026, U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum signed Secretarial Order 3447, which aims to broaden access for hunting and fishing across federally managed lands and waters. This initiative is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to promote outdoor recreation and reduce perceived bureaucratic hurdles on public lands. The order also comes at a time when hunting participation is declining nationwide, with only about 4.2% of the U.S. population over 16 identifying as hunters in 2024, which impacts revenue for state wildlife agencies.

The Full Story

Secretary Burgum's order directs multiple Interior agencies, including the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and Bureau of Indian Affairs, to identify and eliminate regulatory or administrative barriers to hunting and fishing. The policy establishes that public and federally managed lands should be open to these activities unless a specific, legally supported exception applies. An internal memo and a park-by-park spreadsheet from April 2026 detail how this order will impact local hunting restrictions, leading to discussions about the authority of local park superintendents. Changes resulting from the order at various sites include lifting prohibitions on hunting stands that damage trees, training hunting dogs, using vehicles to retrieve animals, and hunting along trails. For example, hunting seasons could be extended at places like Cape Cod National Seashore, and hunters might be permitted to clean kills in bathrooms at Lake Meredith National Recreation Area.

Why It Matters

The order has been lauded by hunting and conservation groups, such as Ducks Unlimited and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, who believe it will streamline regulations, enhance public access, and support conservation efforts and rural economies. Conversely, critics, including former National Park Service officials and organizations like the National Parks Conservation Association, have expressed significant concerns. They argue that the directive could compromise visitor safety, disrupt wildlife populations, and degrade ecosystems by bypassing necessary environmental studies and public input. There are fears that this "one size fits all" approach might undermine carefully considered, site-specific rules designed to protect both visitors and the natural environment.

Geographic Location

• Washington, D.C., District of Columbia, United States (location where Secretary's Order 3447 was issued)
• Various National Park Service units, United States (application of the order to 55 sites in the lower 48 states)
• Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts, United States (potential extension of hunting seasons)
• Lake Meredith National Recreation Area, Texas, United States (potential allowance for cleaning kills in bathrooms)
• Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Louisiana, United States (potential allowance for alligator hunting)