Trump Administration Expands Hunting Access on Federal Lands

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Trump Administration Expands Hunting Access on Federal Lands | AirNews

The Trump administration has ordered federal land management agencies to expand hunting and fishing access across national parks, wildlife refuges, and wilderness areas by eliminating what it calls unnecessary restrictions. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum issued the directive in January, requiring agencies under the Department of the Interior to justify any existing limits on hunting and fishing, stating that public lands should be open to these activities unless a documented, legally supported exception applies. The policy affects 55 National Park Service sites in the lower 48 states.

Potential changes include allowing hunting at Cape Cod National Seashore year-round, permitting hunters to clean game in park restrooms at Lake Meredith National Recreation Area in Texas, and authorizing alligator hunting in Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve in Louisiana. Currently, hunting is allowed on about 51 million acres of National Park Service land, most of it in Alaska, while fishing is permitted at 213 sites. While parks generally follow state laws, local rules have traditionally restricted hunting near trails and buildings for safety and conservation reasons.

Critics, including former National Park Service officials, warn the policy undermines long-established safety protocols and science-based management. Dan Wenk, former Yellowstone superintendent, questioned the need for the changes, noting the rules were developed through extensive public input. Elaine Leslie, former head of the NPS biological resources division, expressed concern over visitor experiences and resource degradation. The Interior Department, however, defended the move as a commonsense approach that preserves necessary closures for safety and legal compliance.

Hunting advocacy groups, including the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and Ducks Unlimited, welcomed the order, saying it aligns federal rules with state regulations and supports conservation funding through license sales. The Interior Department said agencies must report compliance steps by April 2025, and public comment periods on specific site changes are expected to begin soon.