New Interior Rule Expands Hunting and Fishing Access on Federal Lands

Hunters and anglers remain central to the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. In January, US Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum recognized their vital role when he issued Secretarial Order 3447, a directive that will expand hunting and fishing opportunities on federal lands. The new “open unless closed” standard treats all Bureau of Land Management, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Reclamation lands as open to hunting and fishing unless a specific, documented, and legally supported exception applies. DU and its partners thanked Secretary Burgum for acknowledging the contributions of America’s outdoorsmen and women.

“DU supports the Department of the Interior’s new directive to increase hunting and fishing access on these important federal lands,” said DU CEO Adam Putnam. “This process will streamline federal regulations, make them more consistent with existing state rules, and provide more public-land access for outdoor recreation. Thank you, Secretary Burgum, for prioritizing America’s hunters and anglers.”

For generations, sportsmen and women have advanced the conservation of waterfowl and other wildlife through hunting and fishing license sales, duck stamp purchases, excise taxes on firearms and related equipment, and voluntary conservation efforts. Their long-standing commitment continues to drive habitat conservation across North America.