REINVIGORATING AMERICA’S HUNTING HERITAGE

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:

Section 1.  Purpose and Policy.  American hunters, anglers, and landowners are the greatest conservationists the world has ever known.  Hunting promotes healthy and robust animal populations, conserves our beautiful wildlife for future generations, and ensures that every American can enjoy our rugged, diverse, and untamed frontier areas.  Our forefathers looked with awe on our vast prairies, towering mountains, serene deserts, coastal paradises, and rushing rivers.  That same awe motivates millions of Americans to invest billions of dollars and countless hours into stewarding our land and conserving our wildlife.

Despite this legacy, accessing Federal lands for hunting has never been harder.  Hunting opportunities in our Nation have declined due to the Federal Government’s regulatory overreach, confusing and inconsistent access policies, and heavy-handed restrictions on hunter education and recruitment efforts.  Reform of these restrictions is long overdue.  It is therefore the policy of my Administration to reinvigorate, protect, and expand America’s hunting heritage to benefit our people and our land.

Under this order, American hunters, anglers, and landowners will reclaim our Nation’s wilderness.  My Administration, keeping our promise to Make America Beautiful Again, will conserve and protect America’s natural resources by stewarding Federal lands and promoting cooperative federalism.  We will apply a presumption of accessibility to federally managed lands, and the next generation of Americans shall once again have the opportunity to share in our Nation’s rich sporting heritage.

Sec. 2.  Expanding Access to Federal Lands.  (a)  Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of the Interior is directed to allow for the hunting of species that are not subject to 16 U.S.C. 1533 within Castle Mountains National Monument, established by Proclamation 9394 of February 12, 2016 (Establishment of the Castle Mountains National Monument), and within Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, established by Proclamation 1694 of May 2, 1924 (Craters of the Moon National Monument), and expanded by various Acts of the Congress and Proclamations, most recently Proclamation 7373 of November 9, 2000 (Boundary Enlargement of the Craters of the Moon National Monument).  I have determined that appropriately managed hunting would not put the objects of historic and scientific interest that these monuments protect at risk. 

(b)  Within 180 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of War, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Secretary of Commerce shall, consistent with applicable law, propose modifications to policies or regulations that prohibit or restrict access to lands under their respective jurisdictions, with the exception of national parks and national monuments other than as set forth in section 2(a) of this order, to:

(i)    expand Federal hunting, fishing, shooting, and other land access opportunities for recreation, including by generally allowing for hunting unless a specific closure is justified by local resource conditions, except within national parks;

(ii)   allow for the construction, repair, and maintenance of infrastructure that provides access to Federal land for the purposes of outdoor recreation and wildlife management;

(iii)  improve public access to difficult-to-access Federal lands and waters by prioritizing practical access opportunities, including voluntary access easements, land exchanges, cooperative agreements with States and local governments, and other tools that respect private property rights;

(iv)   encourage the use of qualified volunteers to manage wildlife populations and invasive species, consistent with 54 U.S.C. 104909;

(v)    authorize the use of assistive technology on access trails and hunting locations; and

(vi)   permit the use of traditional lead ammunition and tackle.

(c)  Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Agriculture shall review high-demand Forest Service-administered river access lotteries, and shall initiate the reform of such lotteries to prioritize United States citizens, including prior unsuccessful applicants, and prohibit the use of automatic computer entries into the lotteries.

(d)  Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Department of the Interior shall propose regulations improving the administrative process for authorizing seasonal migratory game bird hunting.  These improvements shall continue to engage the Flyway Councils as full partners and shall take special consideration of annual surveys, applicable guidance, and history.

(e)  Within 365 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of the Interior shall encourage State fish and wildlife agencies to promote and expand Sunday hunting opportunities on State and Federal lands.

Sec. 3.  Growing a New Generation of Hunters.  (a)  Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Education shall issue guidance to clarify the permissibility of Federal education funding for archery and hunter education programs in schools.

(b)  Within 180 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of the Interior shall, through the use of existing Federal funding and authorities, identify additional opportunities and incentives to assist States in cultivating the hunting tradition among American youth and veterans.

(c)  The Department of Veterans Affairs shall prioritize, to the extent permitted by law, grants to support outdoor hunting and fishing opportunities in its Adaptive Sports Grant Program.

Sec. 4.  Promoting Robust Game Species Populations.  The Secretary of War, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Secretary of Agriculture shall coordinate with State agencies to align management practices and conservation plans to promote the growth of game species populations through the:

(a)  voluntary removal or reduction of barriers to wildlife movement and habitat connectivity;

(b)  reduction of invasive species, habitat degradation, disease, and other factors contributing to population declines;

(c)  targeted management of predators, competing species, and other population-limiting factors;

(d)  use of prescribed fire, vegetation management, water development, grazing, agricultural practices, and appropriate habitat-management tools; and

(e)  voluntary agreements with private landowners and agricultural producers.

Sec. 5.  Increasing Wild Game Donation.  (a)  The Secretary of Agriculture shall issue guidance supporting State-based wild game venison donation programs, including through the Emergency Food Assistance Program.

(b)  The Secretary of the Interior shall encourage State wildlife agencies to use Pittman-Robertson funds to manage hyperabundant populations of wildlife, especially whitetail deer, including through activities that facilitate the donation and processing of wild game meat for consumption in schools and food banks.

Sec. 6.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law, including Executive Order 13443, and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, instrumentalities, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

(d)  The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department of the Interior.

                             DONALD J. TRUMP

THE WHITE HOUSE,

September 17, 2026.