Interior Department Lifts Many Public Land Hunting Restrictions

The Trump administration has lifted a number of hunting and trapping rules on federal lands. (Photo by Steve Fauer)

The Trump administration has ordered a rapid rollback of dozens of hunting and trapping restrictions across 76 federal lands, according to internal Interior Department documents.

The New York Times reports that the changes, directed by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, take effect immediately and impact national recreation areas, wildlife refuges, seashores and other public lands.

In a memo outlining the directive, the administration stated that “closures and restrictions not required by law must be the minimum necessary for public safety or resource protection.”

Supporters say the directive removes unnecessary barriers for hunters. Aubrie Spady, a spokeswoman for the Interior Department, says the decision is a “common-sense approach,” and that the agency is expanding access to hunting and fishing safely and responsibly.

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“For decades, sportsmen and women have been some of the strongest stewards of our public lands, and this order ensures their access is not unnecessarily restricted by outdated or overly broad limitations that are not required by law,”

The rollback builds on a broader push by the administration to expand hunting and fishing opportunities on public lands. Recent actions include opening tens of thousands of new acres to hunting and directing federal agencies to review regulations considered burdensome. Advocates for the changes say differing federal and state rules have long created confusion.

“The number one reason why people give up hunting and fishing is the lack of opportunity and access,” said Rob Sexton of the Sportsmen Alliance.