The Trump administration has officially proposed a historic expansion of access to land for hunting and fishing, including over 92 million acres.
The Department of the Interior announced a proposal this week that would open up 1,450 opportunities for hunting and fishing. The proposal features 111 field stations among 107 national wildlife refuges and 4 national fish hatcheries throughout 32 states.
According to a statement released by the Department of the Interior, the proposal would grant access to over 95% of the National Wildlife Refuge System and would represent the largest increase in the history of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The proposal is intended to align with President Trump’s overarching goal of increasing prosperity by removing cumbersome regulations.
Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum described the new access as a rollback of burdensome regulations that unnecessarily restrict access to public lands. Burgum promoted the decision as a way to restore common sense to the federal management of public lands and to promote appreciation for nature among future generations of Americans.
“For too long, access to hunting and fishing on federal lands has been limited by unnecessary restrictions and disconnected federal rules,” Sec. Burgum said. Under President Donald J. Trump’s leadership, we are opening more land, aligning with state expertise, and putting decision-making back where it belongs. This is about commonsense access, supporting rural economies, and ensuring the next generation can experience the outdoors the same way so many of us did growing up.”
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Brian Nesvik celebrated the proposal as a way to boost both community ties and economic growth.
“Hunting and fishing are traditional recreational activities that bring families and communities together. Many national wildlife refuges, national fish hatcheries and other Service lands and waters offer hunting and fishing access that helps boost local economies and affords high-quality publicly available recreational opportunities to all Americans,” Nesvik said. “We are pleased to continue to increase access for hunters and anglers while fulfilling our conservation mission, and we are committed to responsibly managing these areas for the benefit of future generations.”
