The President on Sept. 17, 2026, signed an executive order directing federal agencies to expand hunting, fishing, and shooting access on federally managed lands.
The order, published in the Federal Register on Sept. 22, 2026, says it applies a presumption of accessibility to federal lands. The text states the order aims to reverse what it describes as regulatory overreach and confusing policies that have reduced hunting opportunities for Americans.
Within 90 days, the order directs the Secretary of the Interior to allow the hunting of species that are not subject to 16 U.S.C. 1533 in the Castle Mountains National Monument and the Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. The order states that appropriately managed hunting will not risk the historic and scientific interests protected by these monuments.
Within 180 days, the order directs the secretaries of War, Interior, Agriculture, and Commerce to propose policy changes to generally allow hunting on their respective lands, except within national parks. According to the document, these proposals must permit the use of traditional lead ammunition and tackle, authorize assistive technology on access trails, and allow infrastructure construction for wildlife management and outdoor recreation. The agencies must also prioritize practical access to difficult-to-reach federal lands through voluntary easements and land exchanges that respect private property rights, the order says.
The order directs the Secretary of Agriculture to review Forest Service river access lotteries within 60 days. The document states that resulting reforms must prioritize United States citizens and prohibit automatic computer entries. The Interior Department also has 90 days to propose regulations improving the administrative process for seasonal migratory game bird hunting. Within 365 days, the Interior Secretary must encourage state agencies to expand Sunday hunting on state and federal lands, according to the order.
To support youth and education, the order directs the Labor and Education departments to issue guidance within 90 days clarifying the permissibility of federal education funding for archery and hunter education programs in schools. The Department of Veterans Affairs is directed to prioritize grants for outdoor hunting and fishing in its Adaptive Sports Grant Program.
The order directs the War, Interior, and Agriculture secretaries to coordinate with state agencies to promote game species populations. The text says this coordination includes the targeted management of predators, the reduction of invasive species, and the voluntary removal of barriers to wildlife movement.
Additionally, the order says the Agriculture Department will issue guidance supporting state-based wild game venison donation programs, including through the Emergency Food Assistance Program. The Interior Department is directed to encourage state wildlife agencies to use Pittman-Robertson funds to manage hyperabundant wildlife, such as whitetail deer, and facilitate game meat donations to schools and food banks.