Hunting and fishing access expands across millions of public land acres
A new order is pushing to expand hunting and fishing across millions of acres of public land. The move affects major agencies, including the National Park Service (NPS), the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Land Management. Officials now face a tight deadline to review and ease long-standing restrictions.
The secretarial order was issued on January 7, setting a four-month window for action. Under the directive, the NPS must identify and begin lifting barriers to hunting and fishing in national parks. Other agencies, such as the Bureau of Reclamation, are also required to examine their policies for similar changes.
The goal is to cut what the order calls 'outdated' rules and 'unnecessary regulatory burdens.' Officials have been told to streamline access for hunters and anglers, though no specific timeline has been set for when all restrictions will be removed.
The push comes as part of a broader effort to increase recreational opportunities on federal lands. However, the order does not detail which parks or areas will see the fastest access changes.
The directive puts pressure on agencies to act quickly, with the NPS given just four months to start rolling back limits. While the order highlights a shift in policy, it remains unclear how soon hunters and anglers will see expanded access. The changes will depend on each agency's review process and the complexity of existing regulations.
