President Trump’s Interior Secretary just gave American sportsmen a reason to celebrate.
And Democrats are fuming over this America First policy.
Because Burgum just dropped this bombshell announcement that left hunters cheering across the country.
Trump administration massively expands hunting and fishing access
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced a major expansion of hunting and fishing opportunities across America’s public lands on Friday.
The Department of the Interior is proposing 42 new hunting opportunities across more than 87,000 acres within the National Wildlife Refuge System and National Fish Hatchery System.
“Expanding recreational access to our public lands isn’t just about tradition – it’s about supporting rural economies and the American families who depend on them,” Secretary Burgum said in a press release. “By opening more areas to hunting and outdoor recreation, we’re helping drive tourism, create jobs, and generate revenue for local communities, all while promoting responsible stewardship of our natural resources.”
This expansion more than triples the number of opportunities and quintuples the number of stations opened or expanded compared to what the previous Biden-Harris administration did for American sportsmen.
The proposal would open or expand opportunities for hunting and sport fishing at 16 National Wildlife Refuge System stations and one National Fish Hatchery System station. These areas span several states including Alabama, California, Idaho, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina, Texas, and Washington.
Acting U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Paul Souza emphasized the importance of these traditional outdoor activities to America’s heritage.
“Hunting and fishing are traditional recreational activities deeply rooted in America’s heritage. National wildlife refuges, national fish hatcheries and other Service lands offer hunting and fishing access that helps boost local economies and gives Americans an opportunity to unplug,” Souza said.
The Trump administration has a history of supporting sportsmen
During President Trump’s first term, his administration dramatically increased public access to federal lands for hunting and fishing.
This latest announcement continues that trend of prioritizing access for outdoor enthusiasts while the previous administration focused more on restricting land use.
The Department of the Interior noted that hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities contributed more than $394 billion in economic expenditures in communities across the United States in 2022, with hunters and anglers accounting for over $144 billion in spending.
The Department also reported that an estimated 39.9 million Americans over the age of 16 fished and 14.4 million hunted in 2021.
This expansion includes first-ever hunting access on the newly established Southern Maryland Woodlands National Wildlife Refuge and the inaugural opening of sport fishing at North Attleboro National Fish Hatchery in Massachusetts.
America’s hunting heritage gets a boost
Hunting access on federal lands has been a contentious issue for decades. Conservative sportsmen’s groups have long claimed that environmental regulations and federal land policies have restricted their ability to access public lands for hunting and fishing.
The Trump administration’s focus on expanding these opportunities stands in stark contrast to the approach taken by previous Democratic administrations.
Currently, hunting is permitted on 401 wildlife refuges and 36 wetland management districts, while fishing is permitted on 343 wildlife refuges and 35 wetland management districts.
The National Wildlife Refuge System includes 573 national wildlife refuges and 38 wetland management districts, creating an unparalleled network of public lands dedicated to wildlife conservation.
More than 69 million Americans visit these refuges every year, and there’s a national wildlife refuge within an hour’s drive of most major metropolitan areas.
The proposed changes will be published in the Federal Register for public comment. The Department of the Interior intends to finalize these changes in time for the upcoming 2025-2026 hunting seasons.
Hunters and anglers are encouraged to review the proposal and provide feedback during the public comment period.
This expansion of hunting and fishing access is just the latest example of how the Trump administration is working to restore traditional American values while also boosting local economies.
