Interior Department Expands Hunting and Fishing Access at National Wildlife Refuges and Hatcheries

The Trump administration continues to have the backs of American hunters and anglers with the latest good news coming from the Department of the Interior (DOI) today as it announced a final rule that would create 42 new hunting and sport fishing opportunities across more than 87,000 acres within the National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) System and National Fish Hatchery (NFH) System managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). In gauging the scope of this action, it more than triples the number of opportunities and quintuples the number of units opened or expanded compared to the previous administration, underscoring President Trump’s promise to the American people to enhance outdoor recreation and conservation initiatives.

“Hunting and fishing are more than just traditional pastimes, as they are also vital to the conservation of our lands and waters, our outdoor recreation economy and our American way of life,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. “The Trump administration is committed to promoting good government by reducing regulatory burdens by working with states to make access to these outdoor activities a reality for every American family.”

The USFWS is opening or expanding opportunities for hunting and sport fishing at 16 units within the NWR System and one unit in the NFH System in Alabama, California, Idaho, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina, Texas and Washington. The list of locations and the final rule can be found here.

Hunters will appreciate the fact this final rule includes inaugural hunting opportunities at Southern Maryland Woodlands National Wildlife Refuge, the formal opening of hunting opportunities at Grasslands Wildlife Management Area in California and inaugural sport fishing opportunities at North Attleboro National Fish Hatchery in Massachusetts.

For more good news, the USFWS also is making much-appreciated administrative changes to existing station-specific regulations. This will improve the clarity and accuracy of regulations, reduce the regulatory burden on the public and comply with a presidential mandate for plain-language standards in support of President Trump’s Executive Order 14192—“Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation”—signed on Jan. 31 to reduce federal regulations and their costs and complexities.

Today’s announcement furthers yet another executive order signed by President Trump on July 3 establishing the Make America Beautiful Again Commission to prioritize expanding public land access for hunting and encourage wildlife conservation efforts through proactive, voluntary on-the-ground collaborative efforts.

“We are pleased to offer these new hunting and fishing opportunities that are compatible with our conservation mission,” said USFWS Director Brian Nesvik. “Hunting and fishing significantly benefit the outdoors by helping manage wildlife populations, promote outdoor stewardship and contribute to local economies. These refuges and hatcheries provide incredible opportunities for sportsmen and sportswomen and their families across the country to pass on a fishing and hunting heritage to future generations.”

For yet more good news, the final 2025-2026 update also aims to better align USFWS regulations with state agency regulations and promote consistency across national wildlife refuges and national fish hatcheries. This will help all hunters and anglers in navigating complex federal and state requirements.

Applauding the move on behalf of millions of NRA members and hunters across America, NRA Institute for Legislative Action Executive Director John Commerford said, “The DOI rule is another example of the Trump administration’s commitment to supporting common-sense actions that make hunting and fishing accessible to every American, dating back to day one of his first term in office. Expanding opportunities on our public lands while decreasing regulatory burdens to participation support hunters and anglers who remain America’s leading conservationists.”

This final rule demonstrates that the Trump administration respects the key role hunters and anglers play in bolstering the economy. Hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities contributed more than a whopping $394 billion in economic expenditures in communities nationwide in 2022 alone. According to the USFWS’ National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, hunters and anglers specifically contributed more than $144 billion in expenditures. The survey also found that, in 2021, an estimated 39.9 million Americans over the age of 16 fished and 14.4 million hunted.

As previously noted, a complete list of all units opening or expanding opportunities is in the final rule published in the Federal Register here (Docket Number: FWS-HQ-NWRS-2025-0031). The updates will be effective for the upcoming 2025-2026 hunting seasons beginning on Sept. 2, 2025.

Photo by Lon Lauber; lonlauber.com.