The September 17 order directs federal agencies to expand hunting access, improve access to landlocked public lands, protect the use of traditional lead ammunition, support wildlife habitat and game populations, and encourage more hunting opportunities nationwide.
President Donald Trump signed a sweeping hunting-related executive order on September 17, 2026, titled “Reinvigorating America’s Hunting Heritage.” The order could have significant consequences for hunters who use federal public lands, although many of the changes will require action by federal agencies over the coming months rather than taking effect immediately.
Perhaps the most important provision establishes a federal policy favoring hunting access. Within 180 days, the Departments of the Interior, Agriculture, Commerce and War are directed to propose changes to policies or regulations that restrict recreational access on lands they manage. The order specifically calls for hunting to be generally allowed unless a closure can be justified by local resource conditions. National parks are excluded from this directive, as are most national monuments.
More Access to Federal Public Lands
The order directs agencies to look for ways to improve access to federal lands that are currently difficult or impossible for hunters to reach legally. That includes voluntary access easements, land exchanges and cooperative agreements with states and local governments, while respecting private-property rights. This could be particularly important in Western states where large areas of federal land are effectively landlocked by private property or checkerboard ownership.
Two national monuments receive specific treatment. The Interior Department has 90 days to allow hunting of eligible species within Castle Mountains National Monument in California and Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve in Idaho. Hunting would still have to comply with other applicable federal and state wildlife laws, and species protected under the Endangered Species Act are excluded from this provision.
The new order follows a major Interior Department action announced in August that created nearly 1,500 additional hunting and fishing opportunities at 111 national wildlife refuges and fish hatcheries across 32 states. Interior says more than 92 million acres — over 95% of National Wildlife Refuge System lands — are now available for hunting.
Lead Ammunition, Sunday Hunting and Migratory Birds
Another provision directs federal agencies reviewing their land-access policies to permit traditional lead ammunition and fishing tackle. The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), which represents the firearms industry and helped advocate for several provisions in the order, praised the lead-ammunition language along with the public-access provisions.
The order also addresses Sunday hunting. Within one year, Interior is directed to encourage state wildlife agencies to expand Sunday hunting opportunities on state and federal lands. Importantly, this does not automatically legalize Sunday hunting in states where it remains restricted; state laws and regulations would still have to change where necessary.
Migratory bird hunters could eventually see changes as well. Interior has 90 days to propose regulations improving the administrative process used to authorize seasonal migratory game bird hunting, while continuing to involve the Flyway Councils and consider annual population surveys and other wildlife data.
Wildlife Habitat and Game Populations
The executive order goes beyond hunting access. Federal agencies are directed to coordinate with state wildlife agencies on management intended to support game populations, including improving wildlife movement and habitat connectivity, controlling invasive species, addressing wildlife disease and habitat degradation, and using tools such as prescribed fire, vegetation management and water development. It also specifically includes targeted management of predators, competing species and other factors limiting game populations.
The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership highlighted several of these provisions, particularly improved access to landlocked public lands, wildlife corridors, invasive-species control and wildlife-disease management.
The order also encourages states to use Pittman-Robertson funding to manage hyperabundant wildlife populations, particularly white-tailed deer, while facilitating donation and processing of harvested venison for food banks and schools. The Department of Agriculture is separately directed to support state-based wild-game donation programs.
Bringing More Hunters Into the Field
The administration is also directing the Departments of Labor and Education to clarify within 90 days that federal education funding may be used for archery and hunter-education programs in schools. Interior is tasked with identifying additional opportunities to help states recruit young hunters and veterans, while the Department of Veterans Affairs is directed to prioritize eligible grants supporting adaptive hunting and fishing opportunities.
What Hunters Should Expect Next
The executive order itself does not instantly rewrite hunting regulations across millions of acres of federal land. Instead, it sets federal policy and gives agencies deadlines — primarily 90, 180 and 365 days — to develop regulations, guidance and other changes. Hunters should therefore continue following all existing federal, state and local regulations until the responsible agencies formally implement any changes.
For hunters, the developments worth watching over the next several months will be which currently restricted federal lands are proposed for additional access, what happens with lead-ammunition restrictions, how access to landlocked federal parcels improves, and what new opportunities emerge at Castle Mountains and Craters of the Moon.
Stay Current with Hunterizer
As federal agencies begin implementing the executive order, individual hunting opportunities and regulations may change at different times and in different states. Hunterizer helps hunters keep track of open seasons, hunting zones, legal weapons, bag limits, maps and other important regulations in one place.
Before heading into the field, always check the current regulations for the specific species and location you plan to hunt — particularly when hunting federal public lands affected by newly announced access changes.
Read the full “Reinvigorating America’s Hunting Heritage” Executive Order at the White House:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/09/reinvigorating-americas-hunting-heritage/
