The U.S. Department of the Interior is preparing to issue a new directive that would make hunting and fishing the default use across most Interior-managed public lands unless specific closures are justified.

What’s new: Under this framework, federal lands would be considered open to hunting and fishing unless a closure is required by law, public safety concerns, or documented resource protection needs. Closures will require clear er justification, higher-level approval, and better documentation.

This does not create new hunting or fishing rights or eliminate conservation safeguards. It does, however, flip the starting assumption. Hunting and fishing would be treated as a default use of federal lands, not an exception.

What land does it a pply to? The order would apply to areas controlled by the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Reclamation. Some units within the National Park Service that already permit hunting would also fall under the framework.

What land is excluded? Areas closed to hunting by statute would remain closed. Lands managed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs would not be affected. READ MORE