The DOI’s Historic Expansion of Hunting & Fishing Access Is a Major Victory for America’s Outdoorsmen
America’s hunters and anglers just received some of the best news in decades.
Earlier today, the Department of the Interior announced a proposal to open or expand more than 1,450 hunting and fishing opportunities across 111 stations covering 32 states within the National Wildlife Refuge System. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the proposal marks the largest expansion of hunting and fishing opportunities in the agency’s history; a major victory for America’s hunters, anglers, and conservationists.
The proposal would make more than 92 million acres; over 95% of National Wildlife Refuge System lands, available for hunting, marking a significant milestone in expanding public access to America’s lands and waters. The expansion includes new opportunities at 107 National Wildlife Refuges and 4 National Fish Hatcheries while reinforcing the Administration’s commitment to outdoor recreation, conservation, and rural economic growth.
For millions of Americans who cherish our outdoor traditions, this is more than a policy announcement. It is a recognition that hunting and fishing are foundational parts of American conservation.
At Hunter Nation, we have long fought for the rights of hunters, anglers, and outdoorsmen who understand that conservation and access go hand-in-hand. Hunters are not outsiders to conservation; we are its original stewards. The Pittman-Robertson Act alone has generated billions of dollars for wildlife restoration and habitat conservation, funded primarily by America’s hunters and gun owners.
This announcement from the Department of the Interior builds on momentum we applauded earlier this year when DOI expanded opportunities within national parks and recognized the important role hunters play in wildlife management and conservation.
Now, this newest action sends an even stronger message: America’s public lands should remain accessible to the people who fund, protect, and preserve them.
For too long, sportsmen have watched access shrink under burdensome regulations, political activism, and anti-hunting pressure campaigns. Rural communities, local economies, and conservation programs all suffer when hunters are pushed off the landscape.
This expansion represents a shift back toward common sense.
Opening additional lands and waters for hunting and fishing helps manage wildlife populations responsibly, supports conservation funding, strengthens rural economies, and ensures future generations can experience the traditions that built this country.
At Hunter Nation, we believe preserving hunting is about preserving freedom, heritage, and the American way of life.
The fight is never over. Anti-hunting activists continue working to restrict access, ban traditional hunting methods, and disconnect Americans from our outdoor heritage. But moments like this prove that when sportsmen stay engaged and speak with one voice, we can win meaningful victories.
We applaud Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and the Department of the Interior for recognizing the importance of America’s hunters and anglers.
This is what conservation success looks like.
Hunter Nation will continue standing on the frontlines to protect hunting access, defend the Second Amendment, and ensure America’s outdoor traditions endure for generations to come.