U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum last week announced the expansion of hunting and fishing at over 42 wildlife refuges and hatcheries nationwide.
The announcement, which comes just in time for hunting season, includes new opportunities for sportsmen, opening 87,000 acres of public land managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Burgum's office said the move, which is more than double the acreage that was opened by the Biden Administration, is a win for all sides.
"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," said Burgum, the former pro-gun Republican governor of North Dakota.
The proposal will open new hunting and fishing opportunities in stations located in Alabama, California, Idaho, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina, Texas, and Washington.
Importantly, whereas the Biden administration had made inroads to ban traditional ammo and tackle from federal lands, Burgum's announcement said they will instead try to mirror state laws.
"We continue to work closely with our state partners to maintain consistency in areas such as the use of lead ammunition and fishing tackle, and we will incorporate these considerations into future updates," said the statement.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation, the trade group for the American firearms industry, welcomed the news of the expansion.
“This announcement by Secretary Burgum is an incredible win for America’s outdoorsmen and women," Mark Oliva, NSSF's director of public affairs, told Guns.com. "NSSF has long advocated that public lands should be open to public hunting and recreational shooting wherever possible, and the Trump administration continues to deliver for those who cherish the outdoors."
The FWS's latest National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation found that such 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 of that total. The survey found 39.9 million Americans over 16 fished and 14.4 million hunted. Meanwhile, a whopping 46.2 million people engaged in target shooting.
Under the American "user pays, public benefit" model, which for the past 80 years has used an excise tax on the production of commercial guns and ammunition to help fund conservation efforts, the industry has provided billions to successfully preserve an enduring connection between the public and public lands.
"The firearm and ammunition industry is proud to be the leading revenue generator for wildlife conservation and habitat restoration in America," said Oliva. "To date, over $29 billion has been paid by firearm and ammunition manufacturers through the Pittman-Robertson excise tax, which directly funds conservation in every state. Last year, over $886 million of the $1.2 billion apportioned to the states for wildlife restoration was sourced from the taxes paid by firearm and ammunition manufacturers for abundant wildlife for all to enjoy.
"More than that, those funds also improve access to public lands, the construction and improvement of public recreational shooting ranges, and hunter education. The announcement of 42 new hunting opportunities across 87,000 acres will benefit generations of Americans and allow our hunting and outdoors heritage to grow," said Olivia.
The proposed expansions will be published in the Federal Register for public comment with the goal of FWS finalizing the proposed changes in time for the upcoming 2025-2026 hunting seasons.
Banner image: Springfield Armory Model 2020 Boundary bolt-action rifle in 7mm Rem Mag fitted with a 24-inch fluted barrel. We found the Pic rail to be solid in use and mounted a 30 mm-tubed Leupold VX-6HD 3-18x44 scope on Leupold rings. It also carries a SilencerCo Scythe Ti can.
