NWTF Celebrates Interior Secretary’s Order Expanding Hunting and Fishing Access

This landmark order reaffirms the Department of the Interior’s commitment to enhancing public access to hunting and fishing opportunities while upholding responsible stewardship of wildlife and natural resources.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s order directs all DOI bureaus and offices to identify and eliminate unnecessary regulatory barriers, expand compatible access on managed lands and waters, improve coordination with state, Tribal, and Territorial wildlife agencies, and ensure transparent reviews of any proposed reductions in hunting or fishing. It builds on prior initiatives with a renewed emphasis on deregulation, cooperation, and accountability, stating that public lands should remain open unless a specific, documented exception applies.

"As the NWTF knows that the future of our hunting heritage relies heavily on access opportunities for the sporting community, we are thankful for Secretary Burgum's order," said NWTF Co-CEO Jason Burckhalter. "We believe the order to remove outdated restrictions and align policies with state partners will open doors for more Americans to enjoy the life-changing power of the outdoors."

The expansion provides more opportunities for turkey hunters to enjoy their traditions on public lands, ensuring that families can pass down the thrill of the spring gobble while contributing to habitat conservation efforts that benefit wild turkeys and countless other species.

Read Secretarial Order 3447 — Expanding Hunting and Fishing Access, Removing Unnecessary Barriers, and Ensuring Consistency Across the Department of the Interior Lands and Waters

About the National Wild Turkey Federation. 

Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 25 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The NWTF has also invested over $10 million into wild turkey research to guide the management of the wild turkey population and to ensure sustainable populations into perpetuity. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale through its Four Shared Values: clean and abundant water, healthy forests and wildlife habitat, resilient communities, and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF continues its work to provide Healthy Habitats. and Healthy Harvests. for future generations.