Bison roam the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge
Making some big moves yesterday, U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum signed Secretarial Order 3447, which effectively handed the keys to over 480 million acres of public land to America’s hunters and anglers. The order establishes an "open unless closed" policy for hunting and fishing on most of the department's public dirt, including BLM lands, wildlife refuges and Reclamation reservoirs. This means these activities—when legal and regulated under adjacent state rules—are presumed allowed unless a specific closure is required by law, for public safety reasons, or to protect natural resources.
Aiming to undo unnecessary red tape, the policy applies broadly to lands managed by key agencies including the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), where the order reinforces and expands consistency in already open areas; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service national wildlife refuges, with a strong emphasis on aligning federal rules with state regulations to avoid confusing boundary differences; Bureau of Reclamation properties, such as dams and reservoirs primarily in the West; and certain National Park Service units where hunting or fishing is already authorized by Congress (e.g., national preserves, recreation areas, seashores, or lakeshores).
Notably, the order does not affect major national parks like Yellowstone or Yosemite, which remain permanently closed to hunting, nor does it impact Bureau of Indian Affairs-managed lands within reservations.
Snow geese wintering on a pond in Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge
One standout provision addresses the lead ammo and tackle debate head-on, removing blanket department-wide bans on lead ammunition or fishing tackle unless there's solid evidence of real, population-level harm to wildlife or clear conflicts with state or tribal regulations. Voluntary programs promoting non-lead options can keep going (no one's shutting those down) but any new restrictions now require serious review and sign-off, often climbing all the way to agency directors or even the Secretary's level. Local offices are now unable to simply impose them on a whim anymore.
The order also lays out clear next steps for the agencies. Within 60 days, every DOI bureau needs to scout and prioritize new places to open up for hunting—big game, upland birds, waterfowl, you name it—and fishing. They're directed to comb through existing rules, eliminate the outdated or unnecessary ones, and work hand-in-hand with state wildlife agencies, tribes, and territories to line everything up and create more consistent, expanded opportunities where it makes sense. It's a practical push toward treating hunters and anglers as partners in conservation, not obstacles—focusing on access instead of added layers of red tape.
Secretary Burgum and supporters frame the order as a way to eliminate needless barriers, streamline regulations, and elevate hunting and fishing amid other departmental priorities like energy development and deregulation. It highlights the massive economic impact of outdoor recreation, which supports $1.2 trillion in annual output, 5 million jobs, and about 2.3% of U.S. GDP.
Conservation and hunting organizations such as the Boone and Crockett Club, the Wild Sheep Foundation, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, the TRCP, National Deer Association and others welcomed the news enthusiastically.
“This is a tremendous first step toward improving the conservation values of public lands,” said Gray N. Thornton, President and CEO of the Wild Sheep Foundation. “Hunting and fishing directly involve the public in agency missions to conserve fish and wildlife. We are grateful to Secretary Burgum for this conservation commitment.”
In reality, a ton of BLM ground and plenty of refuges are already open to hunting and fishing, so don't expect overnight revolutions everywhere. Still, the order creates meaningful new pathways—particularly on refuges—and makes it much tougher to add restrictions without serious high-level sign-off. It's a clear signal of where this administration is putting its chips which seems to be alongside dozens of other Secretarial Orders focused on energy, deregulation, and related issues.
While symbolic in part, Order 3447 certainly illustrates the enduring role of hunting and fishing in conserving and enjoying America's public lands—ensuring these traditions remain accessible for generations to come.
