Executive Order expands hunting access on federal lands

President issued Executive Order 14429, "Reinvigorating America's Hunting Heritage," on September 17, 2026 (FR Doc 2026-19416). The order directs multiple cabinet secretaries to take specific actions to expand hunting, fishing and shooting opportunities on federally managed lands.

Within 90 days, the Secretary of the Interior must allow hunting of species not protected by 16 U.S.C. 1533 in Castle Mountains National Monument and Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. Within 180 days, the Secretaries of War, Interior, Agriculture and Commerce must propose policy changes to broaden access for recreation, permit infrastructure work, prioritize voluntary easements and land exchanges, encourage qualified volunteers, authorize assistive technology on trails, and permit traditional lead ammunition and tackle, except in national parks. Within 60 days, the Secretary of Agriculture must review high-demand Forest Service river-access lotteries and reform them to prioritize U.S. citizens and bar automatic computer entries. Within 90 days, the Interior Department must propose regulations to streamline seasonal migratory game bird hunting authorizations, and within 365 days it must encourage state wildlife agencies to expand Sunday hunting on state and federal lands.

The order also targets the next generation of hunters. Within 90 days, the Secretaries of Labor and Education must issue guidance clarifying the permissibility of federal education funding for archery and hunter-education programs in schools. Within 180 days, the Interior Secretary must identify additional incentives for states to cultivate hunting traditions among youth and veterans. The Department of Veterans Affairs is instructed to prioritize grants for outdoor hunting and fishing opportunities under its Adaptive Sports Grant Program.

Sections 4 and 5 call for coordinated efforts to promote robust game species populations through voluntary removal of wildlife barriers, invasive-species control, predator management, prescribed fire, habitat-management tools and agreements with private landowners. The Agriculture Secretary must issue guidance supporting state-based wild game venison donation programs, including the Emergency Food Assistance Program, while the Interior Secretary must encourage the use of Pittman-Robertson funds for managing hyperabundant wildlife and facilitating game-meat donations to schools and food banks.

The order affirms that it does not impair agency authority, is subject to appropriations, and must be implemented consistent with applicable law, including Executive Order 13443. Publication costs are to be borne by the Department of the Interior.