- The Department of Interior announced Aug. 13 it plans to add 1,500 hunting and fishing opportunities across over 90 million acres — including Utah land.
- The department said hunting does not pose a threat to the wildlife populations, and it may even be necessary for staff to reasonably manage the area and to boost local economies.
- Some Utah wildlife advocacy groups believe the Trump administration’s fixation on improving the economy and its commitment to a broad deregulation agenda comes as a detriment to Utahns.
President Donald Trump has been no stranger to deregulating government land for the benefit of the public, including the controversial shrinkage of Bears Ears last month. At the beginning of his second term, Trump’s Executive Order, “Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation” directed the Department of Interior to remove barriers to hunting and fishing access.
On Aug. 13, the DOI announced that’s what it plans to do.
Their new rule will add nearly 1,500 hunting and fishing opportunities at 111 refuges and hatcheries across 32 states.
More than 90 million acres — about 95% of National Wildlife Refuge System lands — are available for hunting. In Utah, this may include well-known areas such as Jones Hole, Bear River, Green River and more.
This new rule will open hunting and fishing at refuges and hatcheries, increase access to sport fishing in areas that were once closed, and expand upland game, migratory bird and big game hunting.
“America’s hunters and anglers now have something significant to look forward to in the fall ... ” said Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. “Under President Trump’s leadership, we are committed to building on and increasing access for hunters and anglers on our public lands and waters.”
Beyond opening new opportunities, the rule will also streamline federal regulations: The department is simplifying over 1,000 regulatory provisions, making it easier for hunters to understand and comply with rules.
“We are also promoting good government by reducing the regulatory burden and working with states to facilitate these outdoor activities,” said Burgum.
What this means for Utah’s wildlife — and economy
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service claims fishing and hunting can be an important “recreational management tool”:
“National wildlife refuges exist primarily to safeguard wildlife populations through habitat preservation,” the service wrote on its website.
The word ‘refuge’ implies creating a safe haven for wildlife — one that might seem inconsistent with the DOI’s new rule. “However, habitat that normally supports healthy wildlife populations produces harvestable surpluses that are a renewable resource.”
The DOI claims that hunting does not pose a threat to the wildlife populations — and it may even be necessary for staff to reasonably manage the area.
Other potential benefits include an economy boost: According to the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, 40 million Americans fish and 14 million hunt, contributing more than $144 billion annually to the U.S. economy. The service claims these activities lead to job growth and conservation funds.
“These new opportunities will also better align with state regulations, help promote healthy wildlife habitats and boost local recreation economies,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Brian Nesvik.
However, the announcement does not come without backlash.
The DOI’s hunting expansion is part of a larger push to review wilderness protections — many Utah wildlife advocacy groups believe the Trump administration’s fixation on improving the economy and its commitment to a broad deregulation agenda comes as a detriment to Utahns.
In response to the DOI launching a sweeping review of longstanding wildlife policies in an Earthjustice article Aug. 17, local organizations responded:
“Wilderness and wilderness-quality lands are some of the most cherished places for families to camp, hike, sightsee, hunt, and fish in Utah,” said Neal Clark, wildlands director at the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance. “For all of these reasons and more, we oppose any changes to existing policies that puts wild landscapes at risk.”
Jack Stauss, executive director of Save Our Canyons, echoed Clark’s remarks in the same article, stating, “Here in the Central Wasatch on the edge of Salt Lake City, we walk a delicate balance. Overuse and over-development have long been a burden to our natural resources like ecosystem habitat, dispersed recreation, and critically, our watershed.
“A change to our wilderness policies would be shortsighted and completely detrimental to future generations,” he continued.
The final rule is being published in the Federal Register ahead of the fall hunting season.