The Trump administration just gave hunting and fishing a major boost.
To increase access to recreational sports that comply with social distancing, the Trump Administration is expanding access for land previously reserved for wildlife. The proposal was officially created by the US Secretary of the Interior, David Bernhardt, along with the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
The land would include 2.3 acres of 97 wildlife preserves and nine fishing spots all around the country in various states. This would be the biggest increase in federally funded land to promote hunting and fishing in the country’s history.
Hunters and anglers would have more access to land that is just stocked with wildlife. This may include refuges right in your own home state.
This isn’t the first time that Trump’s White House has expanded hunting and fishing options. Just last year, there was an initiative to expand 1.4 million acres of land for hunting and fishing opportunities. With this new one being passed, it will increase these lands for shooting sports and fishing to a total of 4 million acres.
Many conservation groups that promote hunting and wildlife fishing are happy with the decision. This includes the Safari Club, the National Wild Turkey Federation, and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. All three groups sent out press releases touting the expansion and thanking the Trump Administration for the ordinance.
Specifically looking at a few states with expanded opportunities, Florida is a big one on the list with bird hunting, sport fishing, and big game hunting being allowed in Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge for the first time.
The same thing goes for hunting on the land in the Bamforth National Wildlife Refuge in Wyoming. Michigan and Massechusttes will also be opening land previously not set aside for hunting and fishing.
In West Virginia at the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge, people will be able to explore migratory bird hunting, upland hunting, and sport fishing for the first time there as well.
Other states expanding land for this purpose include Texas, California, and Minnesota.
While you may not be able to enjoy hunting on any of these new lands due to COVID-19 until later this year, the changes will also be in effect for the 2021 hunting season and onward.
With everything that is going on right now, at least it will be something to look forward to next year.
