(January 14, 2026) – Washington, D.C. — Yesterday, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum issued Secretarial Order 3447 (S.O. 3447), Expanding Hunting and Fishing Access, Removing Unnecessary Barriers, and Ensuring Consistency Across the Department of the Interior (DOI) Lands and Waters, a move strongly supported by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF).
S.O. 3447 demonstrates the commitment of Secretary Burgum to our nation’s hunters and anglers by directing bureaus and offices within the DOI’s purview to prioritize access, remove unnecessary barriers, improve coordination and alignment with state, tribal, and territorial wildlife agencies, and elevating any proposed reductions in hunting and fishing access to the appropriate leaders within DOI. CSF is excited to see directives to work to improve access for sportsmen and women provided to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, and the Bureau of Reclamation to improve Departmental-wide access for hunting and fishing. This Secretarial Order also builds on President Trump’s Executive Order entitled Make America Beautiful Again, which recognizes the important role hunters and anglers play.
“CSF extends our appreciation to Secretary Burgum for his leadership and support for America’s hunters and anglers. As America enters its 250th Anniversary, it is important to recognize that our country provides an unmatched opportunity for the public, regardless of income or background, to enjoy our time-honored traditions of hunting and fishing, something that is unique to the rest of the world,” said CSF President and CEO Jeff Crane. “Secretarial Order 3447 recognizes our hunting and fishing traditions, and we stand ready to work with the Secretary to implement this directive.”
Further, S.O. 3447 recognizes that science should drive any decisions related to the use of lead ammunition and fishing tackle. Specifically, this Secretarial Order requires that lead ammo and tackle may not be restricted within the Refuge System unless site-specific and species-specific scientific evidence demonstrates a direct population-level impact while requiring the alignment of regulations to be consistent with state and tribal regulations. Notably, S.O. 3447 recognizes the importance of allowing hunters and anglers to make their own determination as to what type of ammunition or tackle they prefer by continuing the implementation of voluntary lead-free incentive programs.
S.O. 3447 is an important step forward for sportsmen and women, and we are looking forward to working closely with the Department of the Interior to ensure public lands are open to hunting and fishing where it matters.
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