Since day one, the Trump administration has prioritized recreational access to public lands, particularly for hunting and fishing. These two great American pastimes have formed the bedrock of the nation’s wildlife conservation efforts, generating more dollars for habitat protection and restoration than any other outdoor pursuit. Today, the Department of the Interior’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service helped grow that legacy by finalizing a rule to open additional hunting and fishing opportunities in Texas and across the country. This brings the total expansion to over 4 million acres nationally since President Trump took office.
"On the heels of President Trump signing the most significant conservation and recreation funding in US history, providing nearly $20 billion over the next 10 years to fix and conserve the American people’s public lands, the Trump Administration has now made an additional 2.3 million acres accessible to new hunting and fishing opportunities,” said U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt. “We continue to take significant actions to further conservation initiatives and support sportsmen and women who are America’s true conservationists.”
“The Trump Administration and Secretary Bernhardt have made access to public lands for hunting and fishing and other outdoor recreation a priority beginning day one. Hunting and fishing are a part of our American history, and we continue to ensure we provide opportunities for these activities which epitomize our American heritage,” said Service Director Aurelia Skipwith. “Furthermore, we have maintained our commitment to promoting good government by reducing the regulatory burden by working with states to facilitate these outdoor activities.”
In Texas, four national wildlife refuges are adding hunting and/or fishing opportunities. This include Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge expanding existing white-tailed deer, feral hog, non-native ungulates, wild turkey, mourning, white-winged and Eurasian collared-dove and rock dove, hunting to new acres. For complete details of the final rule in Texas, see below.
“We could not be more pleased with the actions being taken by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to expand access for hunters and anglers across the National Wildlife Refuge system, including in Texas,” said Carter Smith, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Executive Director. “From deer hunting at Balcones Canyonlands in the heart of the Texas hill country to nilgai and feral hog hunting at Laguna Atascosa in deep south Texas, the Service is providing meaningful opportunities for more sportsmen and women to get outdoors and enjoy the beauty and richness of these special places. In a proudly and predominately private lands state such as Texas, it is even more important that we work as partners to provide well managed hunting and angling opportunities wherever possible on our public lands. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is proud to support the Service’s commitment to ensuring our national wildlife refuges are well stewarded, are accessible to the public, and can be enjoyed by the outdoor enthusiasts who care so much about them.”
Since the creation of the very first national wildlife refuge by President Theodore Roosevelt, refuges have been places where wildlife is managed to ensure healthy populations for future generations of Americans to enjoy. Responsible hunting has always been a part of that management equation. Refuge managers complete rigorous environmental studies to ensure each hunting opportunity is consistent with their conservation goals. Hunting and fishing are not allowed on all refuges, but the Service makes every effort to permit them where possible and compatible.
Hunting and fishing generate millions of dollars in revenue for states each year from the sale of licenses and tags. Additionally, excise taxes on firearms and ammunition, as well as sport fishing equipment and boating fuel, generate more revenue for states for wildlife management and public recreation; in 2020 alone the Service will distribute nearly $1 billion to states under the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program.
For more information, view interactive maps of hunting and fishing opportunities, and a web page of all environmental documents related to openings and closings at all 147 affected stations.
Expanded hunting and fishing opportunities in Texas include:
• Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge: Expand existing white-tailed deer hunting to new acres.
• Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge: Open dove and quail hunting on acres already open to other hunting, and expand existing pheasant hunting to new acres.
• Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge: Open alligator, feral hog and nilgai hunting on acres already open to other hunting.
• Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge: Open turkey and javelina hunting on new acres and acres already open to hunting, and expand existing migratory bird and big game hunting to new acres.
The final rule will publish in the Federal Register and will be available at http://www.regulations.gov, Docket Number: FWS-HQ-NWRS-2020-0013.