The administration of US President Donald Trump is moving to significantly relax hunting and trapping restrictions across national parks, wildlife refuges and other federally managed lands, raising concerns among conservation groups over safety and environmental protection, The Guardian reports.
The Interior Department, led by Secretary Doug Burgum, has instructed park managers to remove what it describes as “unnecessary regulatory or administrative barriers” to hunting and fishing across dozens of sites.
The directive follows a January order requiring agencies to review existing restrictions and justify any rules that limit hunting access on public lands.
Under the policy shift, managers across around 55 National Park Service sites in the lower 48 states have already begun scaling back certain restrictions, including rules on hunting methods, seasonal limits and activity near trails.
Officials argue the changes are aimed at expanding outdoor recreation and supporting rural economies. Burgum said federally managed lands should remain open to hunting and fishing unless there is a clear legal or safety reason to restrict access.
Critics, including conservation groups, warn that the move could undermine long-standing protections for wildlife and visitors, and bypass established public consultation processes used to set park rules.
Former park officials have also raised concerns that loosening restrictions could increase safety risks for visitors and disrupt fragile ecosystems in protected areas.
The National Parks Service currently allows hunting across tens of millions of acres, though most sites impose additional rules beyond state regulations to protect wildlife and public safety.
