Where Trump’s hunting, fishing order will have the most impact

President Trump signed new executive orders Thursday aimed at expanding hunting and fishing access in the U.S., rolling back restrictions on these activities.

The president unveiled “ Reinvigorating America’s Hunting Heritage ” and “ Restoring American Saltwater Angling and Recreation ” during a Thursday White House Rose Garden dinner with more than 100 hunters, anglers and outdoor officials.

“We believe that public lands belong to the American people and to the public, and hunters, fishers and outdoorsmen should be able to access them,” Trump said.

Here’s what you need to know about where these orders will have the most impact:

Under the hunting executive order, Trump directed Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to reverse “years of overregulation” under previous administrations and expand hunting access on some federal lands.

This is an expansion upon the Trump administration’s August order , which opened up more than 92 million acres across 32 states for hunting.

The new order directs Burgum to permit hunting within 90 days of its signing in California’s Castle Mountains National Monument and within Idaho’s Craters of the Moon National Monument .

The California monument protects almost 21,000 acres of land in the Mojave Desert near Nevada. Craters of the Moon National Monument is in the south-central region of Idaho between Boise and Yellowstone National Park and features a 618 square-mile lava field.

Trump’s order allows hunting on these federal lands only for species that are not protected under 16 U.S.C. 1533 of the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

“I have determined that appropriately managed hunting would not put the objects of historic and scientific interest that these monuments protect at risk,” the president wrote in his executive order.

The president directed his administration to authorize the use of traditional lead ammunition and tackle within 180 days of the order.

Under former President Biden, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2023 expanded a ban on the use of lead tackle and ammunition in eight national wildlife refuges to safeguard these areas from potential lead poisoning risks.

Republican lawmakers and hunters have pushed back against these restrictions, citing increased costs associated with alternatives to lead products.

“Lead ammunition was a problem, huh? Is it better than other ammunition? I assume, huh? That’s pretty good,” Trump told the crowd at the Thursday Rose Garden event.

“I don’t know what the hell that means, but I know one thing: You wanted it,” he continued. “You wanted it, and I’m here for you.”

Promotes Sunday hunting on federal lands

The hunting order also instructs Burgum to encourage states to “promote and expand” Sunday hunting on state and federal lands within a year of its signing.

Burgum touted these new initiatives in a social media post Thursday, saying the Trump administration is committed to “putting American hunters, fishermen and outdoorsmen FIRST.”

“Sportsmen are among our greatest conservationists, and this administration is committed to supporting the men and women who help protect our public lands and wildlife,” the secretary wrote.