Trump Executive Order Expands Hunting Access, Protects Traditional Ammunition
Event summary
- President Donald Trump signed the 'Reinvigorating America's Hunting Heritage' Executive Order on September 17, 2026, protecting traditional ammunition use and expanding hunting access.
- The order includes provisions for 'open until closed' public land access and cooperative agreements with private landowners to open inaccessible public lands.
- NSSF CEO Joe Bartozzi attended the White House Rose Garden ceremony and worked closely with the administration to craft the policy.
- The order encourages states to expand Sunday hunting opportunities and opens hunting in designated monuments.
- Firearm and ammunition manufacturers have contributed over $29 billion to wildlife conservation through Pittman-Robertson excise taxes since 1937.
The big picture
The Executive Order represents a significant policy shift favoring hunters and the firearms industry, countering anti-hunting advocacy groups. It aligns with broader trends of public land access expansion and conservation funding through industry excise taxes. The order could potentially increase hunting participation and ammunition sales, while reinforcing the industry's role in wildlife conservation.
What we're watching
- Regulatory Implementation
- How quickly state fish and wildlife agencies will act on expanded Sunday hunting opportunities and public land access provisions.
- Industry Impact
- Whether the protection of traditional ammunition will sustain hunting participation rates and conservation funding levels.
- Market Dynamics
- The pace at which private landowners enter cooperative agreements to open inaccessible public lands for hunting.