Hunting Access Preserved: National Wildlife Refuges Open During Shutdown

While much of the federal government has gone dark during the Schumer Shutdown, for hunters and conservationists, hunting remains available on National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) lands under President Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.  While not all federal refuges permit hunting, the system includes more than 570 areas across over 95 million acres of land and 760 million acres of marine land, with extensive opportunities for sportsmen. This access has been explicitly protected during the ongoing funding lapse, ensuring hunters can continue their activities despite widespread federal disruptions.

In March 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt established Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, along Florida’s Atlantic coast, as the first unit of what would become the National Wildlife Refuge System. The National Wildlife Refuge System, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), serves as a critical network of protected habitats, wetlands for waterfowl, forests for deer, and prairies for upland game. Of the 570-plus units, 436 are open to hunting: 401 refuges and 35 wetland management districts, plus nearly 20 national fish hatcheries. More than 350 hunting programs operate nationwide, following state seasons and bag limits.

 From the FWS website:

National wildlife refuges exist primarily to safeguard wildlife populations through habitat preservation. The word ‘refuge’ includes the idea of providing a haven of safety for wildlife, and, as such, hunting might seem an inconsistent use of the National Wildlife Refuge System. However, habitat that normally supports healthy wildlife populations produces harvestable surpluses that are a renewable resource.”  As any outdoorsman knows, if wild animal populations are not controlled, the unchecked population would over-saturate their natural areas to the point of instability. The excess population would lead to migrations of wild animals into populated areas as well as potential for complete destruction of native wildlife habitats.

 In May, Burgum announced 42 new hunting and fishing opportunities across more than 87,000 acres in the NWR and hatchery systems, covering 16 refuge stations and one hatchery, from Alabama’s pine forests to Washington’s coastal marshes. The plan was finalized in August, tripling the number of opportunities and quintupling the units opened compared to the previous administration. 

“Hunting and fishing are more than just traditional pastimes,” Burgum stated. “They are vital to conservation, our outdoor economy, and the American way of life.”

Examples include the Southern Maryland Woodlands NWR, which launched its first deer and turkey season on 1,000 acres of hardwood forest. California’s Grasslands Wildlife Management Area is now officially open for waterfowl hunting, and North Carolina expanded dove and small game access along its coast. These developments align with Trump’s Executive Order 14192, which reduced regulatory barriers to outdoor recreation, and Burgum’s Secretary’s Order 3356, which synchronized federal and state hunting rules.

 The government shutdown, triggered by congressional deadlock over the fiscal year 2026 budget, has furloughed over 670,000 federal workers and halted non-essential services. At FWS, 4,655 of 7,001 employees are on unpaid leave, suspending visitor centers, guided programs, and routine habitat maintenance. Critical functions like water management for migratory birds and endangered species monitoring have been paused, raising concerns about long-term ecological impacts. Despite these challenges, hunting on NWR lands was ordered to continue uninterrupted.

On October 18, 2025, FWS leadership directed essential law enforcement personnel that are exempt from furloughs to maintain access to hundreds of refuges. Self-guided hunts for deer, waterfowl, and upland game proceeded as scheduled, with gates and trails remaining open during normal hours. Sites such as Louisiana’s Tensas River NWR and Virginia’s Chincoteague NWR operated without disruption, in contrast to national parks, where visitor access was largely restricted.

 This policy reflects deliberate prioritization. The administration utilized carryover funds from the Pittman-Robertson Act, an excise taxes on firearms and ammunition that fund 80% of FWS operations—to support minimal staffing where necessary. (Yes, a tax that is used on what it was collected to fund…shocking). Hunting is classified under the “Big Six” wildlife-dependent recreational activities, ensuring its protection even when other programs are suspended. The decision has economic and conservation implications. In rural areas affected by the shutdown, hunting supports local businesses, guides, outfitters, and retailers that might otherwise suffer from reduced federal activity. Moreover, sportsmen play a central role in wildlife management through ethical harvest and funding mechanisms.

 Burgum’s leadership on the Make America Beautiful Again Commission further emphasizes voluntary conservation alongside expanded public access, including archery elk hunting in Idaho. As the shutdown continues, with Senate funding votes repeatedly failing and threats of missed paychecks for military personnel, the refuges stand as one of the few federal systems maintaining public function.  For hunters, the message is clear: seasons proceed as planned. So for now, it seems National Wildlife Refuges remain a stable resource for responsible outdoor recreation, even as much of the federal government stands still.

Editor’s Note: The Schumer Shutdown is here. Rather than put the American people first, Chuck Schumer and the radical Democrats forced a government shutdown for healthcare for illegals. They own this.

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