Boone and Crockett Club Praises Interior Secretary Zinke's Order to Advance Access for Outsdoorsmen

The Boone and Crockett Club praises Interior Secretary Zinke for issuing a Secretarial Order that advances the priorities of sportsmen and women across the United States. The order was announced today and follows Zinke's previous orders to ensure outdoor recreation opportunities and overturn the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's ban on the use of lead ammunition and tackle on Service lands.  

"This order is a positive step forward in the conservation efforts of sportsmen to promote outdoor recreation and proper access to federal public lands," said Paul Phillips, co-chair of Boone & Crockett's Conservation Policy Committee. "The Boone and Crockett Club has supported this direction since its beginning and applauds Secretary Zinke for carrying it forward. These actions give greater meaning to Executive Order 13443, issued by President Bush, and carried forward by the Obama Administration. Secretary Zinke has, in particular, shown the best path forward on National Monuments by directing that these lands be accessible for the enjoyment and appreciation of their special values."

President Bush's Executive Order 13443 directed federal agencies to expand and improve hunting opportunities and management of wildlife and habitat. The order respected the authorities of states and tribal governments and committed federal agencies to collaborate with them, hunters and other citizens, starting with several immediate actions, followed by a plan for continuing action to be reviewed every 10 years. The next plan review is due in 2018.

Today's Secretarial Order directs bureaus in the Department of Interior to produce a plan to expand access for hunting and fishing on BLM, USFWS and NPS lands within the next 120 days. The order also ensures access for hunters, anglers and recreational shooters through national monument management plans.

Zinke's order will expand educational outreach programs for underrepresented communities, such as disabled veterans, youth and minorities. Bureaus within the department are also to identify opportunities for voluntary access to private land for hunting and fishing as well.

"Hunting and fishing is a cornerstone of the American tradition, and hunters and fishers of America are the backbone of land and wildlife conservation," said Secretary Zinke. "The more people we can get outdoors, the better things will be for our public lands. As someone who grew up hunting and fishing on our public lands - packing bologna sandwiches and heading out at 4 a.m. with my dad - I know how important it is to expand access to public lands for future generations. Some of my best memories are hunting elk or reeling in rainbow trout back home in Montana, and I think every American should be able to have that experience."