MISSOULA, Mont. (January 13, 2026) – The Boone and Crockett Club welcomes the Secretary’s Order 3447 issued today by Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum that will ensure federal public lands are open for hunting and fishing opportunities. Following is a statement by Boone and Crockett Club chief executive officer Tony A. Schoonen.
“The Boone and Crockett Club appreciates Secretary Burgum’s commitment to hunting and fishing access on Department of the Interior lands through the secretary’s order issued today. As the oldest conservation organization in the country, founded by Theodore Roosevelt in 1887, the Club has been actively involved in protecting our federal public lands for nearly 140 years as important wildlife habitat and critical places for public hunting opportunities. By removing unnecessary regulatory or administrative barriers to sportsmen’s access, while coordinating with state and tribal governments on regulations, we can ensure that sustainable hunting and fishing remain a critical part of our federal lands legacy. We also appreciate the Department’s commitment to ensuring a safe and positive approach to the use of lead ammunition and fishing tackle, promoting informed choices by sportsmen and women and regulating only where population-level effects are measurable.
“With our extensive engagement on hunting and conservation policy issues, we will continue to work with the Department and its bureaus to achieve the improvement of the overall conservation value of our nation’s federal lands. Hunting and fishing have long been a key part of that conservation use, and the Boone and Crockett Club appreciates today’s action as an important step in sustaining these outdoor traditions.”
About the Boone and Crockett Club
Founded by Theodore Roosevelt in 1887, the Boone and Crockett Club promotes guardianship and visionary management of big game and wildlife in North America. The Club maintains the highest standards of fair chase sportsmanship and habitat stewardship. Member accomplishments include enlarging and protecting Yellowstone and establishing Glacier and Denali national parks, founding the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, and National Wildlife Refuge System, fostering the Pittman-Robertson and Lacey Acts, creating the Federal Duck Stamp program, and developing the cornerstones of modern game laws. The Boone and Crockett Club is headquartered in Missoula, Montana. Click here to learn more about the Boone and Crockett Club.
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