Interior Proposes to Restore State-Aligned Hunting Regulations on Alaska National Preserves

The Department of the Interior today announced a proposed rule to restore longstanding hunting and trapping regulations on Alaska’s national preserves, realigning federal regulations with Alaska state wildlife management laws and reinstating the framework that governed preserves for more than three decades.

The proposal would rescind regulatory changes made in 2015, 2017 and 2024 and restore the regulatory structure that implemented the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980. The action is consistent with President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order 14153, "Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential," Executive Order 14192 on regulatory reform, and Secretary’s Order 3422.

“For decades, Alaska’s national preserves were managed under a framework that respected the State’s authority, protected subsistence uses and ensured conservation of wildlife resources,” said Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. “This proposed rule restores that balance. It reduces unnecessary federal overreach, aligns federal regulations with state law, and honors the commitments Congress made in ANILCA.”

Restoring the ANILCA Framework

National preserves in Alaska are distinct within the National Park System. Congress expressly authorized hunting and trapping in preserves under applicable State and Federal law while directing the National Park Service to conserve resources and ensure subsistence priority under Title VIII of ANILCA.

Beginning in 2015, a series of rulemakings altered that framework by preempting certain State-authorized harvest practices, modifying public closure procedures and expanding discretionary federal restrictions. Litigation and repeated rule changes since that time created regulatory uncertainty for Alaskans, Tribes, State wildlife managers and park users.

The proposed rule would:

• Restore State-authorized harvest practices in national preserves, consistent with ANILCA.
• Reinstate longstanding public notice and consultation procedures for closures and restrictions in Alaska park areas.
• Remove provisions that unnecessarily preempt State wildlife management authority.
• Eliminate duplicative or unnecessary regulatory language added in recent rulemakings.

The proposal does not alter Federal subsistence harvest regulations under Title VIII of ANILCA.

Wildlife Conservation and Public Safety

The Department has reviewed the record developed in prior rulemakings and litigation and preliminarily determined that the 2015 and subsequent restrictions were not necessary to protect wildlife populations or public safety. Environmental analyses associated with prior rules concluded that harvest levels under State management would not result in population-level impacts.

Where localized concerns arise, the National Park Service retains authority under ANILCA and existing regulations to implement targeted closures or restrictions consistent with statutory criteria and after appropriate consultation.

Public and Tribal Engagement

The proposed rule will be published in the Federal Register and open for a 60-day public comment period. The National Park Service has initiated pre-consultation outreach with Tribes and Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act corporations and will conduct formal Tribal consultation during the rulemaking process.

The Department will carefully consider all public and tribal input before issuing a final rule. Additional information, including instructions for submitting comments, will be available at regulations.gov upon publication.

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