Hunting Heritage Protection Act

The Hunting Heritage Protection Act (H.R. 5287) establishes a federal policy to ensure that public lands remain open to recreational hunting unless specific restrictions are required for national security, public safety, or state law. The bill mandates that federal agencies manage natural resources in a way that promotes hunting opportunities and requires a "no net loss" policy, meaning any closure of hunting land should be offset by opening new areas elsewhere.

For citizens, this legislation would provide more consistent access to federal lands for hunting and require agencies to report to Congress whenever large tracts of land (5,000 acres or more) are closed to the activity. It also strengthens the role of state governments by allowing them to take legal action if federal agencies interfere with state-level management of fish and wildlife.