The Department of the Interior has introduced a proposed rule aimed at restoring hunting and trapping regulations on Alaska’s national preserves to their previous alignment with state wildlife management laws. This move would return the regulatory framework to what was in place for over 30 years before changes made in 2015, 2017, and 2024.
The proposal seeks to rescind those recent regulatory amendments and reestablish the approach originally set out by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) of 1980. According to the Department, this is consistent with several executive orders, including 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.”
Alaska's national preserves are unique within the National Park System because Congress allowed hunting and trapping under both state and federal law while requiring conservation of resources and protection for subsistence users as outlined in Title VIII of ANILCA.
Starting in 2015, a series of new rules began to override some state-approved harvest practices and changed how public closures were handled. These actions led to ongoing litigation and frequent changes that have caused uncertainty among Alaskans, tribes, state wildlife officials, and park visitors.
If adopted, the new rule would:
- Restore harvest practices authorized by the State within national preserves.
- Reinstate traditional procedures for public notice and consultation regarding closures or restrictions.
- Remove measures that unnecessarily limit state wildlife management authority.
- Eliminate repetitive or unnecessary language added through recent rulemakings.
The Department notes that this proposal does not change federal subsistence harvest regulations under Title VIII of ANILCA.
A review by Interior concluded that restrictions imposed since 2015 were not necessary for protecting wildlife populations or ensuring public safety. Environmental assessments from earlier rules found no population-level impacts from harvest levels managed by the State.
The National Park Service would still be able to impose targeted closures or restrictions when needed based on statutory requirements after appropriate consultation if local concerns arise.
The proposed rule will be published in the Federal Register with a 60-day window for public comment. The National Park Service has already started outreach efforts with tribes and Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act corporations ahead of formal tribal consultations during this process.
All feedback from both public commenters and tribal representatives will be considered before finalizing any changes. Further details about submitting comments will become available at regulations.gov once publication occurs.
