EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. — Hunters who head into the foothills and mountains of El Dorado County could eventually see changes in how federal lands are managed for hunting following an executive order signed Thursday by President Donald Trump.
The Sept. 17 order, titled “Reinvigorating America’s Hunting Heritage,” directs federal agencies to pursue broader hunting, fishing, shooting and recreational access on federal lands, with the stated goal of expanding outdoor recreation and wildlife-management opportunities.
For local hunters, however, the order does not immediately change California hunting seasons, licenses, tags or other state requirements.
Federal lands are the focus
The order directs the secretaries of the Interior, Agriculture, War and Commerce to propose changes within 180 days to federal policies that restrict access to public lands for hunting, fishing, shooting and other recreation.
The order establishes a general policy favoring hunting access on federal lands unless a specific closure is justified by local resource conditions. National parks remain excluded from that general directive.
The administration also directed the Interior Department to expand hunting opportunities in two specifically identified national monuments — Castle Mountains National Monument in California and Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve in Idaho — for species that are not federally listed under the Endangered Species Act. The order gives the Interior Department 90 days to act on those provisions.
The order further calls for improvements to roads and other infrastructure providing access to federal lands for outdoor recreation and wildlife management.
It also encourages state wildlife agencies to use Pittman-Robertson funds to address populations of abundant wildlife, including deer, and to facilitate processing and donation of wild game meat to schools and food banks.
Trump’s order describes the policy in sweeping terms, stating: “Hunting promotes healthy and robust animal populations” and calling for a presumption of accessibility to federally managed lands.
What it could mean in El Dorado County
El Dorado County is bordered and surrounded by extensive public lands, including portions of the Eldorado National Forest, where hunting is already permitted under applicable federal, state and local rules.
The U.S. Forest Service says hunting and fishing are allowed in the Eldorado National Forest and wilderness areas, but hunters must comply with state, local and federal laws governing seasons, dates and licensing. Individual areas can also be closed to hunting.
That distinction is important.
The president’s order directs federal agencies to review and change federal policies. It does not eliminate California’s authority to establish hunting seasons, bag limits, licenses, tags and other wildlife regulations.
California Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations remain applicable to hunters in the state. CDFW’s 2026-27 regulations include specific seasons and limits for deer, bear, small game, upland birds and other species.
For example, California’s 2026 black bear season is governed by state regulations, with the general season running through Dec. 27, 2026, unless the statewide harvest limit is reached earlier. As of Sept. 14, CDFW reported 132 bears harvested during the 2026 season.
California’s ammunition law remains a key difference
One provision of Trump’s federal order could attract particular attention from California hunters.
The order directs federal agencies to propose policies that would permit the use of traditional lead ammunition and tackle on federal lands, subject to applicable law.
California, however, has its own statewide nonlead ammunition requirement.
CDFW states that, since July 1, 2019, nonlead ammunition is required when taking any wildlife with a firearm anywhere in California, including on private property.
That means El Dorado County hunters should not interpret Thursday’s federal order as permission to use lead ammunition while hunting in California.
For now, California’s nonlead requirement remains the rule for taking wildlife with a firearm. CDFW also maintains a list of ammunition certified for use under the state’s requirements.
Order follows earlier federal moves
Thursday’s hunting order is part of a broader series of actions by the Trump administration involving federal public-land access.
In May, Trump signed an executive order rescinding two older executive orders governing off-road vehicle use on federal lands. The administration said the move was intended to reduce regulatory barriers and expand recreational access.
The Interior Department also announced in May that it was pursuing expanded hunting and sport-fishing opportunities on federal lands and waters, including proposed changes described by the department as the largest expansion of hunting and sport-fishing opportunities in U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service history.
Earlier this year, Interior also proposed restoring state-aligned hunting and trapping regulations on Alaska national preserves, reversing federal regulatory changes adopted during previous administrations.
What hunters should know now
For hunters in El Dorado County, the practical effect of Thursday’s order will depend largely on what federal agencies do next.
The order establishes deadlines for agencies to review federal policies and propose changes, rather than immediately rewriting every hunting regulation on federal property. Implementation must also remain consistent with existing federal law and available funding.
Meanwhile, California hunters remain subject to CDFW licensing and season requirements. A California hunting license is required for anyone taking birds or mammals, and hunters must carry their licenses and produce them upon request.
The 2026-27 hunting year is already underway, with California’s deer and other game seasons opening on different dates depending on the hunting zone and species. CDFW advises hunters to check current regulations and land-specific closures before entering the field.
For the foothill and mountain hunters of El Dorado County, the message is straightforward: federal hunting access may be headed toward fewer restrictions, but the federal order does not erase California’s hunting laws.
The next significant developments will come as federal land-management agencies begin the reviews and rule changes ordered by the White House.
Sources
- White House — Reinvigorating America’s Hunting Heritage
- White House — Fact Sheet on the Hunting Order
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife — Hunting Regulations
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife — Nonlead Ammunition Requirements
- U.S. Forest Service — Eldorado National Forest Hunting Information
