§7913 Closure of Federal Land to Hunting, Fishing, and Recreational Shooting

Summary

Federal land managers may close parts of federal land to hunting, fishing, or recreational shooting for public safety, land management, or to follow the law. They must close only the smallest area and for the shortest time needed. Except in emergencies, they must consult state fish and wildlife agencies and give the public a chance to comment. Notices must be published in the Federal Register, on the agency website, on the land unit’s website if there is one, in at least one local newspaper, and sent in advance to local groups that signed the “Federal Lands Hunting, Fishing, and Shooting Sports Roundtable Memorandum of Understanding.” The notice must explain the proposed closure and the reasons. People get at least 60 days to comment on permanent closures and at least 30 days for temporary closures. In the final decision, the agency must reply to comments, explain how it handled important concerns, and show how that led to the closure. A temporary closure cannot last more than 180 days. Except in emergencies, it can be renewed no more than three times after the first temporary closure, and each renewal needs a new notice and comment period. A temporary closure cannot become permanent without a separate notice and comment process. Each year the agencies must post a list of all closures online and send Congress a report naming each closed area, listing acreage, giving totals by State, and showing the percent of federal land in each State closed for these activities. These rules do not apply to closures shorter than 14 days that are covered by a special use permit.