ExecutiveOrdersEO
EO 13443Executive OrderG.W. Bush · R

Executive Order 13443

Facilitation of Hunting Heritage and Wildlife Conservation

This executive order directs federal land-management agencies to evaluate and expand hunting opportunities on public lands, collaborate with states and tribes on wildlife management, and establish a White House wildlife policy conference and a 10-year conservation plan. It prioritizes hunting heritage as a factor in federal land and wildlife decisions without creating legally enforceable rights.

Federal Register Open PDF 72 FR 46537

Impact dates

  1. Comprehensive 10-year Recreational Hunting and Wildlife Conservation Plan due, not later than 1 year after Conference conclusion

  2. CEQ Chairman must convene White House Conference on North American Wildlife Policy

Key directives

  • Federal agencies shall evaluate effects on hunting participation trends and implement expansion actions where appropriate
  • Agencies shall consider economic and recreational values of hunting in actions
  • Manage wildlife and habitats to expand hunting opportunities, including through hunting in wildlife management planning
  • Collaborate with State governments respecting private property rights and State wildlife authority
  • Establish short and long term goals with State and tribal governments for game species populations and hunting opportunities
  • Consider State Wildlife Action Plans, North American Waterfowl Management Plan, and other range-wide plans
  • Seek advice of State/tribal agencies and consult Sporting Conservation Council
  • CEQ Chairman convene White House Conference on North American Wildlife Policy not later than 1 year after signing
  • CEQ Chairman prepare comprehensive 10-year Recreational Hunting and Wildlife Conservation Plan not later than 1 year after Conference conclusion

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Agencies directed to begin evaluating effects on hunting participation
  • Integration of hunting values into ongoing agency actions

Near term (90d)

  • No specific 90-day deadlines; ongoing agency evaluations expected

Long term

  • White House Conference on North American Wildlife Policy to convene by August 16, 2008
  • 10-year Recreational Hunting and Wildlife Conservation Plan due 1 year after Conference conclusion (by approximately August 16, 2009 at earliest)
  • Periodic conferences at Chairman's discretion thereafter

Risks & tensions

  • No appropriations guaranteed—plan preparation 'subject to availability of appropriations' may delay or weaken implementation
  • Section 5 explicitly denies enforceable legal rights, limiting accountability for non-compliance
  • Potential tension between expanding hunting opportunities and other public land uses (recreation, conservation, non-game species); text does not specify how to resolve conflicts
  • 'As appropriate' and 'consistent with agency missions' qualifiers create broad discretion, reducing binding effect
  • Conference timing 'periodically thereafter at such times as the Chairman deems appropriate' is vague
Executive Order 13443: Facilitation of Hunting Heritage and Wildlife Conservation · Executive Orders