DEER NEWS September 2026: Trump's Hunting Order, Public Access & Catalina's Deer Debate

What does President Trump's hunting executive order actually mean for deer hunters—and what still needs to happen before anything changes in the woods?

Jay Scott Ammann, Dusty Phillips, and Jim Keller lead this September edition of Deer News with a detailed examination of "Reinvigorating America's Hunting Heritage," signed September 17, 2026.

Featuring excerpts from the president's Rose Garden dinner remarks, we explore public-land access, Sunday hunting, lead ammunition, habitat management, hunter education, and venison donation. We also examine the history behind these policies, reactions from hunting and conservation organizations, and the deadlines that will shape implementation.

The central distinction: an executive order directing agencies to act is not the same as every federal property immediately opening to hunting.

Also in this episode:

• Michigan EHD: Confirmed detections in four southern counties, potential local herd impacts, and comments from Michigan DNR's Brent Rudolph about how the virus spreads.

• Massachusetts hunting changes: Expanded hunting opportunities, updated deer-lure rules, and an earlier interview with MassWildlife biologist Martin Feehan explaining deer densities and habitat pressures on Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.

• Pennsylvania antlerless opportunities: Additional DMAP permits on participating state forests and parks, with forest regeneration helping guide deer management.

• Catalina Island: The legal dispute over mule deer removal, the Conservancy's habitat-restoration rationale, and criticism from former BBR guest Robbie Kroger, heard in the documentary Killing Catalina.

Throughout the episode, we distinguish announcements from rules in effect, population management from eradication, and stakeholder arguments from established findings.

HOSTS

Jay Scott Ammann • Dusty Phillips • Jim Keller