S-733 : Still Just a Bill

Sportsmen's Act

This bill declares that federal land must be open for hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting unless the managing agency acts to close the lands in accordance with this bill.

The Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) may lease or permit the use of federal land for a shooting range, with specified exceptions.

The National Park Service (NPS), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the BLM, and the Forest Service must prepare a list that identifies land within their respective jurisdictions that is: (1) open to the public for hunting, fishing, or recreational uses; (2) not accessible to the public because the land does not have public entry or exit points or has significantly restricted public entry and exit points; and (3) at a minimum, 640 acres in size. Those federal entities must: (1) make this information available biennially for a 10-year period, and (2) report on options for providing public entry and exit points for the land.

The bill provides special rules to expand access to federal land for film crews of three people or fewer.

The bill establishes a Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council Advisory Committee to advise the Departments of Agriculture and of the Interior on wildlife and habitat conservation, hunting, and recreational shooting.

The NPS may not prohibit individuals from transporting bows and crossbows if certain requirements are met.