Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever Applaud President Trump’s Executive Order Reinvigorating America’s Hunting Heritage

September 18, 2026 – Washington, D.C. – Pheasants Forever (PF) and Quail Forever (QF) celebrate President Donald J. Trump’s signing of a new Executive Order, “Reinvigorating America’s Hunting Heritage,” which takes important steps to improve public land access, advance habitat conservation, strengthen fish and wildlife management, and support America’s outdoor traditions.

“America’s hunting heritage is worth protecting—and that starts with putting more wildlife on the landscape and more opportunity within reach of hunters,” said Ariel Wiegard, Vice President of Government Affairs for PF & QF. “From expanding access to public lands to investing in the habitat, wildlife management, and community spirit needed to sustain the legacy of iconic game species like bobwhite quail, this Executive Order recognizes that conservation and hunting go hand in hand. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever are proud to work alongside the Trump Administration, states, landowners, and hunters to ensure America’s hunting traditions remain strong for generations to come.”

The Executive Order furthers the Trump Administration’s Make America Beautiful Again initiative, which recognizes the importance of conserving America’s natural resources while expanding opportunities for outdoor recreation. The Order directs federal agencies to expand hunting opportunities on federal lands, improve access to difficult-to-access federal acres, prioritize hunting education and access opportunities for youth, veterans, and hunters with disabilities, and encourage volunteers to assist in conservation efforts.

Importantly, the Order also recognizes that access and opportunity depend on healthy wildlife populations and quality habitat. It directs the Departments of the Interior, Agriculture, and War to coordinate with state wildlife agencies to align conservation and management plans to promote robust game populations. Those efforts include improving habitat connectivity, reducing invasive species, utilizing prescribed fire and other habitat management tools, and working with private landowners and agricultural producers through voluntary conservation agreements.

For PF & QF, these provisions have special significance for America’s heritage game birds, including bobwhite quail. Across much of the bobwhite range, sustaining huntable populations depends on restoring and connecting quality early successional habitat, improving habitat management, and building strong partnerships among hunters, farmers, ranchers, state agencies, federal agencies, and conservation organizations.

PF & QF look forward to working with the Trump administration, federal and state agencies, private landowners, hunters, and conservation partners to turn these commitments into on-the-ground results. Together we can help ensure that America’s hunting heritage—and the wildlife that make it possible—endures for generations to come.

About Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever

Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever make up the nation's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation. This community of more than 500,000 members, supporters and partners is dedicated to the protection of our uplands through habitat improvement, public access, education and advocacy. A network of 754 local chapters spread across North America determine how 100 percent of their locally raised funds are spent — the only national conservation organization that operates through this grassroots structure. Since its creation in 1982, the organization has dedicated more than $1 billion to 580,000 habitat projects benefiting 31 million acres.

Media Contact
Mikayla Peper
715-294-0688
mpeper@pheasantsforever.org