Sep 27, 2026
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
FEATURED SOURCE AUDIO
• President Donald Trump — White House Rose Garden dinner,
September 17, 2026
• Brent Rudolph — Michigan Department of Natural Resources
• Martin Feehan — CAI’s The Point
• Robbie Kroger — Killing Catalina documentary
Outside audio comes from the original source recordings. These
excerpts are not new interviews conducted by Big Buck Registry for
this episode.
READ MORE AND EXPLORE BBR
BBR Blog: https://bigbuckregistry.com/the-bbr-blog/
Deer News: https://bigbuckregistry.com/deernews/
Big Buck Registry: https://bigbuckregistry.com/
PRIMARY SOURCES AND FURTHER READING
Executive order:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/09/reinvigorating-americas-hunting-heritage/
White House dinner video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUV87DEi1yA
Michigan DNR — EHD information:
https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/wildlife/wildlife-disease/wdm/ehd
MassWildlife — Fall hunting announcements:
https://www.mass.gov/news/2026-fall-hunting-announcements
CAI — The effort to expand hunting in Massachusetts:
https://www.capeandislands.org/show/the-point/2026-02-03/the-effort-to-expand-hunting-in-massachusetts
Catalina Island Conservancy — Restoration plan:
https://catalinaconservancy.org/stories/how-were-protecting-catalina-island/
Killing Catalina documentary:
https://www.savethecatalinaislanddeer.com/documentary-killing-catalina
Before hunting, check current state regulations and the rules
for the specific property, including permits, species, equipment,
dates, and Sunday restrictions.
Have a deer story we should investigate? Send Big Buck Registry
the location and a source link.
Stay safe, shoot straight, and see you next time in the deer
woods.
