Hunting and Shooting Sports Conservation and Access Council; Request for Nominations

Issuing agencies

Abstract

The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) is seeking member nominations to the Hunting and Shooting Sports Conservation and Access Council (Council). Individuals who submitted a cover letter and resume in response to the April 21, 2026, request for nominations do not need to resubmit for this request. The Council will provide recommendations to the Federal Government, through the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, regarding the establishment and implementation of existing and proposed policies and authorities with regard to wildlife and habitat conservation endeavors that benefit wildlife resources; encourage partnership among the public, sporting conservation organizations, and Federal, State, Tribal, and Territorial governments; benefit hunting and the shooting sports; and increase public access to hunting and the shooting sports.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 193 (Wednesday, October 7, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 193 (Wednesday, October 7, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64161-64162]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-20555]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-HQ-OC-2026-4027; FXGO166009OC000-267-FF09X00000]


Hunting and Shooting Sports Conservation and Access Council; 
Request for Nominations

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) is seeking member 
nominations to the Hunting and Shooting Sports Conservation and Access 
Council (Council). Individuals who submitted a cover letter and resume 
in response to the April 21, 2026, request for nominations do not need 
to resubmit for this request. The Council will provide recommendations 
to the Federal Government, through the Secretary of the Interior and 
the Secretary of Agriculture, regarding the establishment and 
implementation of existing and proposed policies and authorities with 
regard to wildlife and habitat conservation endeavors that benefit 
wildlife resources; encourage partnership among the public, sporting 
conservation organizations, and Federal, State, Tribal, and Territorial 
governments; benefit hunting and the shooting sports; and increase 
public access to hunting and the shooting sports.

DATES: Nominations for the Council must be submitted no later than 
October 22, 2026.

ADDRESSES: You may submit nominations via email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5733382230083f383535241731202479303821"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="98fcf7edffc7f0f7fafaebd8feefebb6fff7ee">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas Hobbs, by telephone at (703) 
358-2336, or by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e5818a9082ba8d8a878796a5839296cb828a93"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="fb9f948e9ca49394999988bb9d8c88d59c948d">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>. Individuals in the United 
States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech 
disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access 
telecommunications relay services. Individuals outside the United 
States should use the relay services offered within their country to 
make international calls to the point-of-contact in the United States.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Council is established under the 
authority of the Secretary of the Interior and regulated by the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as amended (5 U.S.C. Ch. 10). The 
Council's duties are strictly advisory and consist of, but are not 
limited to,
    (a) Assessing the implementation of current and future Executive 
Orders, Secretary's Orders, Secretarial memos, and Director's Orders 
that pertain to the objective of the Council, and providing 
recommendations to enhance and expand their implementation;
    (b) Conducting a review of public lands to identify any areas 
currently unreachable or unavailable for public hunting opportunities 
and recommending solutions or options to increase access;
    (c) Making recommendations regarding policies and programs that:
    1. conserve and restore wetlands, grasslands, forests, and other 
important wildlife habitats, and improve management and restoration of 
rangelands and agricultural lands to benefit wildlife and enhance 
hunting and wildlife-associated recreation;
    2. promote opportunities for hunting and/or expand access to 
hunting, shooting sports and wildlife-associated recreation on public 
lands;
    3. improve and enhance agency infrastructure that benefit wildlife 
and their habitats, that enhance public access to hunting and shooting 
sports opportunities on public lands and other related and lawful uses 
in accordance with the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 
U.S.C. 6801-6814) and the Great American Outdoors Act (Pub. L. 115-
162);

[[Page 64162]]

    4. encourage hunting and shooting sports safety, including through 
development of ranges on public lands;
    5. recruit and retain new hunters and shooting sports enthusiasts 
whose participation helps support wildlife conservation and increased 
access and opportunities through the North American Model of 
Conservation;
    6. increase public awareness of the importance of wildlife 
conservation and the social and economic benefits of hunting and the 
shooting sports; and
    7. encourage coordination among the public; the hunting and 
shooting sports communities; wildlife conservation groups; and Federal, 
State, Tribal and Territorial governments to better utilize natural 
resources while providing for conservation.
    (d) When requested by the Designated Federal Officer (DFO) in 
consultation with the Council Chairperson, performing a variety of 
assessments or reviews of policies, programs, and efforts through the 
Council's designated subcommittees or workgroups for consideration and 
approval of full Council.
    The Council will meet at least two times per year. The Secretary 
will appoint members and alternates to the Council to serve up to a 3-
year term. The Council will not exceed 18 primary representative 
members, up to 18 alternate representative members, and 4 ex officio 
members. Ex officio members will include: Secretary of the Interior or 
designated DOI representatives; Secretary of Agriculture or designated 
Department of Agriculture representative; and Executive Director, 
Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.
    The Secretary will select remaining members from among, but not 
limited to, the organization/interests listed below. These members must 
be senior-level representatives of their organization and/or have the 
ability to represent their designated constituencies.
    <bullet> State fish and wildlife management agencies;
    <bullet> Wildlife and habitat conservation/management 
organizations;
    <bullet> Shooting sports interests;
    <bullet> Gamebird hunting organizations;
    <bullet> Waterfowl hunting organizations;
    <bullet> Big game hunting organizations;
    <bullet> U.S. hunters actively engaged in domestic and/or 
international hunting conservation;
    <bullet> The firearms or ammunition manufacturing industry;
    <bullet> Archery interests;
    <bullet> Wildlife-associated recreation interests;
    <bullet> Tourism, outfitter, and/or guide businesses related to 
hunting and/or wildlife conservation;
    <bullet> Tribal resource management organizations;
    <bullet> Agriculture interests;
    <bullet> Ranching interest; and
    <bullet> Veterans service organizations.

Member Terms and Vacancies To Fill

    Each representative member is appointed to serve up to a 3-year 
term. We are requesting nominations to fill vacancies to represent 
organizations/interests listed above.

Nomination Method and Information

    Nominations should include a cover letter and resume providing an 
adequate description of the nominee's qualifications, including 
information that would enable DOI to make an informed decision 
regarding the ability of a nominee to meet the membership requirements 
of the Council and the national interest potentially represented by a 
nominee, and to permit DOI to contact a potential member. Individuals 
who submitted a cover letter and resume in response to the April 21, 
2026, request for nominations do not need to resubmit for this request.
    Members of the Council serve without compensation. However, while 
away from their homes or regular places of business, Council and 
subcommittee members engaged in Council or subcommittee business that 
the Designated Federal Officer approves may be allowed travel expenses, 
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 
5703, in the same manner as persons employed intermittently in Federal 
Government service.
    Authority: 5 U.S.C. Ch. 10.

Janine Velasco,
Acting Deputy Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-20555 Filed 10-6-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P


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