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S 170 113th Congress Senate Public Lands and Natural Resources Congressional oversight Firearms and explosives Forests, forestry, trees Hunting and fishing Land use and conservation Outdoor recreation Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage and Opportunities Act

Introduced: January 29, 2013 Introduced by: Murkowski, Lisa Republican · Alaska See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 113th Congress ended
It never became law before the 113th Congress (2013–2014) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 29, 2013
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Jan 29, 2013
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S367)
Jan 29, 2013
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage and Opportunities Act - Requires a federal public land management official, in cooperation with the respective state and fish and wildlife agency, to exercise the authority of the official under law, including regarding land use planning, to facilitate the use of, and access to, federal public land for hunting, recreational fishing, and recreational shooting, except as described in this Act.

Requires the heads of federal public land management agencies to exercise their discretion in a manner that supports and facilitates hunting, recreational fishing, and recreational shooting opportunities, to the extent authorized under applicable law.

Requires that Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Forest Service land, excluding land on the Outer Continental Shelf, be open to hunting, recreational fishing, or recreational shooting unless the managing agency acts to close lands to such activity. Permits closures or restrictions on such land for purposes including resource conservation, public safety, energy or mineral production, energy generation or transmission infrastructure, water supply facilities, national security, or compliance with other law.

Allows agencies to: (1) lease or permit use of federal public land for recreational shooting ranges, and (2) designate specific land for recreational shooting activities. Excepts from such use or designation land including a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System, land designated as a wilderness study area or administratively classified as wilderness eligible or suitable, and primitive or semiprimitive areas.

Requires annual reports on closures of federal public lands to hunting, recreational fishing, or recreational shooting. Sets forth requirements for specified closures or significant restrictions involving 1280 or more contiguous acres of federal public land or water to hunting or recreational fishing or related activities.

Instructs federal public land agencies to consult with the advisory councils specified in Executive Orders 12962 (relating to recreational fisheries) and 13443 (relating to the facilitation of hunting heritage and wildlife conservation) in carrying out this Act.

What's happening now January 29, 2013

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

 Related & companion bills 7
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 170: Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage and Opportunities Act. 113th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-170/
MLA
"S. 170: Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage and Opportunities Act." 113th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-170/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 170, 113th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-170/.
Markdown link
[S. 170: Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage and Opportunities Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-170/)
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