Hunting for Healthcare

  

October 20, 2025

 

 

The government shutdown has apparently impeded hunting. For real.

 

 

There’s a government program that provides incentives for landowners to allow hunting, fishing, and hiking on their land. With the shutdown, grant funding is currently unavailable, so some landowners have pulled out of the program.

 

 

Since the ostensible reason for the shutdown is an argument over affordable health care, maybe hunters, hikers and fishers should call their representatives and tell them to vote for keeping the affordable health care. 

 

 

Some of the consequences of the shutdown may seem distant—airline snarls, unpaid government employees, reduced services—but taking away hunting is hitting some people where it hurts. Maybe lawmakers who count on the rural vote will take notice if they start calling.