Conservation

Breaking down the latest news and unpacking the most critical issues surrounding conservation, climate & environment, and public lands & waters, and wildlife management.

Latest in Conservation

A yellow sign that reads "Entering Public Lands" on a weathered fence post in front of a two-track road

Conservation

Breaking: Trump Administration Withdraws Pendley as Nominee for BLM Director Breaking: Trump Administration Withdraws Pendley as Nominee for BLM Director

By Andrew McKean

Satellite image of agricultural fields and timber with waypoints and red property line grids.

Hunting

Map These 5 Food Sources to Find Deer All Season Long Map These 5 Food Sources to Find Deer All Season Long

By Craig Dougherty

A brown hog walking through a field.

Hunting

9 Ways to Hunt Hogs in Mid-Summer 9 Ways to Hunt Hogs in Mid-Summer

By Mike Dickerson

A National Park mountain range against clear blue and lightly clouded skies overlooking a wooded forest area.

Conservation

The President Just Signed a Historic Conservation Bill That Will Help Buy New Public Lands and Fix Our National Parks The President Just Signed a Historic Conservation Bill That Will Help Buy New Public Lands and Fix Our National Parks

By Alex Robinson

A sockeye salmon in very shallow water.

Conservation

Pebble Mine Likely to Receive Federal Permit. Bristol Bay Hunters, Anglers, and Guides Brace for Impact Pebble Mine Likely to Receive Federal Permit. Bristol Bay Hunters, Anglers, and Guides Brace for Impact

whitetail deer hunt

Conservation

Why We’re Failing to Recruit African American Hunters (and How to Fix It) Why We’re Failing to Recruit African American Hunters (and How to Fix It)

By Eric M. Morris

Hunting

The Two Biggest Deer Organizations Are Joining Forces. What Does It Mean for Hunters? The Two Biggest Deer Organizations Are Joining Forces. What Does It Mean for Hunters?

By Andrew McKean

A black man in hunters camo holds a rifle.

Conservation

I’m an Immigrant, a Veteran, and Finally… a Hunter I’m an Immigrant, a Veteran, and Finally… a Hunter

By Ron Taylor, as told to Natalie Krebs

Two deer running through an open field near a road.

Hunting

Will a Decrease in Roadkill Mean More Deer in the Woods this Fall? Will a Decrease in Roadkill Mean More Deer in the Woods this Fall?

Into the Wild Bus

Conservation

Decades Before the ‘Into the Wild’ Bus Was a Deadly Tourist Attraction, It Was a Hunting Camp Decades Before the ‘Into the Wild’ Bus Was a Deadly Tourist Attraction, It Was a Hunting Camp

Tyler Freel kneeling behind a large spring black bear while hunting in Alaska.

Hunting

Alaska’s Bear Hunting Regulation Changes Aren’t as Sensational as They Sound Alaska’s Bear Hunting Regulation Changes Aren’t as Sensational as They Sound

A man in a cap spreads grass and plant seed in a field.

Hunting

10 Tips For Growing Successful Food Plots (And Keeping Deer on Your Property All Season Long) 10 Tips For Growing Successful Food Plots (And Keeping Deer on Your Property All Season Long)

A large, male brown bear fishes for salmon in the Tongass National Forest.

Hunting

The Roadless Rule in the Tongass National Forest is Vital for Both Hunters and Brown Bears The Roadless Rule in the Tongass National Forest is Vital for Both Hunters and Brown Bears

A food plot of brassica plants.

Hunting

11 Strategies For Growing The Perfect Deer Food Plot 11 Strategies For Growing The Perfect Deer Food Plot

A man holding up a sea lamprey.

Fishing

10 Common Parasites and Diseases Found in Game Fish (and What You Need to Know About Them) 10 Common Parasites and Diseases Found in Game Fish (and What You Need to Know About Them)

Two female hunters on a trail through the woods.

Conservation

A New Hunter’s Perspective on How the Old School Can Help A New Hunter’s Perspective on How the Old School Can Help

Two hunters with a mule deer in the snow and grass.

Hunting

How to Get Your Own Private Hunting Property (and Improve its Habitat) How to Get Your Own Private Hunting Property (and Improve its Habitat)

Minessota jake turkey feathers.

Hunting

Should You Shoot Jakes This Spring? (and Other Things to Consider During a Coronavirus Turkey Season) Should You Shoot Jakes This Spring? (and Other Things to Consider During a Coronavirus Turkey Season)

By Gerry Bethge

Hunter walking through the woods with a turkey.

Conservation

Will Coronavirus Get More People into Hunting? Will Coronavirus Get More People into Hunting?

By Natalie Krebs

A man tilling a field

Conservation

How to Plant a Sunflower Field for Better Dove Hunting This Summer How to Plant a Sunflower Field for Better Dove Hunting This Summer

Twilight in the Louisiana delta.

Hunting

Video: Meet the Duck Hunting Queen of Plaquemines Parish Video: Meet the Duck Hunting Queen of Plaquemines Parish

By Alex Robinson

A yellow lab running through an open field.

Hunting

Willow Creek: An Obscure Stream Shapes Life, Death, and Landscape Willow Creek: An Obscure Stream Shapes Life, Death, and Landscape

By Andrew McKean

Female angler fishing in the Montana Boulder River.

Conservation

What’s Gained and Lost by Privatizing River Access? What’s Gained and Lost by Privatizing River Access?

By Christine Peterson

A velvet-racked buck makes the most of the growing season.

Hunting

The Keys to Deer Antler Growth The Keys to Deer Antler Growth

By Andrew McKean

The Rio Chama in New Mexico

Fishing

Lawyers, Trout, and Money—The Crazy Story Behind the Water Access Battle in New Mexico Lawyers, Trout, and Money—The Crazy Story Behind the Water Access Battle in New Mexico

By Christine Peterson

Conservation

Paintball a Grizzly? USFWS Clarifies Bear Hazing Laws Paintball a Grizzly? USFWS Clarifies Bear Hazing Laws

Whitetail deer in a field.

Conservation

13 of the Best Public Hunting and Fishing Spots Near Big Cities 13 of the Best Public Hunting and Fishing Spots Near Big Cities

By Kristen A. Schmitt

A wolf on a hillside covered in snow.

Hunting

Finding a Middle Ground on Wolves and Wolf Management Finding a Middle Ground on Wolves and Wolf Management

Conservation

President Trump Tweets in Favor of Fully and Permanently Funding the Land and Water Conservation Fund President Trump Tweets in Favor of Fully and Permanently Funding the Land and Water Conservation Fund

A new Backcountry Conservation Area is being proposed near Lewistown, Montana.

Conservation

The Secretary of the Interior on Climate Change, Wild Horses, CWD, and New Backcountry Conservation Areas The Secretary of the Interior on Climate Change, Wild Horses, CWD, and New Backcountry Conservation Areas

Silhouette of a deer against a night sky.

Hunting

Cutting-Edge Test is Able to Detect Chronic Wasting Disease in Live Deer Cutting-Edge Test is Able to Detect Chronic Wasting Disease in Live Deer

Angler holding a trout in the water.

Conservation

When Wilderness is a Catch-22 When Wilderness is a Catch-22

By Peter Heller

Deer running through a field.

Conservation

The Wild Game State Agencies Confiscate Does Not Go in a Dumpster The Wild Game State Agencies Confiscate Does Not Go in a Dumpster

Asian carp jumping during a survey in Kentucky.

Conservation

These 8 Aquatic Invasive Species are Threatening Fisheries Across the U.S. These 8 Aquatic Invasive Species are Threatening Fisheries Across the U.S.

Two hunters kneeling behind Wyoming ram.

Conservation

Wyoming Has a Wilderness Problem Wyoming Has a Wilderness Problem

By Andrew McKean

Two hunters in camo and orange vests drag a deer.

Conservation

What’s Next for Citizen Conservation? What’s Next for Citizen Conservation?

By Andrew McKean

An elk standing in the snow.

Hunting

Elk Hunting a Secret Public-Land Spot in the Utah Backcountry Elk Hunting a Secret Public-Land Spot in the Utah Backcountry

By Natalie Krebs

Two hunters dragging a deer through a field.

Conservation

Founding a Local Conservation Club is Harder Than it Seems Founding a Local Conservation Club is Harder Than it Seems

By Andrew McKean

Alex Robinson fishing in the Tongass National Forest.

Conservation

The Tongass National Forest Is a Wilderness on the Chopping Block The Tongass National Forest Is a Wilderness on the Chopping Block

By Alex Robinson

A flock of ducks taking flight.

Conservation

How National Critter Groups Replaced Local Conservation Clubs How National Critter Groups Replaced Local Conservation Clubs

By Andrew McKean

A wild turkey perched on a power line.

Conservation

Goodbye to a Critter Group, and the Birth of the Hi-Line Sportsmen Goodbye to a Critter Group, and the Birth of the Hi-Line Sportsmen

By Andrew McKean

Two male hunters in a field at sunset.

Conservation

How Do We Really Recruit New Hunters? Here Are 5 Honest Perspectives How Do We Really Recruit New Hunters? Here Are 5 Honest Perspectives

A hunter kneeling behind a Kansas buck.

Hunting

The 6 Best Do-it-Yourself Hunts in America The 6 Best Do-it-Yourself Hunts in America

By Jace Bauserman

Hunter aiming a rifle in Alaska's Tongass National Forest

Conservation

The Wildest Hunt: A Film About the Tongass National Forest The Wildest Hunt: A Film About the Tongass National Forest

M2S All-terrain ebike

Conservation

E-Bikes to Be Allowed on “Non-Motorized” National Forest Land. But First, a Lawsuit E-Bikes to Be Allowed on “Non-Motorized” National Forest Land. But First, a Lawsuit

a chainsaw hinge-cutting a tree

Conservation

An Introduction to Timber-Stand Improvement on Your Hunting Property An Introduction to Timber-Stand Improvement on Your Hunting Property

three hunters planting a tree

Hunting

The 6 Best Tree Species for Planting a Deer Orchard The 6 Best Tree Species for Planting a Deer Orchard

Smokey Bear Has a Target On His Back

Conservation

Smokey Bear Has a Target On His Back Smokey Bear Has a Target On His Back

Have You Seen These Deer Diseases In Your Local Woods?

Hunting

Have You Seen These Deer Diseases In Your Local Woods? Have You Seen These Deer Diseases In Your Local Woods?

The Forest Service Wants to Open 9.2 Million Roadless Acres to Potential Logging. Here’s Your Chance to Say Something About It

Conservation

The Forest Service Wants to Open 9.2 Million Roadless Acres to Potential Logging. Here’s Your Chance to Say Something About It The Forest Service Wants to Open 9.2 Million Roadless Acres to Potential Logging. Here’s Your Chance to Say Something About It

By Alex Robinson

Why We Suck at Recruiting New Hunters, Why It Matters, and How You Can Fix It

Conservation

Why We Suck at Recruiting New Hunters, Why It Matters, and How You Can Fix It Why We Suck at Recruiting New Hunters, Why It Matters, and How You Can Fix It

The Trump Administration Repealed Obama-Era Waters of the U.S. Rule. But Now What?

Conservation

The Trump Administration Repealed Obama-Era Waters of the U.S. Rule. But Now What? The Trump Administration Repealed Obama-Era Waters of the U.S. Rule. But Now What?

By John Haughey

Are State Lands Really Public?

Conservation

Are State Lands Really Public? Are State Lands Really Public?

By Andrew McKean

EPA Removes Water Protections and Rolls Back 2015 WOTUS Rule

Conservation

EPA Removes Water Protections and Rolls Back 2015 WOTUS Rule EPA Removes Water Protections and Rolls Back 2015 WOTUS Rule

By Matthew Every

buck on food plot

Conservation

Busted: 10 Myths About Food Plots Busted: 10 Myths About Food Plots

spraying-food-plot-UTV-ranger

Conservation

How to Plant a Mini Food Plot This Summer How to Plant a Mini Food Plot This Summer

httpspush.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimages201908bernhardtdoiopener.jpg

Conservation

Is the Trump Administration Really Looking Out for Outdoorsmen and Women? That Might Be Up to Interior Secretary David Bernhardt Is the Trump Administration Really Looking Out for Outdoorsmen and Women? That Might Be Up to Interior Secretary David Bernhardt

By Alex Robinson

A Conversation With TRCP President and CEO, Whit Fosburgh

Conservation

A Conversation With TRCP President and CEO, Whit Fosburgh A Conversation With TRCP President and CEO, Whit Fosburgh

By Matthew Every

httpspush.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimages201908hutton-cover.jpg

Conservation

Western Hunters Can’t Access 6.35 Million Acres of Public State Lands Western Hunters Can’t Access 6.35 Million Acres of Public State Lands

By Natalie Krebs

Mallard Limit Cut to 2 in the Atlantic Flyway. Will Duck Hunters Stay Home?

Hunting

Mallard Limit Cut to 2 in the Atlantic Flyway. Will Duck Hunters Stay Home? Mallard Limit Cut to 2 in the Atlantic Flyway. Will Duck Hunters Stay Home?

By Ryan Chelius

The Political Battle for America’s Public Land Is Happening Below the Radar

Conservation

The Political Battle for America’s Public Land Is Happening Below the Radar The Political Battle for America’s Public Land Is Happening Below the Radar

White-tailed deer walking in the water.

Hunting

How Rainy Spring Weather Affects Your Deer Season How Rainy Spring Weather Affects Your Deer Season

By Brian Lovett

A Caribou Hunting Adventure in Alaska, No Guides Required

Hunting

A Caribou Hunting Adventure in Alaska, No Guides Required A Caribou Hunting Adventure in Alaska, No Guides Required

By Alex Robinson

9 Hard Truths About Hunting on Public Land

Conservation

9 Hard Truths About Hunting on Public Land 9 Hard Truths About Hunting on Public Land