Policy & Legislation

The latest news on policy & legislation that is most important to hunters, anglers, and conservationists.

Latest in Policy & Legislation

A barred owl flies through the trees.

Lawmakers Ask Trump to Stop the $1.3 Billion Plan to Shoot 450,000 Non-Native Barred Owls Lawmakers Ask Trump to Stop the $1.3 Billion Plan to Shoot 450,000 Non-Native Barred Owls

By Alice Jones Webb

national wildlife refuge USFWS employee

As Trump Attempts to Reform Federal Government, Hunters and Anglers Face ‘Unintended Consequences’ As Trump Attempts to Reform Federal Government, Hunters and Anglers Face ‘Unintended Consequences’

By Andrew McKean

A hunter glasses for game from atop a snowy ridge.

Utah Wants to Prevent Anti-Hunter Takeover by Requiring All Wildlife Board Members to Have a Hunting License Utah Wants to Prevent Anti-Hunter Takeover by Requiring All Wildlife Board Members to Have a Hunting License

A grizzly bear walking through the woods in the snow.

The Endangered Species Act Has Been ‘Warped by Decades of Radical Environmental Litigation,’ Says Lawmaker Who Wants to Overhaul It The Endangered Species Act Has Been ‘Warped by Decades of Radical Environmental Litigation,’ Says Lawmaker Who Wants to Overhaul It

By Natalie Krebs

A BLM firefighter works a line.

Federal Judge Rules Firing Public-Land Workers Was Illegal, Agrees It ‘Will Inflict Immediate, Foreseeable Harm’ to Habitat and Wildlife Federal Judge Rules Firing Public-Land Workers Was Illegal, Agrees It ‘Will Inflict Immediate, Foreseeable Harm’ to Habitat and Wildlife

A mountain lion feeding on a dead deer.

Wyoming Lawmakers Tried to Declare Open Season on Mountain Lions. Local Houndsmen Shut It Down Wyoming Lawmakers Tried to Declare Open Season on Mountain Lions. Local Houndsmen Shut It Down

By Christine Peterson

A wolf in the snow in Wyoming

A Bill That Would’ve Outlawed Running Over Wolves, Coyotes with Snowmachines Failed in Wyoming A Bill That Would’ve Outlawed Running Over Wolves, Coyotes with Snowmachines Failed in Wyoming

By Christine Peterson

Great Lakes wolves

Wisconsin, Colorado Lawmakers Move to Delist Gray Wolves Across the Lower 48 Wisconsin, Colorado Lawmakers Move to Delist Gray Wolves Across the Lower 48

By Natalie Krebs

Two hunters walk up a canyon trail.

Wyoming Senators Demand 50 Million Acres of Federal Land. It’s Part of a Coordinated Land-Grab by Western States Wyoming Senators Demand 50 Million Acres of Federal Land. It’s Part of a Coordinated Land-Grab by Western States

Doug Burgum is sworn in as DOI secretary

North Dakota Governor and Retired Software Exec Doug Burgum Confirmed as Interior Secretary North Dakota Governor and Retired Software Exec Doug Burgum Confirmed as Interior Secretary

By Andrew McKean

Caribou with antlers feeding on snow-covered tundra with oilfield pipeline in background

Trump Orders Resource Development on Alaska Public Lands ‘to the Fullest Extent Possible,’ But May Also Restore Hunting Opportunities Trump Orders Resource Development on Alaska Public Lands ‘to the Fullest Extent Possible,’ But May Also Restore Hunting Opportunities

By Natalie Krebs

A herd of mule deer, likely about to bolt.

Trump’s Order to Pause Federal Grants Causes Chaos in the Conservation World Trump’s Order to Pause Federal Grants Causes Chaos in the Conservation World

By Andrew McKean, Natalie Krebs

A road with public land BLM sign

Here’s What Hunting and Conservation Groups Are Asking of the Trump Administration Here’s What Hunting and Conservation Groups Are Asking of the Trump Administration

By Andrew McKean

A canyon in the Chuckwalla Mountains.

A New Bill Would Strip the President’s Power to Designate National Monuments A New Bill Would Strip the President’s Power to Designate National Monuments

By Natalie Krebs

south dakota rooster

The Federal Walk-In Hunting Access Program Won’t Be Funded in 2025. An Even Bigger Budget Battle Looms in the Next Farm Bill The Federal Walk-In Hunting Access Program Won’t Be Funded in 2025. An Even Bigger Budget Battle Looms in the Next Farm Bill

By Alex Robinson

Four deer lit up with a thermal on a prairie.

Survey: Idaho Big-Game Hunters Would Ban Drones and Thermals, But Keep Most Other Tech Survey: Idaho Big-Game Hunters Would Ban Drones and Thermals, But Keep Most Other Tech

By Andrew McKean

Snowy Alaska range

Congress Passes Two Outdoor Bills That Include Better Shooting Range Access, Implications for Lead Tackle Congress Passes Two Outdoor Bills That Include Better Shooting Range Access, Implications for Lead Tackle

By Andrew McKean

A monarch butterfly on thistle.

Feds Propose Listing the Monarch Butterfly Under the Endangered Species Act Feds Propose Listing the Monarch Butterfly Under the Endangered Species Act

By Andrew McKean

Here’s What a Second Donald Trump Presidential Term Could Mean for Outdoorsmen, Gun Owners, and Conservationists Here’s What a Second Donald Trump Presidential Term Could Mean for Outdoorsmen, Gun Owners, and Conservationists

By Andrew McKean

Here’s What a Harris-Walz Administration Might Mean for Outdoorsmen, Conservationists, and Gun Owners Here’s What a Harris-Walz Administration Might Mean for Outdoorsmen, Conservationists, and Gun Owners

By Andrew McKean