Policy & Legislation

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

Latest in Policy & Legislation

A bull elk looks across grassy plains.

More Details Emerge Around the Public Land Sale Bill — and It’s Worse Than You Think More Details Emerge Around the Public Land Sale Bill — and It’s Worse Than You Think

By Andrew McKean

BOUNDARY WATERS CANOE AREA WILDERNESS, MINNESOTA- SEPTEMBER: Outdoor enthusiasts travel by canoe through several of the hundreds of fresh water lakes that make up the Boundary Waters in September of 2019 in the northern woods of Minnesota. Motor boats are banned in this protected area of the Superior National Forest wilderness. Environmentalists are worried that recent permits given to mines on the edge of the Boundary Waters might threaten the pristine waters of the region. (Photo by Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images)

Trump Administration Moves to Kill Boundary Waters Protections, Make Way for Proposed Mine Trump Administration Moves to Kill Boundary Waters Protections, Make Way for Proposed Mine

Senator Mike Lee on senate land sale

The Senate Is Considering Selling Public Land. It Could Be About 2 Million Acres The Senate Is Considering Selling Public Land. It Could Be About 2 Million Acres

By Andrew McKean

Boundary Waters lake

The House Kills Its Plan to Open Mining Near the Boundary Waters The House Kills Its Plan to Open Mining Near the Boundary Waters

By Natalie Krebs

The arctic national wildlife refuge

While Public Land Advocates Celebrate House Bill Victory, Several Troubling Provisions Were Passed While Public Land Advocates Celebrate House Bill Victory, Several Troubling Provisions Were Passed

By Andrew McKean

A composite image of Ryan Zinke and some quotes about the public land sale

House Republicans Kill Provision to Sell Public Lands House Republicans Kill Provision to Sell Public Lands

By Andrew McKean

Houses with mountains in background.

Public Land Sales Proposal Could Advance at 1 A.M. Tomorrow Public Land Sales Proposal Could Advance at 1 A.M. Tomorrow

By Andrew McKean

A house bill has earmarked federal public land for sale

An Amendment to Sell Thousands of Acres of Public Land in Nevada and Utah Just Slipped into a House Budget Bill An Amendment to Sell Thousands of Acres of Public Land in Nevada and Utah Just Slipped into a House Budget Bill

By Andrew McKean

The sun sets on a perfect September day of paddling and fishing in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

House Committee Weighs Budget Bill That Would Allow Boundary Waters Mine, Approve Ambler Road, and Mandate Massive Coal Leases House Committee Weighs Budget Bill That Would Allow Boundary Waters Mine, Approve Ambler Road, and Mandate Massive Coal Leases

By Andrew McKean

A bull elk stands on a hill side

Idaho Hunters Want Restrictions on Drones, Thermals, and Cellular Trail Cams Idaho Hunters Want Restrictions on Drones, Thermals, and Cellular Trail Cams

By Andrew McKean

Black hills utah

Congress Is Seriously Considering Public Land Sales as Part of Its New Budget Congress Is Seriously Considering Public Land Sales as Part of Its New Budget

By Andrew McKean

A USFWS employee runs an airboat across Tule Lake.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to Rehire Fired Employees with Backpay U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to Rehire Fired Employees with Backpay

A sweeping view of the Grand Canyon

Hundreds of Elected Officials Out West Urge Feds to Protect Public Lands Hundreds of Elected Officials Out West Urge Feds to Protect Public Lands

By Alice Jones Webb

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