Public Lands & Waters

Public lands & waters are key to hunting and fishing in America. This is the latest news that you need to know.

Latest in Public Lands & Waters

A national wildlife refuge sign

Oklahoma Is Making Nonresidents Get Permission, Pay $100 to Hunt Public Land Oklahoma Is Making Nonresidents Get Permission, Pay $100 to Hunt Public Land

By Alice Jones Webb

Land Tawney with a strap of ducks and mountains behind him.

Podcast: Land Tawney, America’s Great Public Lands Agitator, Is Back and Ready for a Fight Podcast: Land Tawney, America’s Great Public Lands Agitator, Is Back and Ready for a Fight

By Alex Robinson

A skull on public land.

The BLM Public Lands Rule Has Been ‘Marked for Death’ The BLM Public Lands Rule Has Been ‘Marked for Death’

A hiker looks over a lush forest in Oregon.

Most Americans Want More Public Land, Not Less, Poll Shows Most Americans Want More Public Land, Not Less, Poll Shows

Kathleen Sgamma testifies in a public hearing.

Oil-Industry Pick to Lead the BLM Withdraws Amid Revelations She Once Criticized the President Oil-Industry Pick to Lead the BLM Withdraws Amid Revelations She Once Criticized the President

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 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

An illustration of a kid holding up a big bass

The Unmaking of an Ozark Stream, and One Last, Giant Bass with My Grandpa The Unmaking of an Ozark Stream, and One Last, Giant Bass with My Grandpa

By Larry Dablemont

Two workers look over an open-pit mine.

New Executive Order Aims to Make Mining the Primary Use of Public Lands at ‘As Many Sites As Possible’ New Executive Order Aims to Make Mining the Primary Use of Public Lands at ‘As Many Sites As Possible’

A tract of public land in the Pahrump Valley in Nevada.

Plan to Sell Off ‘Underutilized’ Federal Land for Affordable Housing Is Ineffective and Inefficient, Experts Say Plan to Sell Off ‘Underutilized’ Federal Land for Affordable Housing Is Ineffective and Inefficient, Experts Say

Corner crossing ruled legal in Wyoming.

Appeals Court Rules That Corner Crossing Is Legal in at Least Six States Appeals Court Rules That Corner Crossing Is Legal in at Least Six States

By Andrew McKean

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 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 public land sign with a pumpjack in the background.

How Seriously Should We Take the Sale of Federal Lands? Very Seriously, Experts Say How Seriously Should We Take the Sale of Federal Lands? Very Seriously, Experts Say

By Andrew McKean

Poll: 65 Percent of Westerners Oppose Giving States Control of Federal Land

Poll: 65 Percent of Westerners Oppose Giving States Control of Federal Land Poll: 65 Percent of Westerners Oppose Giving States Control of Federal Land

By Christine Peterson

An illustration of a bedded pronghorn with president teddy Roosevelt lying in the brush behind it

President Teddy Roosevelt Conserved Millions of Acres of Federal Lands. It Was His Greatest Legacy President Teddy Roosevelt Conserved Millions of Acres of Federal Lands. It Was His Greatest Legacy

By Jim McCafferty

A USFS firefighter.

Feds Fire 4,400+ Public-Land Employees, Including Forest Service Workers, National Park Staff Feds Fire 4,400+ Public-Land Employees, Including Forest Service Workers, National Park Staff

By Christine Peterson

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