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

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

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

A red rock canyon on Utah's BLM land.

Supreme Court Declines to Hear Utah’s Public-Lands Lawsuit Supreme Court Declines to Hear Utah’s Public-Lands Lawsuit

By Andrew McKean

A bald cypress grows out of the swamp in the Okefenokee.

Feds’ Expansion of Okefenokee NWR Could Help Prevent a Proposed Mine There — If It Sticks Feds’ Expansion of Okefenokee NWR Could Help Prevent a Proposed Mine There — If It Sticks

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 map of Montana showing checkerboarding and inaccessible state lands.

1.5 Million Acres of Montana State Trust Land Is Inaccessible, New Map Shows 1.5 Million Acres of Montana State Trust Land Is Inaccessible, New Map Shows

By Andrew McKean

A whitetail deer stands in tall grass.

Feds Are Officially Reimbursing Hunters Who Shoot Non-Tox on These 7 Refuges Feds Are Officially Reimbursing Hunters Who Shoot Non-Tox on These 7 Refuges

A coho salmon swims upriver in a California stream.

Salmon Are Returning to the Undammed Upper Klamath River Even Sooner than Expected Salmon Are Returning to the Undammed Upper Klamath River Even Sooner than Expected

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

tim walz hunting

How (and Why) We Cover Politics at Outdoor Life How (and Why) We Cover Politics at Outdoor Life

By Alex Robinson