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 chinook salmon jumps a waterfall in the Klamath River Basin.

Conservation

The Largest Dam Removal in U.S. History Is Underway The Largest Dam Removal in U.S. History Is Underway

woman photographs mule deer in national park

Opinion

Chronic Wasting Disease Has Been Detected in Yellowstone. That Could Be a Good Thing Chronic Wasting Disease Has Been Detected in Yellowstone. That Could Be a Good Thing

western arctic caribou

Conservation

Proposals Would Close Non-Resident Caribou Hunting in Northwest Alaska Proposals Would Close Non-Resident Caribou Hunting in Northwest Alaska

grand teton national park with bison

Conservation

Proposal to Auction Land Inside Grand Teton National Park Tabled Until Fall 2024 Proposal to Auction Land Inside Grand Teton National Park Tabled Until Fall 2024

snake river dams underwater salmon

Conservation

Breach or Die: It’s Time to Free the Lower Snake River and Save Idaho’s Wild Salmon Breach or Die: It’s Time to Free the Lower Snake River and Save Idaho’s Wild Salmon

mule deer seedskadee national wildlife refuge

Conservation

Conservation vs Preservation: What’s the Difference? Conservation vs Preservation: What’s the Difference?

A man in a greenshirt and waders fly fishes in a shady river.

Conservation

This Bill Would Digitize Mapping Data for America’s Waterways This Bill Would Digitize Mapping Data for America’s Waterways

By Andrew McKean

oregon public land acquisition

Conservation

New Acquisition Connects Huge Network of Public Land Larger than Yellowstone National Park New Acquisition Connects Huge Network of Public Land Larger than Yellowstone National Park

Public lands could close to hunting with the government shutdown.

Conservation

Conservation Groups Ask to Keep Public Lands Open as Government Shutdown Looms Conservation Groups Ask to Keep Public Lands Open as Government Shutdown Looms

By Andrew McKean

chuck black 2023 duck stamp contest winner

Conservation

This Northern Pintail Painting Just Won the 2023 Federal Duck Stamp Contest This Northern Pintail Painting Just Won the 2023 Federal Duck Stamp Contest

drill ban in arctic national wildlife refuge

Conservation

Biden’s Protection of Arctic NWR May Signal More Public Land Protections Ahead of Election Biden’s Protection of Arctic NWR May Signal More Public Land Protections Ahead of Election

quivira national wildlife refuge water right

Conservation

Audubon Sues Kansas Over Water Rights at Popular Duck Hunting and Birding Refuge Audubon Sues Kansas Over Water Rights at Popular Duck Hunting and Birding Refuge

gallatin river access dispute montana

Conservation

In a Tale as Old as the West, Wealthy Californians Moved to Montana and Blocked Historic River Access In a Tale as Old as the West, Wealthy Californians Moved to Montana and Blocked Historic River Access

robert falcon scott and two associates at the south pole

Conservation

Antarctica Will Be Our Last, Most Elusive Wilderness Antarctica Will Be Our Last, Most Elusive Wilderness

By Natalie Krebs

Mule deer in mule deer habitat

Opinion

Why I Sued the Governor Why I Sued the Governor

By Andrew McKean

colorado stream access lawsuit decision

Conservation

Colorado Supreme Court Throws Out Stream Access Case in Blow to Public Fishing Colorado Supreme Court Throws Out Stream Access Case in Blow to Public Fishing

yellowstone bison calf tourist

Conservation

Yellowstone Officials Identify, Fine Idiot Who Picked Up Bison Calf Yellowstone Officials Identify, Fine Idiot Who Picked Up Bison Calf

Corner crossing ruled legal in Wyoming.

Conservation

Public Land Hunters Win Corner Crossing Case in Wyoming Public Land Hunters Win Corner Crossing Case in Wyoming

By Alex Robinson

alabama man waves gun at anglers

Fishing

Watch: Armed Alabama Man Charged After Cussing Out Bass Tournament Anglers Watch: Armed Alabama Man Charged After Cussing Out Bass Tournament Anglers

No Trespassing sign on blocked public access

Conservation

7 Sneaky Ways Landowners Block Access to Public Lands 7 Sneaky Ways Landowners Block Access to Public Lands

blm public lands rule proposal

Conservation

The BLM Wants to Make Conservation a Bigger Land-Use Priority The BLM Wants to Make Conservation a Bigger Land-Use Priority

Crates of invasive goldfish taken from BC lakes

Conservation

British Columbia Has an Invasive Goldfish Problem British Columbia Has an Invasive Goldfish Problem

Fly fishing in Okenfenokee.

Conservation

A Mining Proposal in the Okefenokee Threatens America’s Largest Remaining Blackwater Swamp A Mining Proposal in the Okefenokee Threatens America’s Largest Remaining Blackwater Swamp

Sargassum seaweed piled on a beach in the gulf of Mexico.

Fishing

Sargassum Seaweed Mat Stretching 5,000 Miles Long Heads Toward Florida Sargassum Seaweed Mat Stretching 5,000 Miles Long Heads Toward Florida

restore bison 1

Conservation

Feds Announce Plan to Restore Bison Populations and Improve America’s Grasslands Feds Announce Plan to Restore Bison Populations and Improve America’s Grasslands

Bird hunting restrictions in Manitoba

Conservation

Manitoba Is About to Get Way Less Accessible for American Waterfowlers Manitoba Is About to Get Way Less Accessible for American Waterfowlers

collins lands brown trout on the rio chama

Conservation

A Win for Anglers: U.S. Supreme Court Reaffirms New Mexico’s Decision that All Streams in the State Are Public A Win for Anglers: U.S. Supreme Court Reaffirms New Mexico’s Decision that All Streams in the State Are Public

dead minnow ohio train derailment

Conservation

Nearly 3,000 Aquatic Species Impacted by East Palestine Train Derailment Nearly 3,000 Aquatic Species Impacted by East Palestine Train Derailment

walleye caught illegally lake cascade idaho

Fishing

Are People Illegally Sneaking Walleye into an Idaho Lake? Are People Illegally Sneaking Walleye into an Idaho Lake?

dog wolf depredation CO

Conservation

Officials Determine Wolves Might Not Be to Blame for 40 Cow Deaths in Colorado Officials Determine Wolves Might Not Be to Blame for 40 Cow Deaths in Colorado

Utah shed antler hunting ban

Conservation

Utah Closes All Shed Hunting Until May. Some Hunters Aren’t Happy About It Utah Closes All Shed Hunting Until May. Some Hunters Aren’t Happy About It

bristol bay protections EPA decision 1/31/23

Conservation

Alaska’s Bristol Bay Receives Additional Protections from Pebble Mine in EPA Decision Alaska’s Bristol Bay Receives Additional Protections from Pebble Mine in EPA Decision

boundary waters receive greater protections under biden 1

Conservation

Biden Administration Bans Mining Near Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Wilderness Biden Administration Bans Mining Near Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Wilderness

tongass national forest

Conservation

A Local Perspective on the Return of the Roadless Rule in Southeast Alaska A Local Perspective on the Return of the Roadless Rule in Southeast Alaska

Hunter sabotages another hunter's tree stand.

Conservation

Michigan Hunter Gets Jail Time for Sabotaging Another Hunter’s Treestand, Causing 20-Foot Fall Michigan Hunter Gets Jail Time for Sabotaging Another Hunter’s Treestand, Causing 20-Foot Fall

Montana New Mexico wildlife habitat trust fund

Conservation

States Consider Using Budget Surpluses to Fund Conservation States Consider Using Budget Surpluses to Fund Conservation

Conservation

Funding for Chronic Wasting Disease Research and Other Conservation Efforts Included in $1.7 Trillion Spending Package Funding for Chronic Wasting Disease Research and Other Conservation Efforts Included in $1.7 Trillion Spending Package

Crazy Mountains land swap proposal Forest Service

Conservation

Public-Land Hunters Object to Land Swap in Montana’s Crazy Mountains Public-Land Hunters Object to Land Swap in Montana’s Crazy Mountains

President Biden protects Avi Kwa Ame National Monument

Conservation

Biden Administration Pledges to Protect 450,000 Acres with New National Monument in Southern Nevada Biden Administration Pledges to Protect 450,000 Acres with New National Monument in Southern Nevada

veterans get free access to federal public land

Conservation

Veterans and Gold Star Families Can Now Get Free Lifetime Passes to Federal Public Lands Veterans and Gold Star Families Can Now Get Free Lifetime Passes to Federal Public Lands

Conservation

In Washington State, Hunters May No Longer Be “Necessary to Manage Wildlife” In Washington State, Hunters May No Longer Be “Necessary to Manage Wildlife”

By Andrew McKean

Migratory waterfowl are in dire straits as the Great Salt Lake dries up.

Conservation

What Happens to Duck Hunting When the Great Salt Lake Dries Up? What Happens to Duck Hunting When the Great Salt Lake Dries Up?

The 12-ton Ely Chain works across pinyon-juniper forest.

Conservation

Watch This 25,000-Pound Battleship Anchor Chain Rip Through Juniper in Nevada Watch This 25,000-Pound Battleship Anchor Chain Rip Through Juniper in Nevada

Wild turkeys in a roost in Montana.

Conservation

Turkey Federation Gets $50 Million Grant to Battle Wildfires Turkey Federation Gets $50 Million Grant to Battle Wildfires

By Andrew McKean

Shooting range access would prevent people from shooting signs like this one.

Conservation

This Bill Would Put a Public Shooting Range in Every National Forest in the Country This Bill Would Put a Public Shooting Range in Every National Forest in the Country

By Andrew McKean

sagebrush_report_conservation

Conservation

New Report Provides a Roadmap for Sagebrush Conservation in the West New Report Provides a Roadmap for Sagebrush Conservation in the West

Conservation

If I Were America’s Public Lands Czar, Here’s How I’d Fix Access If I Were America’s Public Lands Czar, Here’s How I’d Fix Access

By Andrew McKean

usfws duck hunter

Conservation

USFWS Will Expand Hunting and Fishing at 18 National Wildlife Refuges While Phasing Out Lead Ammo and Tackle There USFWS Will Expand Hunting and Fishing at 18 National Wildlife Refuges While Phasing Out Lead Ammo and Tackle There

Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge closed to all bird hunting this week.

Conservation

A Pacific Waterfowl Oasis Ran Out of Water. These Duck Hunters Are Footing the Bill for Some More A Pacific Waterfowl Oasis Ran Out of Water. These Duck Hunters Are Footing the Bill for Some More

Angler wades in stream by barbed-wire fence

Conservation

“I’d Have to Bury You Out Here.” The New Mexico Stream Access Battle Is Far From Over “I’d Have to Bury You Out Here.” The New Mexico Stream Access Battle Is Far From Over

A female and two male wolves in Montana.

Conservation

Scientists Call for “Rewilding the West” by Bringing More Beavers and Wolves onto Public Lands Scientists Call for “Rewilding the West” by Bringing More Beavers and Wolves onto Public Lands

By Keegan Sentner

Wildfire in Utah.

Conservation

Utah Man Allegedly Starts a Wildfire While Attempting to Kill a Spider Utah Man Allegedly Starts a Wildfire While Attempting to Kill a Spider

By Keegan Sentner

Pronghorn antelope in Montana

Conservation

Montana Is on the Brink of Destroying One of Its Most Successful Conservation Programs Montana Is on the Brink of Destroying One of Its Most Successful Conservation Programs

By Andrew McKean

Dall sheep in Gates of the Arctic NP

Conservation

Feds Close Dall Sheep Hunting in Alaska’s Central Brooks Range Feds Close Dall Sheep Hunting in Alaska’s Central Brooks Range

red sockeye getty

Opinion

This Year’s Record-Breaking Salmon Run in Alaska’s Bristol Bay Proves Why Pebble Mine Is Such a Terrible Idea This Year’s Record-Breaking Salmon Run in Alaska’s Bristol Bay Proves Why Pebble Mine Is Such a Terrible Idea

fishermen have organized a shark tournament in Florida and protesters are angery

Conservation

Florida Shark Fishing Tournament Sparks Protests and Death Threats Florida Shark Fishing Tournament Sparks Protests and Death Threats

historic yellowstone flood

Conservation

Watch: Historic Flood Hits Yellowstone, Spurs Evacuation from National Park Watch: Historic Flood Hits Yellowstone, Spurs Evacuation from National Park

By Keegan Sentner

Sutter Basin in northern California.

Conservation

USFWS Wants to Open 19 More Wildlife Refuges to Hunting and Fishing. Lead Ammo and Tackle Would Be Banned There USFWS Wants to Open 19 More Wildlife Refuges to Hunting and Fishing. Lead Ammo and Tackle Would Be Banned There

Elk herd in snowy mountains.

Conservation

Montana Land Purchase Could Unlock 100,000 Public Acres in the Big Snowy Mountains Montana Land Purchase Could Unlock 100,000 Public Acres in the Big Snowy Mountains

By Kristen A. Schmitt

A cow moose charged two hikers.

Survival

Colorado Sheriff’s Deputy Shoots, Kills Charging Cow Moose Colorado Sheriff’s Deputy Shoots, Kills Charging Cow Moose

By Joe Genzel, Tyler Freel

Pronghorn antelope in Wyoming.

Conservation

BLM Unlocks 75,000 Acres of Private and Public Land With Major Purchase in Wyoming BLM Unlocks 75,000 Acres of Private and Public Land With Major Purchase in Wyoming

By Christine Peterson

a fence on blm land

Conservation

Why Not Legalize All Corner Crossing in the West? Why Not Legalize All Corner Crossing in the West?

By Alex Robinson, Dac Collins

A mule deer hops a fence.

Conservation

What’s Next For Corner-Crossers and What Will the Outcome of the Civil Suit Bring? What’s Next For Corner-Crossers and What Will the Outcome of the Civil Suit Bring?

By Andrew McKean

Pheasant hunting in CRP lands.

Conservation

The USDA Accepted 2 Million Acres into the CRP Program, but We Could Still See a Net Loss in Pheasant Country This Year The USDA Accepted 2 Million Acres into the CRP Program, but We Could Still See a Net Loss in Pheasant Country This Year