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

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

A buck pronghorn is an animal that would benefit from the National Grasslands Act.

The Long-Awaited Grasslands Conservation Act Is Finally Introduced in Congress The Long-Awaited Grasslands Conservation Act Is Finally Introduced in Congress

By Andrew McKean

Bears Ears National Monument

Sportsmen’s Groups Will Challenge the Ban on Recreational Shooting at Bears Ears National Monument Sportsmen’s Groups Will Challenge the Ban on Recreational Shooting at Bears Ears National Monument

By Andrew McKean

Bears Ears National Monument

Final Bears Ears National Monument Plan Bans All Recreational Shooting on 1.3 Million Acres of Federal Land Final Bears Ears National Monument Plan Bans All Recreational Shooting on 1.3 Million Acres of Federal Land

By Andrew McKean

Cow elk jump over a barbed wire ranch fence.

Big Game Hunting

Film: Public-Land Elk Hunters and Ranchers Can Be Good Neighbors. Here’s How Film: Public-Land Elk Hunters and Ranchers Can Be Good Neighbors. Here’s How

By Andrew McKean

A BLM usage sign in an OHV area.

The Largest and Least-Funded Public-Land Agency in America Is Finally Getting Backup The Largest and Least-Funded Public-Land Agency in America Is Finally Getting Backup

By Andrew McKean

Houses with mountains in background.

Don’t Let Politicians Convince You That Selling Public Lands Is the Solution to America’s Housing Affordability Crisis Don’t Let Politicians Convince You That Selling Public Lands Is the Solution to America’s Housing Affordability Crisis

A greater prairie chicken on the prairie.

A 7,100-Acre Solar Farm Is Slated for What’s Left of Wisconsin’s Best Prairie Chicken Habitat A 7,100-Acre Solar Farm Is Slated for What’s Left of Wisconsin’s Best Prairie Chicken Habitat

A whitetail buck in the woods.

Instead of Banning Lead Outright, Feds to Try Paying Hunters to Use Non-Toxic Ammo on Certain Wildlife Refuges Instead of Banning Lead Outright, Feds to Try Paying Hunters to Use Non-Toxic Ammo on Certain Wildlife Refuges

A wire booby trap found on a trail in Colorado.

Wire Booby Traps Found on Public Trail Were Put There to Injure OHV Riders, Say Law Enforcement Wire Booby Traps Found on Public Trail Were Put There to Injure OHV Riders, Say Law Enforcement

A young deer fawn lying in a prescribed burn area.

No, Your Prescribed Burn Isn’t Killing Loads of Fawns and Turkey Poults No, Your Prescribed Burn Isn’t Killing Loads of Fawns and Turkey Poults

By Natalie Krebs

Caribou in Alaska

The Federal Government Is Increasing Hunting Restrictions and Limiting Access on Millions of Acres of Public Land in Alaska with These 4 Measures The Federal Government Is Increasing Hunting Restrictions and Limiting Access on Millions of Acres of Public Land in Alaska with These 4 Measures

An American flag flying above the front range ofColorado

This Independence Day, Celebrate the Gift of Public Land This Independence Day, Celebrate the Gift of Public Land

By Andrew McKean

A pair of caribou with antlers face off on a tundra hillock.

BLM Officially Blocks the Ambler Road, a 211-Mile Industrial Corridor Through Alaska’s Iconic Brooks Range BLM Officially Blocks the Ambler Road, a 211-Mile Industrial Corridor Through Alaska’s Iconic Brooks Range

By Natalie Krebs