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

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

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