Our nation’s public lands and waters are the lifeblood of our hunting and angling traditions. These wild places restore our spirits and deliver unparalleled opportunity to experience the solitude and physical challenge that are all too rare in today’s world.
That’s why sportsmen were concerned by a recent move, led by Rep. Rob Bishop of Utah and a fringe group of anti-public lands members of Congress, to transfer thousands of acres of the Vieques National Wildlife Refuge in Puerto Rico out of public ownership. The precedent-setting measure would have opened the door to the sale and development of public lands - in Puerto Rico and elsewhere. This latest attack on our American birthright threatened to unravel a public lands legacy built by generations of sportsmen, so sportsmen spoke up to condemn it.
First, the good news: Our actions achieved the desired impact. Congress stripped this misguided public lands measure from the legislation.
However, this will not be the last attempt by greedy special interests to sell off our public lands. As fellow public lands owners, we urge you to sign-up below and join Backcountry Hunters & Anglers in the fight to sustain America’s public lands and rich outdoor legacy.