Public Lands for Sale? Why HB 4851 Puts Michigan’s Outdoors at Risk

For generations, Michigan’s hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts have relied on our state’s public lands. These lands are where we go to hunt grouse in the fall, cast a fly for brook trout in the spring, or take our families on a hike through northern hardwoods. They are more than just acres on a map. They are the places that define our traditions and connect us to the land.

Michigan is blessed with a wealth of public land. In fact, we have more state-managed public land than any state east of the Mississippi River, nearly 4.6 million acres. Add in our national forests and wildlife refuges, and Michigan stands as one of the most accessible states in the country for those who love the outdoors. This abundance of public land makes Michigan unique. It is why so many of us stay here, raise our families here, and spend our time and money in rural communities that depend on outdoor recreation.

But right now, that legacy is under attack. Rep. Matt Maddock, who represents the Milford area, has introduced HB 4851, which would force the state to sell off public land if more than half the land in a county or township is state-managed. If this bill passes, it would put hunters, anglers, and the entire outdoor community at risk of losing access to the very lands that sustain our way of life.

We have seen attempts like this before. Just last year, Congress tried to open the door to selling millions of acres of federal public lands. Hunters and anglers stood up, spoke out, and stopped it. Now the fight has come to Michigan, and once again, our voices are needed.

An attack on public lands is an attack on our heritage. It is an attack on our kids and grandkids who deserve the chance to fish the same rivers, hunt the same ridges, and hike the same trails that we do. Once these lands are sold, they are gone forever.

At Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, we believe public lands are the cornerstone of our outdoor way of life. They belong to all of us, no matter where we live or what we earn. That is why we are standing against HB 4851, and why we are asking you to join us in defending the lands that make Michigan special.

Now is the time to speak up. Rep. Maddock introduced HB 4851. We need him to hear directly from Michigan’s hunters, anglers, and outdoor community. Call and email Rep. Maddock today and tell him to stand with sportsmen and women by withdrawing HB 4851 from consideration.

Phone: (517) 373-1780
Email: MattMaddock@house.mi.gov

Michigan’s public lands are not for sale. Protecting access to the outdoors means protecting our heritage, our traditions, and our future.