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The proposed Greater Access for Multiple-Use Experiences (GAME) Act would use an act of Congress to trade about 2,158 acres of publicly accessible BLM land near Glenwood Springs (GMU 444) to the private Out of Bounds Ranch. In return, BLM would receive about 2,103 acres of private land in the Cow Creek drainage on the north end of the Roan Plateau (GMU 22). The bill has not yet been introduced.

The public land in this trade isn’t marginal. Colorado Parks and Wildlife has mapped it as elk calving area and severe winter range, and in most years it holds more than 300 elk from late August into December. In a unit that is already short on public access, losing it would also cut off access to adjacent Forest Service land.

CPW reviewed the proposal and does not endorse it. Here is where Colorado BHA stands:

Colorado BHA supports CPW’s statement that, because the parcels are located within different Game Management Units (GMUs), the wildlife tradeoffs cannot be objectively compared. As a result, we do not believe there is a scientifically sound basis for evaluating the proposed exchange as an equivalent wildlife tradeoff. Additionally, CPW found that the proposed acquisition would not create new access to previously landlocked public lands.

Further, it is our position that public lands should not be transferred into private ownership through congressional action that omits robust stakehoulder outreach and results in an imbalanced outcome for public land owners.  Administrative disposals include clear national and public interest criteria - along with robust public engagement - which is the preferred way to evaluate the proposed sale of public land rather than through the legislative process, which is susceptible to political influence.

Public lands belong to all of us, and decisions about permanently transferring them into private ownership deserve meaningful public involvement.

To get involved, contact Congressman Jeff Hurd and the Garfield County Commissioners to share your concerns about the proposed GAME Act land exchange.