WASHINGTON – Following today’s introduction in the U.S. House of Representatives of a bipartisan resolution affirming the value of America’s public lands, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers President and CEO Land Tawney offered the following response: “Loudly and consistently, American sportsmen have raised our voices in support of our public lands and waters. We the people have spoken, yet some of our elected officials are slow to hear us – and continue to plot ways to steal from citizens our ...

On Jan. 24, Rep. Jason Chaffetz of Utah introduced the Local Enforcement for Local Lands Act (H.R. 622) in the U.S. House of Representatives. H.R. 622 would eliminate federal law enforcement officers on America’s national forests and Bureau of Land Management lands, leaving hundreds of millions of acres vulnerable to abuse and lawless behavior, taxing state and local authorities and fundamentally compromising American’s safety, both in and around public lands. The following is a recording of ...

WASHINGTON – As members of the Senate meet this afternoon to hold a hearing on Rep. Ryan Zinke, nominated as secretary of the Interior by the Trump administration, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers President and CEO Land Tawney issued the following statement: “Rep. Zinke, as a sportsman and lifelong public lands user, is well positioned to appreciate the critical role played by these lands and waters in our national economy, our outdoor traditions and our identity as Americans. Backcountry ...

Bill introduced today would permanently reauthorize popular, effective conservation program WASHINGTON – Bipartisan legislation introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives this morning would permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the nation’s most popular and successful access program. Introduced by Patrick Meehan, a Republican from Pennsylvania, and Raul Grijalva, a Democrat from Arizona, the bill mirrors legislation from the 114th Congress that was widely ...

Final lease retirements safeguard critical fish and wildlife habitat,  culminate decades-long effort by hunters, anglers, others   HELENA, Mont. – Montana hunters and anglers are celebrating following the secretary of Interior’s cancellation of the last remaining oil and gas leases in some of the finest big game habitat and native fisheries in North America: the Badger-Two Medicine area of the Lewis and Clark National Forest.  Following 35 years of legal and political battles over leases ...