We all need to be aware that just this year the U.S. Senate passed a non-binding resolution urging Congress to "sell or transfer to or exchange with a state or local government, any Federal Land that is not within the boundaries of a National Park, National Preserve or National Monument." A majority in the United States Senate put this on the books as being something they approve of! This potentially affects many millions of acres of National Forest and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands. We had best be aware as well that last year the State Legislatures in 11 western states introduced legislation to change ownership of public lands to state ownership! These states are strapped for cash. Along with ownership of these PUBLIC lands comes the financial burden of funding fencing, extensive road and trail systems, land managers, firefighters and all the associated equipment, wildlife and fisheries biologists, enforcement divisions etc..., etc..., all to be paid for how? These lands will be leased or sold to the highest bidder, be they individuals or timber companies, energy companies or whoever. When access is lost to this PUBLIC land it will be lost by hunters, fishermen, hikers, vacationers and everyone else comprising the public. The financial impact on the local economies dependent on these mentioned will be staggering. We need to be aware of all this.

Thank you for posting this up, we all need to stay vigilant, my biggest fear is that we end up like Europe, where only "kings" get to hunt..

Louisiana just had a WMA closure. My state is blessed to have many WMA. The fees to use them just increased.

The Republican legislature and governor of our state are already selling off state-owned land. 10,000 acres is on the block, with more likely to come.

Long bow seasons mean little if there are fewer and fewer public lands to hunt. So many of us cannot afford to lease lands to hunt. Even out west private lands are being locked up to leases by outfitters and noresident landowners. Montana hunting groups have been fighting both the transfer of Federal lands and the sale of public lands to private holdings. It is a TOUGH fight.

I am not a big fan of the federal government and the constant overreach of their powers. However in this case they are the lesser of 2 evils. I can only speak for what occurs in Idaho......this would be a disaster. 2 weeks ago the state auctioned off 39 prime waterfront lots on Priest Lake due to the states past mismanagement in lease agreements and allowing monstrous vacation homes to be built on them.

Keep public lands public so my son will have a place to bowhunt.

Not good. You should visit Texas sometime. Almost zero public hunting . Zero.  Very discouraging.

Join BHA.

I am in Virginia. I was told that our WMAs were purchased with funds from VA sportsmen's licenses. I can't see that the state could sell these lands.

Losing Federal lands due to the young yuppie votes in the House and Senate is a whole 'nother thing. Those lands were set aside for posterity, (us), and to vote them away from us and our descendants is a crime against our future.

They say that those who forget history are doomed to repeat it. I say that those who forget history are doomed to lose their legacy. Does the name Theodore Roosevelt ring any bells? He established the National Park System for US! The Federal lands deserve equal respect.

This is a big deal.
Killdeer

I am very worried about this.  Want my kids to be able to enjoy the same lands as I have.  x2 on staying a member of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (and other similar groups fighting for these lands).

Dan

Florida has a no net loss policy on land.  They buy and sell, but they can't go below the current acreage.

The original resolution and the amendment were basically voted straight down party lines.  What ever happened to conservative politicians that also believe in public lands like Teddy Roosevelt?  Clearly, by these votes, they don't exist in the current Federal government.  They will stand up and say they support sportsmen, but then vote to kill off the very places we love.  Some support.

I don't know whether or not supporting Amazon is any good or not...but I often do purchase things through there.  If you join Amazon Smile, Amazon will send 1/2 % of their profit on your purchase to the non profit of your choice.  Mine is set up to go to Backcountry Hunters and Anglers.  For what its worth...

Dan

People need to get involved on these issues and at least put up a fight...I contacted my local chapter of BHA to see what I can do.

We're 21 trillion in debt and getting bigger everyday. Do you really think the lands are safe in Federal hands? I'd rather have the state own the lands since the people of the State have a say in what those lands are used for.

I remember a few years ago they wanted to sell small parcels of lands that had no access to because of being landlocked by private all around it and people were freaking out and framed the issue as a disaster.

Mint....I respect your opinion.  Here is something worth watching that spells out the dangers of a transfer...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TJCpuj8TjM

also....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRiCnpPRx0k

Puts it in perspective and shows the reality of what happens when we give our lands to state control.  Once gone...its gone.

Dan

I'm a very conservative person and generally prefer state control over the biggest of brothers, the Fed. But, and I've worked for 4 great FW Agencies, I have no confidence in the state's ability to prevent privatization of public lands if our national forests and BLM property is turned over to the states.

I will let my representative and both Senators know I want these lands to remain in federal control. They all belong to each of us, not just the state they happen to be located in. Teddy Roosevelt got it right the first time.

Jerry, I certainly do think they are safe in "Federal hands" where many of them have been for over 100 years. They stayed safe during the great depression and every other down cycle in national history. I have no confidence in individual states gaining ownership and then bearing the enormous expense of properly managing them. I have no doubt that the push will be to sell or lease them to the highest bidder to raise revenue.

On the Federal level, it's the Republicans in the Congress and Senate, and the big moneyed interests that own them, (Sorry, Killy, they're not young yuppies.) that are pushing for turning the federal land over to the states.  Keep that in mind the next time you vote.

Glad to see this issue getting some traction. After listening to Randy Newburg, Stephen Rinella, and the Gritty Bowmen Podcasts lately I felt compelled to join the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. After finding out that stubblefield and Rinella were members I found my recent email calling them a "green decoy" laughable. Worked out great I took the money that I had earmarked for Ducks Unlimited and gave it to BHA instead after the Don Thomas debacle.