Sportsmen's Access | Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership

Loss of access to the places we love to hunt and fish is one of the biggest threats to the future of conservation and our outdoor traditions. Americans’ access to the outdoors is unparalleled in all the world, but there are more competing demands on our natural resources than ever before. Sportsmen can’t afford to get edged out. In order to guarantee quality places to hunt and fish, it is critical that we safeguard our country’s public lands legacy and the programs that incentivize boosting habitat and opening access on private lands, but we face challenges on both fronts.

WHY WE CARE

Opportunity is everything.

Imagine pulling up to your favorite public fishing area and finding a locked gate. How much further would you be willing to drive? What if your neighbor sold his farm and the new owners didn’t re-enroll the property in a public access program or grant permission for you to sit on the edge of their field? Where would you take your daughter for her first turkey hunt? The next generation of sportsmen and women need places to learn and grow their skills—and we need them to ensure the future of hunting, fishing, and habitat.

THE ISSUES

Learn More

There’s More Than Just Access At Stake

Right now, decision makers in Washington, D.C., are attempting to rewrite the rules on how our public lands are managed. Unless we get involved, habitat for fish and game species could be degraded.

Learn More

Public Access and Habitat on Private Lands

Safeguarding public lands isn’t enough in states like Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, where agriculture and private lands dominate the landscape. Connecting sportsmen with private land open to hunting and fishing, while supporting landowner habitat is key.

Learn More

Land and Water Conservation Fund

The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) is supported through royalties paid by energy companies drilling for oil and gas and helps pay for the acquisition of new hunting and fishing areas, expansion of public access, and improvements to fish and wildlife habitat.

Learn More

Backcountry Conservation Management

The future of 71 million acres of Bureau of Land Management public lands is being decided as the agency develops local land-use plans across the West. This is the last opportunity for sportsmen to conserve some of our best hunting and fishing areas. (Image: Sara Domek)

Learn More

Conservation That Works for Sportsmen, Wildlife, and Farmers

The USDA’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) helps restore wildlife habitat and improve water quality downstream. But demand for the program far outpaces enrollment caps written into the current Farm Bill.

Learn More

Balancing the Needs of Working Lands and Habitat

Congress is currently in discussions about the 2018 Farm Bill, and the TRCP’s 20-member Agriculture and Wildlife Working Group is also hard at work making sure this legislation incentivizes productive lands and healthy wildlife, while helping American producers to feed, fuel, and clothe the world.

NOW TRENDING

How Fisheries Managers Respond When Trash Fish Get Trendy

There’s an Access Payoff for Reporting What Fish You Catch and Throw Back

What If You Could Level Up on Hunter Education to Get Better Access?

How Maintenance Backlogs Could Affect Your Hunting Season

Local Sportsmen Rebuilt the Gateway to 40,000 Acres of Public Hunting Land

Finally, Federal Fisheries Management for Us

TAKE ACTION

Safeguard one of the best tools for opening new access

The Land and Water Conservation Fund invests dollars raised through resource extraction back into outdoor recreation opportunities. Don’t let it expire.

TAKE ACTION

Help expand access and boost local economies.

Support the only federal program aimed at enhancing access and opportunity on privately owned farms, ranches, and forest lands.

TAKE ACTION

Don’t get locked out.

Some are trying to sell off your public lands to the highest bidder and close off sportsmen’s access forever.

TAKE ACTION

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Make sure your lawmakers hear from you about the access issues that matter. Take action below—it only takes a few clicks to send your legislator an email or tweet. And be prepared to hold them accountable for their votes. Sign up for TRCP email alerts to be the first to know about upcoming challenges and what you can do to help. Then get outside and take advantage of your hunting and fishing access. Take plenty of photos and share them with us @theTRCP.