Breaking down the most pressing needs for habitat, access, and our sporting traditions in 2025.

The year ahead provides hunters, anglers, and the conservation community with significant opportunity to further advance America’s legacy of conservation, habitat, and access.

Working alongside our partners, here’s what we want to get done in 2025.

Keeping Public Lands in Public Hands 

Loss of access to the places where we hunt and fish is one of the biggest threats to the future of conservation and our outdoor recreation opportunities. 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 and sportswomen can’t afford to get edged out.  

In order to guarantee quality places to hunt and fish, TRCP will work to stop efforts to sell or transfer public lands, while simultaneously striving to expand access and improve the management of public lands for the benefit of hunters and anglers.

Learn more about our commitment to public access HERE    

Farm Bill Conservation Programs

Most of the land in the continental United States is privately owned and managed by farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners. Farm Bill conservation programs give these landowners tools and incentives to manage their land with conservation in mind. Landowners use these programs create and enhance wildlife habitat, improve water quality, and even provide hunting and fishing access. Taken together, Farm Bill conservation programs are the single largest investment in conservation that we make in the United States. 

To our disappointment, and despite years of work, Congress has been unable to find compromise on an updated Farm Bill. The upcoming year will be critical for the conservation programs we cherish as hunters and anglers. The TRCP, and our partners, are working with decision makers in Congress, especially the House and Senate Ag Committees, and USDA to keep hunter and angler priorities top of mind, both in the writing of the next Farm Bill and in the interim. 

Learn more about Farm Bill Conservation Programs HERE

Forage Fish Conservation 

If you want great sport fishing, you need healthy forage fish.  Like other small but critically important forage fish, menhaden and herring play a central role in marine food webs. These tiny, oily baitfish are an essential food source for some of the most economically important sportfish: striped bass, redfish, bluefin tuna, bluefish, speckled trout, weakfish, tarpon, summer flounder, and sharks. 

TRCP will continue to elevate the voices of sportsmen and sportswomen as we call upon regional fisheries managers to change their approach to managing forage fish like menhaden and herring in 2025. 

Learn more about forage fish conservation HERE

Investments to Curb the Spread of Chronic Wasting Disease 

Chronic wasting disease has spread rapidly among deer and elk populations, particularly in the last ten years. If you don’t have CWD where you hunt, you don’t want it. This disease is 100% fatal, highly contagious, and can remain in an infected environment for years. Wildlife managers need the resources to deal with this disease, as well as more and better science on the best ways to manage its spread. 

In 2025, TRCP, our partners, and the hunting community will continue to advocate for investments in disease response and research, as well as greater education and awareness for the hunting community, to ensure the future of our deer and elk herds and hunting opportunities. 

Learn more about chronic wasting disease HERE

Safeguard Conservation Investments  

The historic investments in the restoration and renewal of our nation’s public lands through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act started to hit the ground in 2024, providing benefits to hunters, anglers, and outdoor recreationalists.   

In 2025, TRCP, our partners, and the sporting community will focus on ensuring that these investments, and their implementation, continue to restore and protect wetlands, manage upland habitat, and build resilience to drought and wildfires so habitat for fish and wildlife are safeguarded and that the recreational opportunities for the next generations of hunters and anglers are protected. 

Learn more about our commitment to habitat and clean water HERE

Conserving Big Game Migration Corridors 

In recent years, big game migration has taken center stage at the intersection of science, policy, and management. We’ve known for decades that these animals migrate, but recent research and technology have helped to define the exact locations of migratory corridors and stopover areas, and how animals use these habitats. As a result, it is imperative that efforts to conserve these habitats advance on both public and private lands in 2025.  

TRCP, and our partners, aim to ensure that public land management plans on BLM and USFS land continue to conserve the most sensitive big game habitats and will work towards passage of the Wildlife Movement Through Partnership Act to formalize migration conservation programs that provide financial and technical assistance to states, Tribes, and private landowners. 

Learn more about big game migration corridors HERE

Keeping Hunters and Anglers Informed in 2025 

Stay connected in 2025. The TRCP is your resource for all things conservation. In our weekly Roosevelt Report, you’ll receive the latest news on emerging habitat threats, legislation and proposals on the move, public land access solutions we’re spearheading, and opportunities for hunters and anglers to take action. Sign up now. 

Your support helped make these conservation successes possible

As the year draws to a close, we’re pleased to highlight some of our top conservation wins of 2024.  We’re proud to say that hunters and anglers continue to speak out meaningfully on the issues that matter most to them. Thanks to you, and the actions of our 63 partners and 25 corporate partners, TRCP secured key victories for sporting access, conservation funding, and fish and wildlife habitat.  Below, you’ll find our top achievements to date in 2024.  

Given all that we’ve accomplished this year to guarantee Americans quality places to hunt and fish, we hope you’ll consider stepping into the arena and supporting TRCP during this season of giving.   From now until January 1, 2024, every donation you make will be matched by a TRCP Board member up to $500,000, doubling your impact for conservation.

Here are our top achievements to date in 2024. 

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Enhancing Access to Public Lands 

As blessed as American hunters, anglers, and other recreationists are with public land and water resources, we are not free from difficulties and confusion when it comes to public access. That’s why the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership continued to work hard in 2024 as we strive to solve the most pressing public land and water access challenges.  

Below are a few public access wins from 2024:  

The Passage of the Bipartisan EXPLORE Act to Improve Access to Outdoor Recreation

• The EXPLORE Act is a first of its kind recreation package that would improve access to the outdoors and modernize recreation infrastructure.  This comprehensive legislative package would expand access opportunities to a variety of public land users, streamline permitting processes for businesses focused on providing recreation opportunities, and modernize outdoor infrastructure.  Learn more   

The MAPWaters Act to Enhance Access to Public Waters

• The MAPWaters Act builds on the success of the MAPLand Act—and would direct federal agencies to digitize water and fishing access and recreational use information on federal waterways such as restrictions on motorized propulsion, horsepower, or gasoline fuel; types of watercraft permitted on certain waters; the location and boundaries of fishing restrictions, and more. This bill is one step away from the President’s desk. Learn more

Public Lands in Public Hands Act Introduced in the House of Representatives

•  Public Lands in Public Hands Act would maintain valuable hunting and fishing access for sportsmen and women. This bipartisan legislation would require congressional approval for the sale and transfer of public lands to non-federal entities in most instances. Learn more  

Introduction of MAPOceans Act in the Senate 

• This bill will enhance and expand recreation opportunities through investment in technology commonly found in smartphone applications to provide anglers, boaters, and other users with the information they need to safely and legally enjoy offshore waters and federal saltwater fisheries.  Learn more   

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Advancing Conservation Funding 

Conservation depends on robust funding for research, management, and restoration at the federal, state, and local levels. Any increase to conservation funding is a good thing for America’s public lands, fish and wildlife resources, and hunters and anglers, and that’s why TRCP continued to represent the voices of hunters and anglers with decision-makers in 2024 to secure wins for investments in conservation.

Below is a significant 2024 win for conservation funding: 

The Passage of the Bipartisan ACE Reauthorization Act

• The America’s Conservation Enhancement Reauthorization Act will benefit fish and wildlife while enhancing outdoor recreation opportunities for millions of hunters and anglers. TRCP applauds the House and Senate passage of this important bipartisan legislation and looks forward to building on the success of these crucial conservation programs that will benefit hunters and anglers for generations to come. The bill now awaits the president’s signature. Learn more 

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Prioritizing Big Game Migration   

Across the West, hunters and anglers saw states invest in big game migration conservation in 2024. From Wyoming taking the first steps to identify another mule deer migration, to Idaho building over and under passes to promote habitat connectivity, to Colorado establishing public land management plans on BLM and USFS land to conserve the most sensitive big game habitats, these conservation measures will enhance hunter opportunity as herds will be able to more easily move daily and seasonally across the landscape. 

Below are a few big wins for big game migration conservation from 2024:  

Securing a Responsible Approach to Solar Energy Development on Public Lands

• The refinements made by the BLM to the Western Solar Plan will help maintain seasonal habitats that are crucially important for the West’s big game herds. Learn more   

Formalizing USDA’s Commitment to Wildlife Migration Conservation

• The signing of a Memorandum from Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack recognized the importance of USDA’s role in conserving wildlife movement and migration habitats across public and private lands. The memo formalized and expanded the USDA’s commitment to migration conservation and enhanced benefits for wildlife habitat connectivity and corridors in partnership with public land managers, state agencies, Tribes, private landowners, and NGOs. Learn more  

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BIL and IRA Funding Hits the Ground for Conservation 

The historic investments in the restoration and renewal of our nation’s public lands through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act hit the ground in 2024, providing benefits to hunters, anglers, and outdoor recreationalists. 

Here are just a few examples from 2024 on how this funding contributed to safeguarding our sporting traditions:  

Unprecedented Private Lands Conservation

• The TRCP worked to ensure Inflation Reduction Act funding stayed in conservation and was used in ways that directly benefit fish and wildlife. This meant unprecedented work was done through several Farm Bill conservation programs, including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Conservation Stewardship Program, Regional Conservation Partnership Program, and Agricultural Conservation Easement Program. Through these programs, wetlands were restored and protected, upland habitat was enhanced, and water quality was improved, benefiting both hunters and anglers while improving agricultural producers’ bottom lines. Learn more  

Increasing the Pace and Scale of Fish and Wildlife Habitat Restoration

• TRCP helped to secure more than $50 million in Inflation Reduction Act funds to increase the pace and scale of fish and wildlife habitat restoration on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands. These historic investments in restoring wildlife habitat and fisheries, improving hunting and fishing opportunities, and building resilience to drought will safeguard habitat for fish and wildlife, and ensure recreational opportunities for the next generations of hunters and anglers.   The impacts of this funding can be seen across the nation, in places like Colorado’s San Luis Valley, Arizona’s Sky Islands, and Southeast Oregon’s Sagebrush-steppe landscape, among many other places. Learn more

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Securing Widespread Wins for Hunters and Anglers  

All hunting and fishing opportunities depend on quality habitat, from clean water and healthy wetlands to winter and summer habitats and the migration corridors that connect them. But the expansion of human development across the landscape—in our cities and towns, of our highway system, and from energy development and distribution—is threatening these habitats. TRCP drove a number of significant wins in 2024 that will benefit hunters and anglers for years to come. 

Here are just a few widespread wins for hunters and anglers in 2024:   

BLM Decision Prevents Proposed Ambler Road in Alaska’s Brooks Range

• In June, the BLM filed a Record of Decision to deny construction of the Ambler Road industrial corridor that would have sliced 211-miles across the southern foothills of Alaska’s Brooks Range. Over 14,000 hunters and anglers took action to support the BLM’s decision.  Learn more

Louisiana No-Fishing Buffer May Be Preventing Fish Spills

• In February 2024, before the commercial pogy fishing season began, Louisiana’s Wildlife and Fisheries Commission approved a half-mile coastwide buffer prohibiting pogy boats from netting in near-shore Louisiana waters. After the half-mile buffer was enacted, 2024 saw the second-lowest number of fish spilled since records were made available. Learn more 

The Passage of the Water Resources Development Act

• The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) is a biennial piece of legislation that was passed by the United States Senate on December 18^th and now awaits the president’s signature.  This year’s WRDA has numerous TRCP- led provisions that advance funding for fish and wildlife habitat improvements, enhancing aquatic connectivity and water-based recreation, and updating recreational access information for hunters and anglers. Learn more  

Wyoming Agrees to Sell the Kelly Parcel to Grand Teton National Park

• The Kelly parcel contains a section of the longest known pronghorn migration route in the world, numerous elk migrations, winter range for bighorn sheep and moose, and native cutthroat trout habitat. In November, Wyoming’s State Board of Land Commissioners agreed to sell the Kelly Parcel to Grand Teton National Park for $100 million – maintaining its outstanding wildlife resources and the ability to hunt and fish on the parcel in perpetuity.  Learn more

The Defeat of Colorado Proposition 127

• In a win for science-based wildlife management and the hunting community, regulated mountain lion and bobcat hunting and trapping will continue in Colorado. Colorado Proposition 127 was counter to science-based wildlife management led by expert wildlife professionals and its defeat, thanks to the voices of TRCP partners and supporters, helps keep wildlife professionals engaged in wildlife management decisions.  Learn more

Step into the Arena

Given all that we’ve accomplished this year to guarantee Americans quality places to hunt and fish, we hope you’ll consider supporting TRCP during this season of giving. You can help TRCP continue its mission, allowing you to keep enjoying your favorite outdoor pursuits. Whether those pursuits are on the water or in the field, TRCP has your back, but we can’t do it alone. We invite you to step into the arena with us and donate today!