Wyoming 2025 Legislative Session Wrap Up

March 27, 2025

Big wins for public land and conservation were the theme of 2025

Wyoming’s 2025 legislative session ended in early March, and thanks to hunters and anglers like you, we can count several wins for wildlife and the future of our great state!

Wyomingites Stop Anti-Public Lands Legislation!

Senate Resolution 2 – Resolution demanding equal footing ordered the transfer of federal land to the state, which could have compromised wildlife habitat management and public hunting and fishing access in Wyoming. Transferring federal public lands to state ownership would put the land at risk of development, fragmentation, or sale to private interests. SJ2 died on third reading in the Senate.

House Bill 118 – Limitations on net land gain for the federal government would have prohibited net increases of federal land in Wyoming, including voluntary sales by private landowners like the Marton Ranch and historic sales between state and federal agencies like the recent Kelly Parcel sale. The $100 million sale of the Kelly Parcel to Grand Teton National Park conserved 640 acres of valuable wildlife habitat nestled between the park and Bridger-Teton National Forest.

The TRCP supported this monumental deal because it safeguarded crucial migration corridors, retained elk and bison hunting, and generated a windfall of revenue for Wyoming’s public education system. Without this sale, the land could have been auctioned to developers—a fate avoided thanks to overwhelming public support and private donations. Read more about the Kelly Parcel in this recent blog.

Finally, House Bill 118 would have impeded the State’s ability to pursue future land exchanges that could be a net benefit to the State of Wyoming and sportspeople. This bill passed the House of Representatives but did not meet the deadline to be introduced in the Senate.

Senate File 105 – Preserving state territorial sovereignty would have prohibited the sale of private land to the federal government without legislative approval, hindering opportunities to improve access to public lands, and a clear violation of private property rights.

Due to an uproar of public opposition, all three of these anti-public land bills failed to pass during this legislative session. It’s clear Wyomingites place great value on the places we hunt and fish and are willing to speak up for these places so future generations can enjoy.

Learn more about our efforts to ensure public land access here.

Alex Aguirre, TRCP’s Wyoming Community Partnerships Coordinator, speaks during the Camo at the Capital event.

Large Projects Funding Passed!

This annual legislation authorizes the Wildlife Trust to allocate matching funds to leverage important conservation projects across the state. This year’s projects include $6.1 million towards highway crossing structures along highway 189 near Kemmerer to ensure the safety of motorists and migrating wildlife and $550,000 to restore four miles of the North Fork of the Shoshone River to improve spawning conditions for trout and adjacent wetland habitat for wildlife.

Wildlife License Plates Easier to Acquire Thanks to SF0149

The Wildlife Conservation License Plate, launched in 2019, has raised nearly $1 million with an additional $1.8 million of donations for wildlife crossing projects in Wyoming. With more than 8,000 wildlife-vehicle collisions occurring in our state annually, this funding aims to reduce these occurrences by building infrastructure to ensure the safety of both people and wildlife. SF0149 will make purchasing these plates easier by allowing the transaction to happen at the county treasurer’s office instead of solely through the Wyoming Department of Transportation. Buy your plate here!

Camo at the Capitol

On February 13, we joined other sporting partners and over 70 sportsmen and sportswomen for Wyoming Wildlife Federation’s annual Camo at the Capitol.

The day included advocacy training, a tour of the capitol, a press conference, and concluded with a wild game reception attended by Governor Gordon and many other lawmakers. We want to thank all those who attended and our partner organizations in conservation for making the event a success. We hope to see YOU there next year!

Thanks for Entering the Arena of Conservation

While this session delivered wins for large conservation projects funding and a streamlined process for funding highway crossings infrastructure, we were also faced with multiple threats to our public land legacy. We thank our dedicated supporters for entering the arena of conservation and advocating for our issues. Wyoming is one small town and every voice matters. Thank you for using yours.

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.

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by: Dan Morgan

posted in: Hunting & Fishing Access

March 26, 2025

Wildlife for the 21st Century: A Policy Briefing to Safeguard Our Outdoor Heritage

On March 25, 2025, TRCP joined conservation leaders and policymakers for a crucial briefing on the most pressing challenges in wildlife conservation and outdoor access

Every four years, the American Wildlife Conservation Partners (AWCP), a coalition of 52 leading hunting and wildlife conservation organizations, releases Wildlife for the 21st Century (W-21)—a comprehensive set of recommendations aimed at ensuring a thriving future for America’s wildlife and outdoor traditions. These recommendations serve as a guiding framework for policymakers, addressing the most pressing challenges in wildlife conservation and outdoor access while offering actionable solutions.

A Blueprint for the Future of Conservation

The latest edition, Wildlife for the 21st Century, Volume VII, represents over a year of dedicated work by AWCP partners. It identifies strategic opportunities to enhance wildlife conservation, sustain public access to natural spaces, and protect America’s cherished outdoor traditions. The document is designed to help policymakers make informed decisions that will shape the conservation landscape for the next four years. You can access Wildlife for the 21st Century, Volume VII HERE

A Critical Briefing on Capitol Hill

On March 25, 2025, TRCP joined key conservation leaders and policymakers in the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center for a crucial briefing on W-21. Hosted by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) and sponsored by leading conservation organizations—including the Boone and Crockett Club, Delta Waterfowl, Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants/Quail Forever, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, and Wildlife Mississippi—the event provided a platform to discuss and advocate for the commonsense recommendations outlined in W-21.

“We extend our sincere gratitude to the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation for hosting this important event and to all the sponsoring organizations and attendees for their unwavering commitment to conservation,” said Joel Webster, chief conservation officer at the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and vice chair of AWCP. “By working together, we can ensure that America’s lands, waters, and wildlife continue to thrive for the benefit of hunters, anglers, conservationists, and outdoor enthusiasts nationwide.”

The briefing featured insights from some of the foremost voices in conservation policy and highlighted critical policy priorities, focusing on how sportsmen and women, conservationists, and policymakers can work together to ensure healthy wildlife populations, protect vital habitats, and promote responsible land and water stewardship across the nation.

The Wildlife for the 21st Century policy recommendations serve as a vital tool for shaping the future of wildlife conservation and outdoor recreation in the United States. As we move forward, it is essential that decision-makers embrace these strategies to safeguard our nation’s rich outdoor heritage for generations to come.

You can find a copy of Wildlife for the 21st Century, Volume 7 HERE.

Top photo by USDA

by: Noah Davis

posted in: Hunting & Fishing Access

March 21, 2025

An Act to Keep Public Lands in Public Hands

With many hunters and anglers concerned about the threat of public land sales, this legislation couldn’t be more important

If you’re a public land hunter or angler in America and have spent any time online in the past month, you know that public land transfer is at the top of everyone’s mind.

If you are wondering what could be done to help keep public lands in public hands, look no further than The Public Lands in Public Hands Act. This bipartisan bill is designed to help maintain those lands that hunters, anglers, and other outdoor enthusiasts rely on. Introduced by Representatives Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.) and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) in the 118th Congress and reintroduced in the 119th, the bill aims to prevent certain public lands from being sold or transferred without extra oversight.

Key Highlights

Congressional Oversight: The bill requires Congress to approve the sale or transfer of:
- Publicly accessible parcels larger than 300 acres.
- Water-adjacent parcels larger than five acres.
Maintaining Outdoor Access: This added oversight helps ensure key recreation areas aren’t lost without careful consideration.

Why does the BLM have a Disposal Process?

For the past 40 years, as required by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, the BLM has included lists of lands in its Resource Management Plans identified for potential disposal, including sale. It is estimated that the BLM has identified around 3 million acres in total across the West for potential future land sales.

While most such parcels are small and landlocked, making them good candidates for targeted disposal, numerous important tracts for recreational access have been identified for potential sale, threatening public access.

TRCP believes that there are narrow circumstances when small BLM land sales can make sense for community development, such as when—as the law states—those needs “cannot be achieved prudently or feasibly on land other than public land and which outweigh other public objectives and values.” We also believe Congress should be involved when public access is on the line and when parcels exceed 300 acres in size.

Examples of Public Access Parcels Identified for “Disposal”

Below are four examples of large parcels of accessible public lands currently on the BLM’s land disposal list that would receive additional scrutiny if the Public Lands in Public Hands Act becomes law.

Miles City Field Office RMP (2012): More than 5,000 acres of BLM land with open access from a public road identified by the agency to be available for “all disposal methods, including sale.” This area of Montana is popular for deer, antelope, and upland bird hunting, and public access is limited. The Public Lands in Public Hands Act would elevate congressional scrutiny of the sale of such accessible parcels.

Pocatello Field Office RMP (2012): Two water adjacent tracts along the Snake River in Idaho that are identified for potential disposal—one 50 acres and the other 19 acres. The Snake River is extremely popular with boaters, anglers, and waterfowl and upland bird hunters. Water adjacent public properties are precious and deserve a higher level of scrutiny to prevent their inappropriate sale.

Buffalo Field Office RMP (2015): This example shows publicly accessible BLM land identified for potential disposal. Note that this parcel provides public access to a neighboring state section that would most likely be lost if the BLM land was sold.

Eastern Colorado RMP (2024): A 1,175-acre BLM parcel along a county road east of Canon City. Identified for disposal through all disposal methods, including sale. The Public Lands in Public Hands Act would appropriately require congressional approval for the sale of such accessible parcels.

TRCP applauds the Public Lands in Public Hands Act and thanks Representatives Zinke and Vasquez for introducing this legislation.

Learn more about TRCP’s work to expand public hunting and fishing access HERE.

by: Noah Davis

posted in: Hunting & Fishing Access

March 12, 2025

MAPOceans Act Advances Out of Senate Committee

New legislation would modernize accessibility to saltwater recreational fishing regulations and marine waters navigation information

Today, the Senate committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation chaired by Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) with ranking member Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) held a markup of the Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act. The MAPOceans Act will direct the standardization, consolidation, and digitization of boating and recreational fishing information for federally managed marine waters and federal fisheries administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

“TRCP joins America’s sportsmen and sportswomen in thanking Senators Cruz and Cantwell and other members of the committee for advancing this bipartisan, access legislation,” said Joel Pedersen, president and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “The MAPOceans Act would enhance and expand recreation opportunities for anglers, boaters, and other users by making the information they need to safely and legally enjoy offshore waters and federal saltwater fisheries more readily available through modern technology.”

The bipartisan legislation was introduced by U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Angus King (I-Maine).

The MAPOceans Act builds on the success of the MAPLand Act, passed in 2022, and the MAPWaters Act, which passed out of the House of Representatives in January 2025, by directing NOAA to digitize navigation and recreational use rules for marine waters and federal fisheries, and to make those resources readily available to the public. The hundreds of thousands of offshore ocean miles and numerous saltwater fish species regulated by NOAA present enormous recreational opportunities where restrictions are difficult to access and constantly changing. MAPOceans directs the federal agency to compile those rules in digital form so they can be integrated into GPS units and smartphone applications that are popular with boaters and anglers, making that information available to the public in real time.

Learn more about TRCP’s work to improve your access to public lands and waters HERE.

Photo credit: Paul Dixon

by: Noah Davis

posted in: Hunting & Fishing Access

March 6, 2025

TRCP Cheers Senate Introduction of MAPOceans Act

New legislation will increase accessibility to saltwater recreational fishing regulations and marine waters navigation information

The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership celebrates Senate introduction of the Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act. The MAPOceans Act will direct the standardization, consolidation, and digitization of boating and recreational fishing information for federally managed marine waters and federal fisheries administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

This bill will enhance and expand recreation opportunities by investing in modern 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.

The bipartisan legislation was introduced by U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Angus King (I-Maine).

“The complex regulations of saltwater angling in America should not keep people from enjoying their sporting opportunities,” said Joel Pedersen, president and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “The MAPOceans Act will help ensure that boating and recreational fishing information are digitized and readily available to our nation’s saltwater anglers and recreationists. TRCP thanks Senator Cruz and Senator King for their leadership to introduce and advance this important public access legislation.”

This newly digitized public information would include:

Status information on which waterways are open or closed to entry or watercraft, low-elevation aircraft, or diving.
The areas of waterways with restrictions on motorized propulsion, horsepower, or gasoline fuel.
Types of watercraft that are restricted on each area of a waterway, including the permissibility of motorboats, non-motorized watercraft, personal watercraft, airboats, amphibious aircraft, and oceangoing ships.
The location and geographic boundaries of fishing restrictions on recreational and commercial fishing, including full or partial closures, no-take zones, and fishing restrictions within or surrounding marine protected areas.
Fishing regulations concerning specific types of equipment or bait, such as restrictions on the use of circle hooks, descending devices, and trolling.

To help educate hunters and anglers on this suite of important, bipartisan, access legislation, the TRCP launched the MAPping Public Access webpage that breaks down the history, status, and relevance of the MAPLand, MAPWaters, and MAPOceans Acts.

Learn more about TRCP’s work to improve your access to public lands and waters HERE.

Photo credit: Rimlight Media