Your support helped make these conservation achievements possible. 

In many ways, 2025 was a year defined by gridlock and uncertainty in Washington D.C. Partisan divides slowed much of Congress, budgets were tight, and long-term solutions often felt just out of reach. Yet even in this environment, one thing remains clear: when hunters, anglers, and conservation partners stay engaged and unite, conservation solutions take shape and harmful proposals sink. 

 Those moments underscored why steady engagement matters and they reinforce TRCP’s commitment to remain vigilant, build durable coalitions, and continue advocating for the balanced conservation solutions that safeguard America’s lands, waters, and wildlife. 

In 2025, the hunting and fishing community stepped into the arena and delivered meaningful achievements that safeguarded access, strengthened habitat, and advanced bipartisan, durable solutions that will benefit the future of our sporting traditions. Here are just a few: 

We Held the Line on Public Lands, Together. 

Public lands are a cornerstone of America’s conservation legacy – and of our hunting and fishing traditions. In 2025, the sporting and conservation community achieved a significant win that safeguarded our nation’s public lands. 

Working alongside a broad, bipartisan coalition, TRCP helped defeat proposals that would have mandated the sale of millions of acres of public lands as part of the budget reconciliation process. Through sustained advocacy and engagement with hunters, anglers, and Congress, those provisions were removed, ensuring that public lands remain in public hands. 

That same commitment to collaboration was reflected in the formation of new bipartisan caucuses in Congress, efforts that TRCP helped propel forward by working closely with key lawmakers to grow membership and support early momentum. In the House, lawmakers from both parties launched the Public Lands Caucus to advance common-ground solutions that protect access, habitat, and America’s public lands legacy. In the Senate, the creation of the bipartisan Stewardship Caucus further reinforced the principle that conservation succeeds when leaders work together for the common good – and commit to increasing the pace and scale of stewardship across the public and private lands that hunters and anglers depend on. 

Taken together, these underscore the strength of coordinated advocacy and the importance of staying engaged when public lands access and stewardship are on the line

We Expanded Access Through Practical Solutions 

Access is fundamental to our outdoor traditions, and 2025 brought continued momentum behind tools that help hunters and anglers navigate the landscape with confidence. 

Progress on MAPLand and MAPRoads Acts improved clarity around public access points and legal routes. Continued efforts on the MAPWaters Act advanced a clearer understanding of water access for anglers, while the MAPOceans Act aims to support transparency and access for recreational saltwater fishing. 

Together, these initiatives reflect a bipartisan commitment to reduce confusion, avoid conflict, and help people enjoy the outdoors responsibly – proof that progress doesn’t always require sweeping reform to be meaningful. 

Read more about how this suite of legislation aims to enhance access to your public lands and waters by digitizing public access records and paper maps HERE. 

We Advanced Habitat and Forest Management That Works  

Strong conservation outcomes depend not just on safeguards, but on thoughtful, science-informed management and 2025 saw meaningful progress on both fronts. 

Bipartisan momentum behind the Fix Our Forests Act reflected a shared recognition that healthy forests are essential to resilient wildlife habitat, strong fisheries and watershed health, safer communities, and sustained recreational access. This management-first approach mirrors TRCP’s emphasis on solutions that endure beyond a single season or policy cycle. 

That same mindset guided progress on the Farm Bill, which added over $15 billion to the conservation baseline. These investments provide stability for private-land conservation programs and support the landowners who play a critical role in sustaining wildlife habitat across the country. 

Targeted investments through USDA also advanced efforts to address Chronic Wasting Disease, supporting the long-term health of the big game herds hunters care deeply about. 

We Strengthened Wildlife Connectivity and On-the-Ground Conservation 

Some of the most tangible conservation gains in 2025 occurred where conservation meets daily life. 

State-level investments in wildlife crossing projects, including efforts in Montana and New Mexico, strengthened habitat connectivity while reducing collisions and improving safety for both wildlife and people. These highlight the power of collaboration and the value of durable, locally supported solutions. 

We Demonstrated that Conservation is a High-Return Investment   

In 2025, conservation continued to prove its value as a high-return investment for communities, jobs, and economic growth. 

A new report showed that investments in fish and wildlife conservation generate significant economic activity nationwide – supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs, contributing billions to GDP, and serving as the bedrock of the $1.1 trillion outdoor recreation economy that many rural and gateway communities depend on. 

For hunters, anglers, and community leaders alike, the takeaway is clear: conservation is not only good stewardship – it’s smart economics, delivering significant benefits that support local livelihoods and America’s outdoor heritage. 

Read Conservation Economy in America: A Snapshot of Total Fish and Wildlife-Associated Direct Investments and Economic Contributions

We Maintained Focus on Bipartisan, Durable Solutions

Not every policy decision in 2025 aligned with the priorities of hunters and anglers – but those moments only reinforced why persistence matters. They sharpened our resolve to stay engaged, to keep building strong bipartisan coalitions, and to remain vigilant in advocating for balanced, durable, science-based solutions. Guided by our mission, TRCP is more committed than ever to standing up for the lands, waters, wildlife, and sporting traditions that define us. 

Even as Washington, D.C. continues to navigate uncertainty, one thing remains evident: conservation advances when hunters, anglers, partners, and decision-makers step into the arena together. Collaboration matters. And showing up – year after year – matters. When we unite, we win.