Cason Short walking AR flooded timber-800 crop-Credit Ryan Gentry

Stewardship on America’s private lands

With 70 percent of U.S. lands in private hands and many of our best hunt and fish opportunities occurring there, investing in voluntary conservation on working lands safeguards access, strengthens habitat and water quality, and ensures resilient landscapes.

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by: Ryan Lockwood

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April 28, 2026

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by: Dan Morgan

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April 24, 2026

Hunters and Anglers Applaud NRCS Support For Critical Hunting and Fishing Access Program

USDA-NRCS announces VPA-HIP funding that benefits hunters, anglers, and working lands

Today, the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) published a Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP), opening the door for state and Tribal wildlife agencies to apply for funding that will expand public hunting and fishing access on private lands across the nation.

This release of $52 million – the largest amount in VPA-HIP history – will make a tremendous difference in both the quality and quantity of private lands open to public hunting and fishing. Not only will this benefit hunters and anglers, but also farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who enroll in access programs, as well as rural businesses that depend on sportsmen and sportswomen.

“Lack of access is one of the biggest barriers to hunting and fishing participation. VPA-HIP works to address that through locally-led access programs designed to meet the needs of hunters, anglers, and landowners,” said Aaron Field, TRCP’s director of private lands conservation. “We applaud NRCS for distributing this critical access funding which will help deliver the priorities of the Make America Beautiful Again Commission.”

Since 2023, following the initial expiration of the 2018 Farm Bill, VPA-HIP has relied on piecemeal funding, and in 2024 received no funding at all. This uncertainty made it difficult for state and Tribal agencies to plan, maintain, or expand private lands access programs, limiting opportunities for hunters, anglers, and landowners alike. Without this announcement, hunters and anglers stood to lose hundreds of thousands of access in the next few years.

“The VPA-HIP program has provided important funding to help state fish and wildlife agencies enhance public recreational access and habitat on private land across the country,” said Paul Johansen, chief of the wildlife resources section of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and president of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. “A major barrier to outdoor recreation is access, so the availability of these new VPA-HIP funds is needed to ensure the outdoors are open and open for everyone. This program has an incredible return on investment of 8:1 for the economy and is a key tool towards retaining, reactivating, and recruiting outdoor recreationalists.”

“Expanding voluntary public access on private lands is one of the most effective ways to strengthen our nation’s upland hunting tradition while supporting private landowners,” said Andrew Schmidt, Director of Government Affairs for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. “Increasing access for hunting and incentivizing voluntary conservation on private lands are both key priorities for the MABA 250 initiative, and PF & QF thank NRCS and the Trump Administration for ensuring VPA-HIP will continue to deliver meaningful benefits to rural communities.”   

VPA-HIP is the only federal program specifically designed to expand public hunting and fishing access on private lands through a voluntary, incentive-based approach led by state and Tribal wildlife agencies. By compensating landowners who choose to open their lands to public access, the program respects private property rights and working-lands needs while supporting habitat improvements and responsible access management. In doing so, VPA-HIP helps address the loss of places to hunt and fish, sustains America’s hunting and fishing traditions, and supports rural economies tied to outdoor recreation. The release of this Notice of Funding Opportunity ensures that states and Tribes can once again plan and deliver reliable access programs, translating this investment into meaningful, on-the-ground opportunities for hunters, anglers, and landowners.

Learn more about VPA-HIP and see examples of how the program creates access here.

Top photo: Aaron Field

What Is VPA-HIP?

by: Dan Morgan

posted in:

April 23, 2026

Thompson, Vasquez, and onX’s Siegfried and Orvidas Receive TRCP’s Conservation Awards

Gala event hosted by MeatEater’s Steven Rinella brought together D.C. luminaries, outdoor industry leaders, and TRCP supporters

At its 18^th annual Capital Conservation Awards Dinner, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership honored a Republican congressman, a Democratic congressman, and a technology company – united by a shared commitment to conservation. Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-Pa.), Representative Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.), and Eric Siegfried and Laura Orvidas of onX were recognized for conservation achievements that reflect the breadth and durability of TRCP’s mission to guarantee all Americans quality places to hunt and fish.

The gala event was hosted by Steven Rinella, founder of MeatEater and TRCP board member, at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. The evening brought together more than 500 conservation advocates, policymakers, and outdoor industry leaders for TRCP’s marquee annual event.  

The evening also featured remarks from special guest Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, who spoke on the importance of hunters and anglers to conservation, Theodore Roosevelt’s enduring legacy, and the recently re-established Hunting and Shooting Sports Conservation and Access Council and Make America Beautiful Again commission.

“We are thrilled to be presenting our 2026 awards to four leaders who, in the spirit of Theodore Roosevelt, strive valiantly in the worthy cause of conservation,” said Matt Cook, TRCP CEO and board chair. “Representatives Thompson and Vasquez are exactly the kind of leaders this work depends on. They have been instrumental in clinching legislative victories for habitat, access, and conservation funding that will impact hunting and fishing opportunities for years to come. And we’re honored to celebrate the contributions of Eric Siegfried and Laura Orvidas at onX, whose work has fundamentally changed how hunters and anglers engage with public lands.”

Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-Pa.)

(L to R) TRCP Board Member Steven Rinella, Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson, and TRCP CEO and Board Chair Matt Cook

Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson of Pennsylvania has been a consistent and effective voice for hunters and anglers who depend on healthy working lands. As Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, his commitment to conservation programs within the Farm Bill - and his willingness to work across the aisle to advance them - reflects exactly the kind of durable, results-oriented leadership that moves the needle for hunters and anglers. And under his leadership, the Conservation and Forestry Titles have been a priority, not an afterthought – including fighting to secure one of, if not, the largest increases in funding for the Conservation Title in history He is also a leader in combating the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease, as he fought to get the Chronic Wasting Disease Research and Management Act signed into law, and was instrumental in the inclusion of the Habitat Connectivity on Working Lands Act in the House Farm Bill.

Representative Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.)

(L to R) TRCP Board Member Steven Rinella, Representative Gabe Vasquez, and TRCP CEO and Board Chair Matt Cook

Representative Gabe Vasquez of New Mexico represents a district defined by some of the West’s most storied hunting and fishing country and he has championed policies that protect public land access, wildlife corridors, and the sporting traditions that bring communities together.  As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, he works to build conservation solutions on private land that benefit wildlife and support farmers and ranchers. His work goes further though, as he has emerged as a leading champion for public lands conservation and access. He introduced the bipartisan Public Lands in Public Hands Act,  Habitat Connectivity on Working Lands Act, and co-founded the bipartisan Public Lands Caucus.

Eric Siegfried and Laura Orvidas, onX

(L to R) TRCP Board Member Steven Rinella, onX founder Eric Siegfried, onX CEO Laura Orvidas, and TRCP CEO and Board Chair Matt Cook

Eric Siegfried, founder of onX, helped catalyze groundbreaking work with TRCP to identify 16.43 million acres of landlocked public lands across 22 states – an effort that helped drive full, permanent funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, elevate public access in federal land policy, and inspire landmark legislation like the MAPLand Act.

As CEO, Laura Orvidas has built on that foundation by advancing passage of the MAPLand and MAPWaters Acts, championing walk-in access programs including the Farm Bill’s Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program, and mobilizing the onX community to defend and expand access to public lands. Together, Siegfried, Orvidas, and the team at onX, represent what is possible when innovation and a deep commitment to the hunting and fishing community come together in service of conservation.

Now in its 18^th year, the Capital Conservation Awards Dinner has become one of Washington’s premier gatherings at the intersection of conservation, policy, and the American sporting tradition. TRCP looks forward to continuing that work alongside its partners and supporters in the year ahead.

The 18^th annual Capital Conservation Awards Dinner was made possible with the support of the following generous sponsors:

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.

by: Rob Thornberry

posted in:

April 16, 2026

Big Game Migration Conservation Momentum Continues to Build in Idaho

Idaho Transportation Department begins construction of new underpasses to increase traffic safety while helping conserve a crucial mule deer migration

On March 24, the Idaho legislature took official steps to acknowledge the importance of migration conservation and habitat connectivity for iconic species such as deer, elk, moose, and pronghorn, while also committing to making the state’s highways safer for motorists and wildlife alike.

It appears that the momentum of Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 124 has spilled over into April.

In coordination with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the Idaho Transportation Department is breaking ground on three underpasses on U.S. Highway 30 near Montpelier. This grant-funded project will include the installation of two concrete box culverts, one bridge, and six road miles of eight-foot-tall fencing.

Twice a year, a mule deer herd important to hunters that numbers anywhere between 4,000 and 11,000 animals crosses the highway between summer and winter range. This stretch of highway intersects with Rocky Point, a landscape feature that concentrates mule deer movement along their migration route. IDFG and ITD data show that on one 20-mile stretch of highway, 70 percent of wildlife-automobile collisions occur at Rocky Point. This project targets that section.

The $12-million project is funded by a grant which was part of $125 million in federal grants awarded to 16 states through the Federal Highway Administration’s Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program in 2025.

The Rocky Point underpasses are the latest example of the Gem State prioritizing public safety and embracing big game migration conservation. Other crossing projects include the Cervidae Peak overpass on Highway 21 northeast of Boise and the exclusionary fencing along Highway 28 in Lemhi Valley.

With the human population and development increasing in Idaho, these investments could not be better timed as it is critical to protect motorists and conserve wildlife as highways grow busier and habitat fragmentation continues.

Learn more about TRCP’s commitment to wildlife migration conservation HERE.

Photo Credit: IDFG

by: Noah Davis

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TRCP Highlights Hunter and Angler Public Land Priorities at Conference of World Affairs

VP of Western Conservation spoke on access, sporting opportunities, and the economic benefits of public lands

As a thought leader on America’s federal public lands, Madeleine West, VP of western conservation for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, participated on the Public Lands & Emerging Threats in the Western U.S. panel at the 78^th annual Conference of World Affairs held this year at the University of Colorado Boulder. West was joined by members of the livestock and recreation industries and other conservationists.

The panel discussed the value of public lands—from the landscapes where people hunt, fish, and explore to the places that support energy development, logging, mining, and grazing—and the recent proposals to sell up to 3 million acres of federal public land that were successfully stopped thanks to bipartisan opposition. Panelists stressed why public lands matter to local communities, economies, and wildlife habitat, and identified actions to ensure public lands stay in public hands.

West highlighted that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recorded 14.4 million people hunted and 39.9 million people fished in America in 2024. In that same year, these sportspeople spent $144.8 billion on hunting and fishing expenditures.

America’s 640 million acres of national public lands – including our National Forests and Bureau of Land Management lands – provide irreplaceable hunting and fishing opportunities to millions of Americans. These lands are the backbone of our nation’s hunting and fishing legacy and drive the outdoor recreation economy.

West emphasized that the issues of access and quality habitat that drive hunter and angler opportunity, particularly on public lands, are values-driven for sportsmen and women. These issues connect to culture, lifestyle, families, and communities. Because of this, access and conservation priorities often transcend political affiliation, geographic location, and class.

This is why when up to 3 million acres of federal public lands were at risk of being sold during the 2025 budget reconciliation process, an outpouring of opposition from tens of thousands of engaged hunters and anglers across the country, as well as from national, state, and local hunting and fishing businesses and organizations, and leadership from a bipartisan group of public land champions in Congress helped remove those proposals from the final bill.

TRCP opposes the large-scale sale or transfer of public lands. West identified that there are real concerns in localized areas when it comes to federal land management agency effectiveness. That is why the TRCP is working to increase access to existing public lands and waters, secure consistent dedicated funding for core federal conservation programs, promote voluntary public-private land programs that conserve and restore lands, and educate the public and lawmakers on opportunities to support targeted, specific land exchanges and sales that benefit fish and wildlife and hunting access.

Learn more about TRCP’s commitment to public lands HERE.

Feature Photo: The Nature Conservancy

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