BLM Seeks Projects to Open Landlocked Public Land

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: Dan Morgan

posted in: General

October 22, 2026

The agency is accepting nominations for voluntary projects with willing sellers that would open access to Dingell Act nominated lands for more hunting and fishing opportunities

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is seeking projects that would open access to Dingell Act nominated lands and other inaccessible public parcels. The request follows September’s executive order directing federal land agencies to prioritize practical access to hard-to-reach federal lands and waters.

For hunters and anglers, the effort targets a long-standing challenge that keeps millions of acres of public land out of reach. In 2018, a TRCP and onX analysis found 9.52 million acres of landlocked federal land across 13 western states, most of it managed by the BLM.

Dingell Act nominated lands are federal parcels of at least 640 contiguous acres where hunting, fishing and other recreation are allowed but public access is cut off entirely or significantly restricted, often because there isn’t access across neighboring private land.

The projects would be funded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund and would open these and other landlocked parcels to more hunting and fishing. They can include access easements, rights-of-way or, in some cases, purchase of the land itself.

TRCP supports using Land and Water Conservation Fund dollars for both conservation-focused acquisitions and projects specifically designed to expand public access. This nomination process focuses on the latter.

The request draws on two laws with broad bipartisan support. Congress passed the Dingell Act in 2019, and in 2020 the Great American Outdoors Act guaranteed full annual funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Projects are voluntary and depend on willing sellers. Nominations are accepted on a rolling basis through local BLM field offices.

Learn more from the BLM HERE.

Photo by Nick Venture of Become1.

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by: Alex Aguirre

posted in: General

October 19, 2026

Big Dreams and Big Bulls: The Bridger-Teton National Forest Needs Hunter and Angler Voices for Its Conservation Future

The Bridger-Teton National Forest is revising its Forest Plan right now. Hunters and anglers need to speak up for the forest’s incredible hunting and fishing opportunities today.

My first introduction to the Bridger-Teton National Forest was in 2018. I was on a summer work trip to Star Valley, Wyoming and with some extra time on my hands, I decided to head up a dusty Forest Service Road into the surrounding mountains. I was met with incredible views and the camaraderie of an old-timer who told me stories of hunting big mule deer in this beautiful terrain. He graciously invited me to return and hunt with him, so two weeks later I drove back from Laramie for a weekend bowhunting adventure.

I was hooked on the Bridger-Teton after that.

While I was unsuccessful on my first hunt, I vowed to come back to this special place. In the summer of 2019, I sold a truck and invested in the best optics available. I scouted relentlessly and became familiar with this landscape. It would take three years of learning the country, observing the animals, and perfecting my craft before I was able to fulfill my dream of a high-country archery mule deer in the Bridger-Teton National Forest.

The following year, I arrowed my biggest buck to date. Even with that dream accomplished, the more time I spent in the Bridger-Teton, the more I fell in love with its beautiful peaks, vistas, and majestic wildlife herds, nestled in much of western Wyoming. What I stumbled on in August of 2018 has now become a landscape I return to multiple times each year.

Why is the future of the Bridger-Teton National Forest at stake?

We are in a critical period right now, because the BTNF is currently updating its Forest Plan — a document that will guide the management of the forest for decades to come. That is why the TRCP is hosting a survey to gather input about what matters most to hunters and anglers in the BTNF.

Take the Survey

There’s a reason the BTNF is a world class hunting destination. It’s high alpine wildflower basins, conifer and aspen forests, and clean, cold flowing streams fuel a caloric engine that grows big bucks and bulls. Mule deer, elk, bighorn sheep, and moose all grow fat on the BTNF’s summer range, and thanks to the forests connected landscapes, carry these calories with them on long established migration routes to winter range each year.

Alex with a big, velvet-antlered mule deer he harvested in the BTNF.

Mule deer herds in western Wyoming took a beating in the harsh winter of 2023. Both the Wyoming Range and Sublette mule deer migration routes connect nearly 40,000 deer to summer range on the BTNF, so how the forest manages this habitat in the coming decades is of critical importance to sportspeople. As a bowhunter that cherishes hunting these animals in the high country, ensuring their summer habitat and migration routes remain as intact and healthy as possible is deeply important to me. Beyond that, I am personally invested in making sure the waterways in the BTNF remain clean and cold to support native fish populations, just in case I really need to extend a hunt!

What is a Forest Plan and why does it matter?

A Forest Plan is the guiding document the Forest Service uses to determine management of the forest — from wildlife habitat and watersheds to recreation, grazing, and timber management. The Bridger-Teton’s Forest Plan revision matters to me not just because of my personal connection to the area, but because of how it could impact hunting and fishing opportunities for the next generation. The plan does not authorize individual projects but sets the direction and guardrails for future project-level decisions. The current plan was finalized in 1990, and this revision is an opportunity to make sure that future forest management reflects today’s conditions and public values.

Getting it right will take sound science, a clear assessment of the forest’s needs, and meaningful input from diverse stakeholders, local communities, and the public. For hunters and anglers like me, this is a chance to help shape a plan that can sustain healthy habitat, clean, cold flowing trout streams, and hunting and fishing opportunities on this landscape for years to come.

Over the past eight years, I have explored all corners of Wyoming’s Bridger-Teton National Forest. From hearing stories about Wyoming’s famed Thorofare region to seeing harvest photos of big, velvet-antlered mule deer, I have first-hand experience of how this place is a treasure to local communities, Wyomingites, as well as the 2.2 million visitors who travel annually from afar to experience this incredible forest.

The BTNF has also created a community of like-minded individuals who share the love of pursuing wildlife in these special places. I drew a once-in-a-lifetime moose tag in 2025 – a tag valid in the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Right after the draw, I called Rob and Janet, hunting friends that live in the area, and told them the exciting news. We made plans to meet up in October after archery deer and elk season were over to pursue my moose. With Rob, Janet, and my little sister by my side, we made camp and covered country searching for a moose of a lifetime. After four days of hunting and scouting together, I punched my tag with the help of an incredible team of friends and family.

Ensuring the updated Bridger Teton Forest Plan reflects the priorities of sportsmen and women will be a team effort, and we want to know what matters most to you. Please take five minutes to add your voice to this SURVEY and help inform our work to advocate on behalf of hunters and anglers throughout the revision process.

TRCP will continue covering this important issue for Wyoming hunters and anglers as the forest plan revision process continues in 2027.

by: Liz Rose

posted in: General

October 16, 2026

TRCP Supports Colorado Amendment 83: Right to Hunt & Fish

Amendment 83 recognizes the essential value of hunting, fishing, and keeping wildlife management grounded in science.

Hunting and fishing are longstanding traditional practices that connect people to our landscapes, provide healthy and sustainable food sources for families, and are deeply woven into the social and cultural fabric of Colorado. For generations, hunters and anglers have helped fund wildlife management, habitat restoration, public access, species recovery, rural economic prosperity, and outdoor recreation opportunities, which benefit all Coloradans.

These traditions carry values that matter. Time in the field fosters patience, humility, gratitude, and respect for wildlife and the places that sustain it, and hunting and fishing remain one of the most direct ways Coloradans pass those values from one generation to the next. Hunting and fishing take us to some of the most beautiful places in the state, and provide a welcome respite from the day-to-day stressors for so many Coloradans. Our kids and grandkids deserve to have the option to enjoy these unique ways of connecting to the outdoors and each other.

Hunting and fishing also play an essential role in how Colorado manages its wildlife. Regulated hunting is one of the most important tools wildlife managers have to keep species in balance with available habitat, limit the spread of disease and invasive species, and reduce conflicts with human populations and agriculture operations. The conservation ethic built into our national system of hunting and fishing is bolstered further through financial investment; license fees and excise taxes hunters and anglers pay are a major source of funding for species and habitat conservation programs.

“Hunting, fishing, and wildlife conservation are a major part of who we are as Coloradans, and hunters and anglers have long been partners in conserving the state’s fish and wildlife,” said Liz Rose, TRCP’s Colorado field representative. “Amendment 83 recognizes that role and helps ensure hunters and anglers continue to contribute to the conservation and management of wildlife in Colorado, through on-the-ground work and through the dollars they contribute.”

Amendment 83 recognizes the value that hunting and fishing provide to Colorado’s citizenry and wildlife populations, and will preserve the authority of Colorado Parks and Wildlife to responsibly manage fish and wildlife based on science, safety, or to preserve the future of hunting and fishing. 

Learn more about Colorado Amendment 83 HERE.

TRCP also supports Proposition 137. Prop 137 would redirect existing state sales tax on certain sporting goods and equipment to fund existing, but under-funded, state grant programs that reduce wildfire risk and enhance watershed health using science-backed tools, in addition to funding other conservation and recreation priorities. TRCP supports this proposition because multi-benefit stream and wetland restoration projects, like the Soda Creek complex, could be supported by increased state funding in the future if Prop 137 passes in November. For more information, go here and here.

Top photo: Josh Metten

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 and waters access solutions we’re spearheading, and opportunities for hunters and anglers to take action. Sign up now.

by: Dan Morgan

posted in: General

September 29, 2026

Jessica Turner Named President and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership

Turner brings nearly two decades of leadership experience to the most impactful coalition of conservation organizations in the country.

The board of directors of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP) is pleased to announce the appointment of Jessica Turner as President and CEO. A lifelong outdoorswoman, Turner is a proven leader in legislative strategy, conservation policy, and organizational growth with nearly two decades of experience. She will begin the role on November 9, 2026.

“Jessica is a proven coalition builder and an inspiring leader, with a deep knowledge of conservation policy, a real respect for our hunting and fishing heritage, and well-earned standing within the conservation community,” said Matt Cook, interim CEO and chair of the TRCP Board of Directors. “On behalf of the board, I am thrilled to welcome Jess Turner as the next president and CEO of TRCP. She’s spent her career building bipartisan support for America’s legacy of conservation, habitat and access, and making the business case for why it matters. We couldn’t be more excited to have her on the team.”

Most recently, Turner served as the President of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR), where she led the coalition that helped secure passage of the Great American Outdoors Act and the EXPLORE Act, delivering lasting funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund and modernizing outdoor recreation access and infrastructure on public lands.

Her background spans the Department of the Interior, Capitol Hill and the Outdoor Industry Association, where she helped secure formal government recognition of outdoor recreation as one of the nation’s leading economic sectors. Across nearly two decades in Washington, Turner has built a reputation as a steady, bipartisan hand who gets conservation wins across the finish line.

Turner sits on the boards of the Foundation for America’s Public Lands, Outward Bound USA and the Grand Canyon Conservancy. Her leadership has been recognized with Outside’s 30 Under 30 and The Hill’s Top Lobbyist award, and she holds a master’s and bachelor’s degree in American Government from Georgetown University.

“I’ve worked alongside TRCP for years, and I’ve always respected both its reputation, mission, and the results it delivers for hunters, anglers and partners alike,” said Turner. “As TRCP approaches its 25th anniversary, I’m ready to help lead the next chapter, carrying forward Theodore Roosevelt’s conservation legacy and continuing to shape the future of this work. I’m excited to be working alongside TRCP’s excellent staff, dedicated board and partners, and to build on the relationships across this community that have always made this work possible. This work only gets done together.”

TRCP continues to rise to the challenge originally set forth by its founder, Jim Range—to unite and amplify partners’ voices to advance America’s legacy of conservation, habitat, and access. Since its inception 25 years ago, TRCP has become the most impactful coalition of conservation organizations in the country, representing over 90 partner nonprofit and corporate organizations.

About Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership

Founded in 2002, the TRCP is the largest coalition of conservation organizations in the country, uniting and amplifying the voices of sportsmen and women by convening hunting and fishing groups, conservation organizations, and outdoor businesses to a common purpose. Learn more at trcp.org.

by: Dan Morgan

posted in: General

September 18, 2026

TRCP Welcomes Focus on Hunter and Angler Priorities in New Executive Orders

New executive orders touch on public land access, wildlife migration conservation, invasive species and disease management, and recreational fishing opportunities.

On Thursday, September 17, President Donald J. Trump signed two executive orders aimed at addressing priorities for hunters and anglers: Restoring American Saltwater Angling and Recreation and Reinvigorating America’s Hunting Heritage.

“Hunters and anglers have shaped this country’s conservation legacy for more than a century, and they remain some of the most dedicated stewards of our fish, wildlife, and wild places today,” said Joel Webster, chief conservation officer for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “We appreciate the administration’s support for wildlife corridors, access to landlocked public land, and management of invasive species and wildlife disease, as well as the emphasis on stronger fisheries science and closer coordination between federal and state managers. We look forward to working with the departments and agencies to implement several elements of these orders.”

The fishing-focused order, Restoring American Saltwater Angling and Recreation, addresses several longstanding priorities for the recreational fishing community. It responds to key recommendations from the Commission on Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Management, which TRCP and sportfishing partners helped convene in 2013 and 2014 to improve cooperation between states and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to strengthen data collection for recreational fisheries. It directs agencies to modernize federal data collection for recreational fishing, better account for the industry’s economic impact in federal fisheries management decisions, and improve coordination between federal and state agencies, including incorporating state-level data where it improves accuracy. These provisions could help unlock greater opportunities for economically and culturally vital fisheries that support coastal communities and millions of anglers nationwide. Many of them reflect concerns recreational anglers have raised for decades.

The other order, Reinvigorating America’s Hunting Heritage, addresses several longstanding priorities for the hunting community. Among other things, it directs agencies to reduce barriers to wildlife movement and improve habitat connectivity for big game, and to address invasive species, habitat degradation, and disease affecting game populations. It also calls for prioritizing practical access solutions for landlocked and other difficult-to-reach federal lands, including voluntary easements, land exchanges, and cooperative agreements with states. These provisions could help unlock greater access and healthier habitat for hunters. Many of them reflect concerns hunters have raised for years.

The provisions in each executive order carry economic weight too. Whether it’s improving access to public lands or giving fisheries and wildlife managers the data and cross-agency coordination they need to make sound decisions, commitments to hunting and fishing issues like these underpin a $1.3 trillion outdoor recreation economy that hunters and anglers help drive. A recent report found that conservation spending alone generated $115.8 billion in economic activity and supported more than 575,000 jobs nationwide, underscoring just how much these efforts mean for local communities and economies.

In this, our nation’s 250th anniversary year, TRCP is encouraged to see public lands, healthy fisheries managed by sound science and data, and our hunting and fishing traditions are treated as among America’s greatest priorities. This continues to be reflected in the ongoing work of the Make America Beautiful Again Commission.

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.

Click here to sign up today.

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