Major policy decisions are being made right now that will affect the future of hunting and fishing. To learn how America’s 40 million hunters and anglers perceive these issues, the TRCP teamed up with Public Opinion Strategies, one of the nation’s leading public opinion research firms, in May 2017 to conduct a national poll. Here’s what sportsmen told us:

The Results

4 in 5

Of sportsmen support Clean Water Act protections for smaller headwater streams and wetlands

82%

Of sportsmen support the BLM’s plans for conserving greater sage-grouse habitat

77%

80%

support keeping the number and size of existing national monuments that have protected lands available for hunting and fishing

View Results Fact Sheet

Of hunters and anglers do not want to see cuts to conservation programs. 87% Of hunters and anglers do not want to see cuts to conservation programs. Click To Tweet

America’s public lands

No single issue is more galvanizing for voters who hunt and fish than our uniquely American public lands system, encompassing 640 million acres of national forests, parks, and wildlife refuges, and BLM lands that we think of as sportsmen’s country. Overwhelmingly, hunters and anglers told us that public lands are valuable contributors to the economy, that they should not be sold, and that adequate funding is needed to take care of public lands now and for future generations.

View Public Lands Fact Sheet

Agree that protecting and conserving public lands for future generations is important. 97% Agree that protecting and conserving public lands for future generations is important. Click To Tweet

Infrastructure

Safe way for animals to cross a highway

America’s outdoor infrastructure is just as critical to public safety and the economy as bridges and roads. 7 of 10 sportsmen from both sides of the aisle support an increase in funding for highway crossings and fences that help prevent vehicle collisions with wildlife. In total, 92% of hunters and anglers believe that public lands are positive economic drivers.

View Infrastrusture Fact Sheet

Of sportsmen, believe it’s important to maintain adequate infrastructure on public lands. 95% Of sportsmen, believe it’s important to maintain adequate infrastructure on public lands. Click To Tweet

Conservation Funding

While Congress and the White House are currently debating future funding for key conservation programs and federal agencies, sportsmen have made one thing clear: cuts to federal conservation budgets simply won’t fly. 87% do not want to see cuts to conservation programs, and 4 in 5 republican sportsmen and women want fees from offshore drilling to pay for conservation and access to public lands.