A new bipartisan bill introduced in Congress could deliver billions of dollars for public land access, road repairs, trail improvements, and hunting infrastructure across the country.
A Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks advisory committee spent two days discussing one of the most controversial public-access issues in the West: corner crossing. While no immediate policy changes emerged from the June 1–2 meeting, the debate over access to nearly 871,000 acres of corner-locked public land in Montana is far from over.
Federal proposal could expand hunting and fishing opportunities across more than 92 million acres nationwide, including refuges in every state currently supported by the Hunterizer app.
The U.S. Senate has confirmed Steve Pearce as the new Director of the Bureau of Land Management, putting a longtime advocate of energy development and “multiple-use” public land policy in charge of one of the largest land management agencies in the country. For hunters, the appointment could bring meaningful changes to access, habitat management, and the future of public land policy across the West.
Montana hunters are now watching one of the most consequential public land access battles in recent years. After Montana officials publicly reaffirmed that corner crossing is illegal, two major access advocacy groups responded with a lawsuit seeking to overturn that position and secure access to hundreds of thousands of acres of public land currently considered corner-locked.
A sweeping federal overhaul of the U.S. Forest Service is drawing sharply divided reactions from hunting and conservation groups. While some see a win for local control and access, others warn of long-term risks to habitat, science, and public land management.
Bipartisan legislation introduced in Sacramento would ensure millions of dollars generated by hunters are reinvested directly into California’s state wildlife areas for habitat management and hunting access.
The U.S. Department of the Interior has issued a new order directing federal land agencies to expand hunting and fishing access while cutting back unnecessary regulations. The move reinforces hunting as a priority use of public lands and could open the door to more seasons, clearer rules, and fewer access restrictions for sportsmen.
By refusing to hear the appeal, the Supreme Court left standing a 10th Circuit ruling that permits corner crossing across six states. For hunters, the decision keeps large blocks of public land legally accessible in areas dominated by checkerboard ownership.