Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA)L has released a public lands report with the goal of educating sportsmen and decision makers on the need to keep public lands in public hands
The report, “Our Public Lands- Not for Sale”, details how the proposed transfer, or sale, of America’s federal public lands would negatively affect sportsmen and women in the United States. A growing number of western state legislators and federal elected are advocating for the transfer or all out sale of federal public lands. This report highlights how these ideas are nothing new and, if they come to pass, how detrimental they would be to America’s sportsmen and women, ultimately resulting in loss of access to quality habitat for hunting and fishing.
The report also illustrates the potential harm to both the outdoor business community and sportsmen and women. More than two thirds of hunters in the 11 Western states depend on public lands for all or part of their hunting, including both resident and non-resident hunters. And, outdoor recreation supports $646 billion in revenue and 6.1 million jobs annually.
Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is 100% against the transfer, or sale, of our federal public lands. While we think that federal land management could be improved, this is no time to throw the baby out with the bathwater said, Executive Director of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Land Tawney We look forward to working with elected officials from both sides of the aisle to protect our outdoor heritage and keep public lands in public hands,”
“Without public land we would be out of business, in fact, we would have never gotten into business because there would be no reason to make hunting clothes if only a select few could participate, said Kenton Carruth founder of the Idaho based outdoor clothing company First Lite. The opportunity for individuals to access beautiful and wild places in an equitable manner is one of the core American values that enriches the quality of life for all,”
The Public Lands Report can be found on Backcountry Hunters & Anglers website at www.backcountryhunters.org.
