Hunting and Fishing
Respecting the public lands that provide for our way of life
The West’s hunters and angling community has a long tradition of respecting the outdoors and public lands that provide for our way of life. When we do not address the impacts of climate change and unchecked energy development, our livelihoods and heritage are at risks. Learn more.
Issue page: Wildlife populations across the West are under threat
The American West is home to sprawling landscapes and ecosystems where wildlife roam. Diverse and healthy wildlife populations support biodiversity, are more resilient to climate change, and are crucial to Western livelihoods and culture. However, wildlife is threatened across the West by oil and gas development, loss of natural habitat, climate change, and decreasing ecosystem connectivity.Fact Sheet: Climate change & hunting
Species’ traditional habitats are impacted by climate disturbances, threatening wildlife populations. Changing habitats and migration patterns will impact where and how people hunt, bringing uncertainty to hunters and their communitiesFact Sheet: Climate change & fishing
Climate change is causing lower water levels and higher temperatures in rivers and streams, changing fish habitats and making them more vulnerable to parasites and diseases. Fish under threat will weaken outdoor recreation economies.Podcast: Live in Montana
We wrap up the Go West, Young Podcast summer road trip in Missoula, Montana, just in time for National Public Lands Day, with: Tracy Stone-Manning, National Wildlife Federation; Aaron Murphy, Montana Conservation Voters; Land Tawney, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers; and State Representative Marilyn Marler.Podcast: Jessi Johnson: Sportswomen mobilize for public lands
In this episode of Go West, Young Podcast, a conversation with bowhunter and public lands activist Jessi Johnson, one of the co-founders of Artemis, the new sportswomen’s group from the National Wildlife Federation.With millions of visits each year, public lands are a top choice for American recreation
U.S. public lands on Western states see more than 290 million visits each year, equivalent to nearly 90 percent of the entire population of the United States.How the landmark public lands bill helps wildlife migration corridors
In a rare act of bipartisan agreement, Congress recently passed a package of public lands bills deemed the “Natural Resources Management Act.” The bill, called the “decades biggest public lands package,” could have a big impact on wildlife in the West.Western States Conservation Scorecard
Public lands are what make the American West the American West. The Scorecard evaluates state policies in eight Western states—Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming—considering each state’s commitment to protecting and enhancing public lands in three key areas: lands and access, outdoor recreation, and responsible energy development.Storymap: America’s Public Lands Giveaway
Across the American West, millions of acres of public lands are currently leased for oil and gas drilling. These oil and gas companies drive the process to lease the public’s land, pay extremely low bid rates, and leave millions of idle leased acres off limits to other uses.Outdoor voters support solutions to keep public lands protected, funded and open. Find out more about the solutions needed to protect our outdoor lifestyles.