Public Land Sale Senate Budget Reconciliation

[MMCCAULEY]

Mike Lee is at it again.  I urge you all to contact your Senator, regardless of your political affiliation or who you may or may not have voted for. 

https://www.outdoorlife.com/conservation/senate-proposes-selling-public-land/

[GeoSwan]

This is the most disturbing bill I've ever seen. THESE LAND SALES ARE MANDATORY. AS IN, THEY WILL BE SOLD, WITHOUT PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. NOW IS YOUR CHANCE FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. Remember the corner crossing lawsuit in WY? Now that *censored* could own the public land adjacent to his property.

If you enjoy hunting and/or the freedom to roam, you need to get involved to stop this unprecedented land grab. They'll take it from right under your feet. WRITE YOUR SENATOR, AND WRITE THE SENATORS OF IDAHO AND WYOMING. THIS CAN BE STOPPED BY PUBLIC LAND ADVOCATES. WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS NOW.

Besides republican senators presiding over Western states like Idaho and Wyoming, who would have massive swaths of their state affected by this bill, there are a number of republican senators who take issue with Trump's Big Beautiful Bill, and should be written. Those senators are:

Josh Hawley (R-MO)
Susan Collins (R-ME)
Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Jerry Moran (R-KS)
Rand Paul (R-KY)
Thom Tillis (R-N.C.)
Joni Ernst (R-Iowa)
Ron Johnson (R-WI)
In addition to the senators listed above who are not sold on the Big Beautiful Bill which contains this land grab, please email the senators of ID, MT, UT (including the psycho Senator Mike Lee, who crafted this land grab), WY, telling them that unfettered access to public land is a high priority.

an example of what you could say is:
“
The Senate Reconciliation Bill land grab effectively ends the envy of the world; U.S. public land access. As a conservative, conservationist, and avid outdoorsman, I am asking you to do everything in your power to kill this provision and to keep the West accessible. This is truly terrifying, and I can't imagine the most wild parts of this great country being held privately, with very little to no public opportunity. I am in utter disbelief on this assault on our public access. From recreation access to habitat fragmentation, this bill is BAD NEWS. Please, amend this bill to exclude the mandatory sale of our public land. I am not part of your constituency, but this bill would have unprecedented consequences for myself, and millions of people like me living in the West.
Thank you!! "

I'm not trying to create a political debate here. You're here because you value hunting and access. This bill is an attempt to strip that away from you and fragment key habitat in the process. This will change Western access as we know it. This is a BIG *censored*ING DEAL.

[elkboy]

Wes Siler's column here is worth a read: https://wessiler.substack.com/p/heres-the-120-million-acres-of-public

3.8 million acres of public land in Washington alone. 6.2 million in Oregon.  7.6 million in Idaho. (Interestingly, amendment co-author Steve Daines of Montana exempted his own state's federal lands from the sale.)

I've hunted, hiked,  climbed and otherwise recreated on federal lands, and I cannot imagine my experience of the Pacific Northwest without access to public lands. I've written my senators, and will be writing some others as well, to oppose this. 

Once these lands are sold, including to foreign buyers, we are not getting them back, or getting access without paying for it.

[mburrows]

Bump. Everybody needs to reach out to their representatives.

[hunter399]

Where are all the anti-hunting folks at on issues like this.
You would think all the dot.org people,would be all over it .
They are selling off a lot of habitat,why didn't our senators get our state off the list .
Stupid.

[blusc21]

Im heart broken. Every spot I hunt annualy would be sold. These are places my grandpa went to hunt before shipping off to shoot Nazis and never touched a gun again.... though he still was hell on the trout population after the war. The place i shot my first deer would be sold.

Selling off public land for a short term budget bump is crazy. The bill MANDATES these lands are sold, so the could just be bought up by rish *censored*s from out of state that want their own hunting mountain.

Im emailing my representatives, and ones that may listen in other states.

[pickardjw]

Im heart broken. Every spot I hunt annualy would be sold.

How do you know that?

[Feathernfurr]

Where are all the anti-hunting folks at on issues like this.
You would think all the dot.org people,would be all over it .
They are selling off a lot of habitat,why didn't our senators get our state off the list .
Stupid.

I mean you say that, but honestly when I google the issue to find the latest information, most of the websites I find info on are hiking and environmental websites and forums, not hunting/fishing pages. I’d argue the environmental community does a lot more than our hunting community does to protect public lands. We hunters are notoriously quiet when it comes to speaking up.

[James]

https://www.fieldandstream.com/stories/conservation/public-lands-and-waters/map-of-public-lands-for-sale-budget-bill

I hope this map is wrong, because this would be catastrophic.

The BLM land is bad enough, lots of big game winter range and bird hunting, but the forest service land in nuts.

Good by Methow and Chelan mule deer herds.

[Skillet]

While I'm 100% against this land sale provision in the spending bill, full stop, I think we need to keep things in perspective. 

The Outdoor Alliance maps show the total of 300 million acres that could be eligible for sale - but the bill only requires up to 3.3 million acres to be sold.  About 1.1% of the total land that is eligible.

If your favorite place is in that 1.1% that ends up being sold, of course it's a devastating loss.  Nearly all of my favorite places up here are on the chopping block, and we don't have nearly the user base to protect it that lower 48 states do.  I'm very concerned.

But I think it's important to keep things in perspective.  A lot of the conversation I'm hearing/seeing on this shows the map images, and assumes it will all be sold.

[Rainier10]

Quick easy link to send emails to your senators and legislators

https://www.rmef.org/take-action/?utm_source=Klaviyo&utm_medium=campaign&_kx=6BZrRjDJpNjhV6RH25OjnzQp-oIGsgiW74uVYpCoQjILclTerDFjwcOoT22I3iei.TRqyjT#/78

[trophyhunt]

While I'm 100% against this land sale provision in the spending bill, full stop, I think we need to keep things in perspective. 

The Outdoor Alliance maps show the total of 300 million acres that could be eligible for sale - but the bill only requires up to 3.3 million acres to be sold.  About 1.1% of the total land that is eligible.

If your favorite place is in that 1.1% that ends up being sold, of course it's a devastating loss.  Nearly all of my favorite places up here are on the chopping block, and we don't have nearly the user base to protect it that lower 48 states do.  I'm very concerned.

But I think it's important to keep things in perspective.  A lot of the conversation I'm hearing/seeing on this shows the map images, and assumes it will all be sold.

Totally agree!!

[MADMAX]

Quick easy link to send emails to your senators and legislators

https://www.rmef.org/take-action/?utm_source=Klaviyo&utm_medium=campaign&_kx=6BZrRjDJpNjhV6RH25OjnzQp-oIGsgiW74uVYpCoQjILclTerDFjwcOoT22I3iei.TRqyjT#/78

Thanks
Sent 👍👍👍

[Tinmaniac]

So the same senators that are ruining our state we now expect to save our lands for hunting and access?They are not going to advocate for gun carrying hunters.

[pickardjw]

So the same senators that are ruining our state we now expect to save our lands for hunting and access?They are not going to advocate for gun carrying hunters.

No need to mention hunting or guns. Plenty of other user groups are contacting Senators on this.

I'd go as far as to say contacting Senators from other State's is more important. Gotta let the (R)'s hear it on this one.

[MADMAX]

So the same senators that are ruining our state we now expect to save our lands for hunting and access?They are not going to advocate for gun carrying hunters.

That’s what they’re counting on is people just saying “oh well”.
Don’t go down without a fight

[nwmein199]

Map showing all the public lands that this bill would make eligible for sale: https://www.arcgis.com/apps/instant/basic/index.html?appid=821970f0212d46d7aa854718aac42310

Call/email your representative: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

https://www.hcn.org/articles/senate-republicans-want-to-sell-3-million-acres-of-public-land/

[Ric0]

Thanks for the info on this. I emailed my local representative, it was super quick and easy.

[bigtex]

Thanks for the info on this. I emailed my local representative, it was super quick and easy.

This is in the hands of Murray and Cantwell. Not your local rep.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

[Ric0]

Thanks for the info on this. I emailed my local representative, it was super quick and easy.

This is in the hands of Murray and Cantwell. Not your local rep.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

Thanks bigtex, email sent to Cantwell and Murray.

[baldopepper]

If you have relatives or friends in other states urge them to contact their reps..Doesn't mean much when a voter from Washington emails a senator in another state.  Many states, particularly east of the rockies, could care less about land grabs in the west. Gotta get to some of the red states as all the Ds are already uniformly opposed to it

[actionshooter]

While I'm 100% against this land sale provision in the spending bill, full stop, I think we need to keep things in perspective. 

The Outdoor Alliance maps show the total of 300 million acres that could be eligible for sale - but the bill only requires up to 3.3 million acres to be sold.  About 1.1% of the total land that is eligible.

If your favorite place is in that 1.1% that ends up being sold, of course it's a devastating loss.  Nearly all of my favorite places up here are on the chopping block, and we don't have nearly the user base to protect it that lower 48 states do.  I'm very concerned.

But I think it's important to keep things in perspective.  A lot of the conversation I'm hearing/seeing on this shows the map images, and assumes it will all be sold.

 I agree that 1.1% doesn't sound like a bunch, but I think the real problem is that this sets a precedence and if they can do it once, they will do it a dozen times. 

This public land is one of the things that seperates us from the majority of the countries and none of it should be sold.

[MADMAX]

While I'm 100% against this land sale provision in the spending bill, full stop, I think we need to keep things in perspective. 

The Outdoor Alliance maps show the total of 300 million acres that could be eligible for sale - but the bill only requires up to 3.3 million acres to be sold.  About 1.1% of the total land that is eligible.

If your favorite place is in that 1.1% that ends up being sold, of course it's a devastating loss.  Nearly all of my favorite places up here are on the chopping block, and we don't have nearly the user base to protect it that lower 48 states do.  I'm very concerned.

But I think it's important to keep things in perspective.  A lot of the conversation I'm hearing/seeing on this shows the map images, and assumes it will all be sold.

 I agree that 1.1% doesn't sound like a bunch, but I think the real problem is that this sets a precedence and if they can do it once, they will do it a dozen times. 

This public land is one of the things that seperates us from the majority of the countries and none of it should be sold.

I’m glad the hiking community also gets involved like the Sierra club

https://www.sierraclub.org/articles/2025/06/don-t-buy-administration-s-plans-public-lands

[baldopepper]

Sure wish I could pick and choose 3.3 million acres off that map.  Few hundred or thousand acres here and there could close off access to thousands more. Few thousand here and there could lock up prime hunting/fishing ground, or block off popular hiking trails. They throw out that number like it's no big deal, but that's still an incredible amount of land especially if divided up in in little prime pieces here and there

[SWHUNTER]

[quote ]

Josh Hawley (R-MO)
Susan Collins (R-ME)
Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Jerry Moran (R-KS)
Rand Paul (R-KY)
Thom Tillis (R-N.C.)
Joni Ernst (R-Iowa)
Ron Johnson (R-WI)

[/quote]

[Skillet]

While I'm 100% against this land sale provision in the spending bill, full stop, I think we need to keep things in perspective. 

The Outdoor Alliance maps show the total of 300 million acres that could be eligible for sale - but the bill only requires up to 3.3 million acres to be sold.  About 1.1% of the total land that is eligible.

If your favorite place is in that 1.1% that ends up being sold, of course it's a devastating loss.  Nearly all of my favorite places up here are on the chopping block, and we don't have nearly the user base to protect it that lower 48 states do.  I'm very concerned.

But I think it's important to keep things in perspective.  A lot of the conversation I'm hearing/seeing on this shows the map images, and assumes it will all be sold.

 I agree that 1.1% doesn't sound like a bunch, but I think the real problem is that this sets a precedence and if they can do it once, they will do it a dozen times. 

This public land is one of the things that seperates us from the majority of the countries and none of it should be sold.

Definitely a valid concern, and I agree.   If that motivates you to action, great.  My point in posting was to point out the actual issue at hand was being overshadowed by the hyperbole.  The land sale is unjustified and improper at only the 3.3 million acres, there is no need to exaggerate the issue to justify sporrsmen's opposition.

[hunter399]

Thanks for the info on this. I emailed my local representative, it was super quick and easy.

This is in the hands of Murray and Cantwell. Not your local rep.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

Thanks bigtex, email sent to Cantwell and Murray.

Can Murray and cantwell put a bill to the Senate to make all federal lands in Washington "wilderness areas". Give each parcel cool names .

On another note .....
When it comes to colville national Forest ,I hope the tribes do purchase it. We may not be able to hunt it. But it would stay prime habitat that would still be adjacent to public . If the tribe has ever wanted it,that chance might be realistic.

I hate to say ,trump has been a huge let down.
Mike Lee from Utah is a joke.

[elkboy]

Actionshooter is right- they get away with this once, they'll keep chipping away at our public lands. 

I agree that our public lands can be better managed.  But the solution isn't to sell it off to developers, mining interests, or wealthy adjacent landowners (do these Senators really think they're going to build affordable housing?!), the solution is to put better management in place. There is a lot we can do to improve the habitat value, resilience, and recreation potential of our public lands. And that doesn't exclude economic use like timber harvest or grazing.

[MR5x5]

Not sure where I stand on this yet as I haven't seen an accounting of perceived benefits and goals.  I appreciate that 3 million acres seems like a lot, but big numbers in big systems can be hard to wrap your head around.  For reference over 7 million acres were, and are currently,  removed from logging consideration due to spotted owl conservation.  Not really sure of the relevance, but it's a piece of perspective.  If I had my druthers I'd much prefer a solution that leverages economic value while maintaining access be that public or private ownership.

[nwmein199]

https://www.themeateater.com/conservation/public-lands-and-waters/this-map-shows-the-120-million-acres-of-public-land-that-could-be-sold-under

Washington will have 5,027,438 acres of USFS eligible for sale under this bill. I do not want to lose a single acre of public land in Washington.

They state the sale of these lands is for affordable housing - what I dont understand is how they are going to build affordable housing in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Seems the "affordable housing" is just a ruse to sell off our public lands to the highest bidder

[baldopepper]

Guess you have to also consider what is affordable housing. To a billionaire 500 acres with a multimillon home on it is affordable housing.  Obviously an extreme example, but to many smaller rural communities 100 acres of previously public land subdivided into quarter acre lots with homes in the half million dollar range is not affordable housing. Scenic acreage subdivided and sold for vacation second homes is not what most of us consider affordable homes either.  I can assure you this is the type of affordable housing Lee and his cohorts invision. Just picture a couple "affordable" housing subdivisions around Twisp, or Kettle Falls, or White Pass. Just get that land turned over to local control so it's much easier to manipulate restrictions is what these crooks want. Hunting/Fishing and other outdoor recreation control are only minor parts of what these guys want, but if they can figure a way to make money doing it they will.

[high_hunter]

Emails sent to Senators. Glad to see this picking up the attention and support of big names in the outdoor/hunting industry.

[actionshooter]

 Here is BHA's easy button...
https://www.backcountryhunters.org/bha_condemns_senate_proposal_to_sell_off_up_to_3_million_acres_of_public_lands

 Go to the Action Center

[cjjcb]

Thanks for the info on this. I emailed my local representative, it was super quick and easy.

This is in the hands of Murray and Cantwell. Not your local rep.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

After a quick Google search, looks like Murry and Cantwell have both come out in opposition to selling off public lands.

[MR5x5]

FWIW - Thia is a Grok Deep Search generated review of the primary pros and cons proposal.

https://grok.com/chat/570a1af6-bcc9-472d-99f3-e8367eddc828