In the Gem State, 32.4 million acres of publicly owned national forest and Bureau of Land Management lands provide fish and wildlife with irreplaceable habitat. Despite the immense value of America’s public lands, special interests are working hard in favor of the Idaho public lands transfer. If the state were to take over these lands, it is indisputable that important lands would be sold off and closed to hunting, fishing, and public access.
Idaho government officials and stakeholders realize that this idea is unworkable, and they are stepping up in support of America’s public lands legacy.
“I understand the importance of public land both to our wildlife and to the hunting and fishing public.”
-Idaho Governor Butch Otter
“Let me tell you why people live in Idaho…They live in Idaho because they love their public lands. They like access to them for recreation, for hunting and fishing, or all the activities they do on public lands.”
-U.S. Representative Mike Simpson
“states simply can’t afford the management costs. Once public lands are privatized, Americans will lose access to them, forever.”
-Jim Caswell, former head of Idaho’s Office of Species Conservation and former BLM Director under Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne
“We want that message to be crystal clear…Stakeholder groups in Blaine County have worked collaboratively, openly, and productively with the federal agencies for years on a range of issues.”
-Blaine County Commissioner Larry Schoen
Twin Falls Times-News editorialized in opposition to public lands transfer.
Idaho Press-Tribune editorialized in opposition to public lands transfer.
