Wyoming decision makers and stakeholders are speaking out against public lands takeover

In the Cowboy State, 27.6 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 Wyoming 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.

Wyoming government officials and stakeholders realize that this idea is unworkable, and they are stepping up in support of America’s public lands legacy.

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“If you get this stuff into state hands, it is not going to be available because the state would have the power to dispose of it, and when they get in a crunch
— like all of them are — they are going to peddle it off and put it into the coffer, not thinking of what that does to the guys like you and me who know where this trail is into the fishing hole, hunting spot, or backpacking area…”

-Former Senator Al Simpson

“It is unrealistic to expect the state would be able to afford the management of those federal lands… I just don’t buy it.”

-Sweetwater County Commission Chairman Reid West

The concept of public land is distinctly American, a direct result of our forebears living in places where a person could be punished or even killed for entering the ‘king’s forest’ or hunting the ‘king’s deer.’”

-Joshua Coursey, Muley Fanatic Foundation Co-Founder and President

Here’s who else stands with sportsmen

Wyoming report says state management of public land unlikely to save money

Albany County, representing 37,800 Wyoming residents, has formally opposed a public lands transfer.

Town of Jackson, representing 10,000 Wyoming residents, has formally opposed a public lands transfer.

Sweetwater County, representing 45,000 Wyoming residents, has formally opposed a public lands transfer.

Teton County, representing 23,000 Wyoming residents, has formally opposed a public lands transfer.

The Wyoming Sportsmen’s Alliance, representing 30,000 sportsmen in Wyoming, has formally opposed a public lands transfer.

These 115 hunting, fishing, wildlife, and conservation groups and businesses across the country are opposed to the sale or transfer of our public lands.

Casper Star-Tribune, Wyoming’s statewide newspaper, editorialized in opposition to public lands transfer.

Wyoming Tribune Eagle urged the legislature to listen to the public and stop pushing for public land transfer.

Wyoming’s Governor Matt Mead says, “the transfer of federal public land to the state is legally and financially impractical.”