On May 5, Senators Jon Tester (MT) and James Risch (ID) introduced legislation intended to increase hunter/angler access to federal public lands.The Making Public Lands Public Act, S. 901, would designate at least 1.5 percent of Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) dollars towards acquisitions or easements that would increase recreational access to existing federal public lands, reports the Wildlife Management Institute.

"Montana's public lands are some of the best in the world, and they're where we pass on our outdoor traditions to our kids and grandkids," said Tester, Cochair of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus. "But we're seeing too much of this land blocked, surrounded by private land with closed gates. Montanans who own land are good neighbors. Most are good partners in our fight for public access, and this responsible bill builds on that partnership."

The Making Public Lands Public campaign has been a priority for groups that participate within the ad hoc American Wildlife Conservation Partners because federal public lands are an important destination for hunting and angling. A 2004 report to the House Appropriations Committee, stimulated by a Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation report, concluded that more than 35 million acres of U.S. Bureau of Land Management and U.S Forest Service land are inadequately accessible.

Many of the identified access issues could be resolved through willing-seller acquisitions or easements on small properties that could enable recreation means to reach previously landlocked federal lands. However, these small projects often do not fare well within the established process for prioritizing LWCF acquisitions. The vision of the Making Public Lands Public Act is to create a separate priority list for access projects and designate funding to ensure they are accomplished.

"This legislation is an important step in opening access to federal land that is currently inaccessible or significantly restricted to sportsmen's activities," said Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation President Jeff Crane. "Access to quality habitat is a key to the future of our sportsman's way of life, and this bill will directly improve access to more public lands so all Americans can enjoy the great outdoor traditions of hunting and fishing."

The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and a companion bill is anticipated in the U.S. House of Representatives. (jas)