That’s why, when we unveiled our first landlocked report at the 2018 TRCP Western Media Summit, we invited a local rancher and landowner from southwest Montana to speak about their experiences and give attendees a window into the reality of these challenges. Property owners shouldn’t be expected to provide access, though many generously do.Įven though the vast majority of sportsmen are ethical and conscientious, it’s important to recognize that allowing the public to hunt on or cross one’s land can result-because of the actions of an irresponsible minority-in property damage, disruptions to farm or ranch operations, and all sorts of complicated and time-consuming situations. Though many landlocked public lands could be accessed with permission from surrounding landowners, we don’t believe that this should be all on them. Many western landowners have also played important roles in opening public lands through creative voluntary efforts, including access easements, enrolling their lands into block management programs or similar access programs administered by the states, or simply saying “yes” if someone asks to access his or her property. In fact, the best-available tools with which land trusts, conservation groups, and state and federal agencies can tackle this challenge depend on engaging with private property owners who are willing to work towards a solution.Īfter all, many Western landowners are hunters themselves and care about the future of our outdoor heritage. In bringing attention to the scope of the landlocked public lands challenge across the West, we have never suggested that solutions for public-land users should conflict with the rights of landowners. At the same time, we know that private property rights-some of our nation’s most fundamental-are sacred, and landowners have always been some of the strongest allies for not only sportsmen and women but also fish and wildlife. First, we know that the future of hunting and fishing, conservation funding, and our $887-billion outdoor recreation economy depends on there being suitable public land access. Our work on the landlocked issue has always been guided by two fundamental premises. But because this is a sensitive subject, and there’s potential for misunderstanding, let’s dive a bit deeper into these solutions. There are a wide variety of strategies for opening up landlocked lands that rely on the cooperation of willing landowners and pose no threat to the property rights of others. Q: Would unlocking these inaccessible public lands require private landowners to give up their property? The answer will not only set minds at ease, but it will also help lessen any harsh divide between the sportsmen and women who need better public lands access and the Americans fortunate enough to own land that borders public land. Since we first started our work with onX on the issue of landlocked public lands, we’ve heard many variations on the same question-from the comments section of our blogs to discussions with partners and decision-makers. When it comes to improving access to landlocked public lands, we should work with-not against-private landowners
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