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Representative Steve Daines is continuing his fight to protect and preserve Montana’s outdoors heritage by working toward bipartisan solutions that promote access to public lands for Montana sportsmen.

A priority for Daines, an avid sportsman and member of the bipartisan Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, has been to improve the federal government’s stewardship of our public lands. Following meetings last week with Montana sportsmen groups, Daines introduced H.R. 3962, the Making Public Lands Public Access Act, to utilize Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) monies to increase Montanans’ opportunities to enjoy hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation through greater access to public lands.

“As a fifth-generation Montanan and sportsman, I know the importance of protecting and preserving Montana’s outdoors heritage,” Daines stated. “Hunting, fishing, and hiking on our public lands are important parts of many Montanans’ way of life, and traditions I’ve enjoyed sharing with my kids. But almost 2 million acres of public lands in Montana are inaccessible to the public.”

“This is unacceptable. I strongly believe we must ensure the public has access to the public lands we already have,” Daines continued. “There is strong, bipartisan agreement that the Land and Water Conservation Fund can play an important role in increasing access to these lands. That’s what the Making Public Lands Public Access Act will do. My bill seeks to increase Montanans’ opportunities to enjoy outdoor recreation and ensure that our public lands truly are public.”

Last week, Daines met with Montana sportsmen and representatives from Ducks Unlimited, the Mule Deer Foundation, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Pheasants Forever, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, and Boone and Crockett to discuss the importance of LWCF and ways to allow for greater access to Montana’s public lands.

Daines’ bill directs the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior to use at least 1.5 percent of LWCF resources each year to improve access to existing public lands, through projects like easements and rights of way coordinated with willing sellers. A similar provision is included in S. 1660, the SPORT Act, a measure cosponsored by Montana Senator Jon Tester.

Daines’ bill and continued efforts to increase Montanans’ access to public lands has received strong support from numerous Montana sportsmen and conservation groups.

“As an avid hunter and outdoorsman, Representative Daines knows how important access is to sportsmen. Montana is like many western states where there are large tracts of public lands that are now blocked by private lands and too many hunters are finding closed gates cutting off access to areas where they used to hunt,” commented Miles Moretti, President of the Mule Deer Foundation.

“Sportsmen and women want the Forest Service and BLM to provide better access to our national forests and BLM lands for hunting and fishing. Congressman Daines is tackling this problem head on with this bill,” said Bill Demmer, president of the Boone and Crockett Club. Additionally, Demmer praised Daines for “his deep commitment to enhancing hunting opportunities on our public lands.”

“American hunters and anglers continually cite that access to our public land resources needs to be improved,” added Melissa Simpson, Director of Government Affairs and Science Based Conservation for the Safari Club. “Congressman Daines’ introduction of the Making Public Lands Public legislation takes a decisive step to open millions of acres for recreation. We are grateful to Congressman Daines who continues the fight to protect our freedom to hunt.”

“Nearly half of all hunters conduct a portion of their hunting activity on public lands and lack of access is cited as the primary reason that hunters, anglers and target shooters stop participating in these traditional activities,” said Larry Keane, National Shooting Sports Foundation senior vice president and general counsel. “Opening access to the public lands that U.S. citizens own is not only vital to preserving America’s sporting heritage, but it will also serve to benefit the economy.”