Trout Unlimited launches month-long celebration of public lands
September is #publiclandsmonth
Trout Unlimited is devoting the month of September to celebrating America’s public lands and diving into the issues facing our hunting and fishing heritage. Starting Sept. 1, we will be taking the entire month to reflect on the connection we have to America’s public lands and the threats we all face that could rob us of our birthright.
“It’s no coincidence that National Hunting and Fishing Day and National Public Lands Day are both during September,” said Corey Fisher, senior policy director for Trout Unlimited’s Sportsmen’s Conservation Project. “The month is tailor-made for sportsmen and women and we are taking a month-long look at public lands and what they mean to us as hunters, anglers and Americans. In-between adventures casting to brown trout, bow-hunting elk and following pointing dogs, we are urging folks to contact their decision makers and advocate for policies that will protect our outdoor traditions.”
Each week TU will feature a different issue and include actions the public can take to help ensure decision makers understand public lands not only need to remain in public hands, but that issues like protecting roadless areas, reauthorizing the Land and Water Conservation Fund, requiring responsible energy development, and cleaning up abandoned mines are priorities for sportsmen and women.
“Public lands are the best idea America ever had. For those of us who want to fish and hunt without having to beg or buy permission, they are a gift,” said Chris Wood, CEO of Trout Unlimited. “Join us during September to learn about nearly 60 million acres of roadless lands that provide some of the finest fish and wildlife habitat and hunting and angling opportunities in the country, as well as threats to programs like the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which is used to acquire hunting and fishing access across the country.”
Public lands contain some of the best remaining trout and salmon watersheds in the entire United States and provide millions of sportsmen and women with world-class hunting and fishing opportunities. But the threats to our public lands – including national forests, wildlife refuges and parks – are as real as ever.
“September is a month full of hunting and fishing opportunities and there is perhaps no better time to get outside and enjoy our public lands,” Fisher said. “This is our public lands month, but we can’t take it for granted. We must continue to remind elected officials that we are counting on them to enact sound public land policy. These lands are our birthright as Americans, all 325 million of us, and it’s up to all of us to stand up for our heritage.”
Go to standup.tu.org for more information and take action to let decision makers know that public lands are the best idea ever.