News - Montana Wildlife Federation

New Report: A Federal Land Transfer Could Cost Montanans $8 Billion

October 21, 2025April 15, 2025 by Cameron Evans

Montana’s public lands define who we are. They’re where we hunt, fish, hike, and pass down our outdoor traditions and way of life to our families. They support our economy, sustain our wildlife, and connect us to the places we love most.

But a new report released today warns that a growing political movement to transfer federal public lands to state control could devastate Montana’s economy, upend public access, and put our outdoor way of life at risk.

Read the report here.

The report, authored by longtime state and federal land manager John Tubbs, was developed in partnership with the Montana Wildlife Federation, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, Montana Conservation Voters Education Fund, and Mountain Mamas. It offers the most comprehensive look yet at what a federal land transfer would actually cost Montana—and the numbers are staggering.

The Bottom Line: $7.9 Billion

According to the report, if Montana were to take over the responsibility of managing federal public lands currently overseen by agencies like the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, it would come with a conservatively estimated $7.9 billion price tag over the next 20 years.

That includes:

$5.5 billion in wildfire suppression and mitigation
$1 billion in abandoned mine cleanup
$623 million in deferred infrastructure maintenance (roads, bridges, trails, campgrounds)
An annual loss of $40 million in federal PILT (Payments in Lieu of Taxes) that counties depend on for schools, emergency services, and road crews
A 1,600% increase in grazing fees for Montana ranchers

These costs would fall squarely on the shoulders of Montana taxpayers—many of whom already live in rural areas with limited tax bases. The state does not currently have the infrastructure, personnel, or budget to manage these lands at the scale and level the federal government provides.

And if the state can’t afford the cost? It would likely be forced to sell those lands off to the highest bidder.

More Than Just Numbers

The report goes beyond dollars and cents. It paints a clear picture of what’s at stake if this movement succeeds: restricted access, lost wildlife habitat, and diminished public oversight of lands that currently belong to every American.

“Montanans should be aware of the staggering financial and economic toll a federal land transfer would take on taxpayers, our state, and our outdoor way of life,” said John Tubbs. “This research shows how the land transfer movement would both send our state’s economy into a tailspin and open the door for privatization of public lands. These impacts would be unsustainable—and irreversible.”

It’s not just the cost of managing the land. It’s the loss of what that land provides: wildlife corridors, hunting opportunities, intact habitat, clean water, and freedom to roam. These are the pillars of Montana’s $5.4 billion outdoor recreation economy and the foundation of our public land heritage.

Why Now?

The land transfer movement is gaining momentum. We’ve seen a renewed push to move federal lands into state hands or open them up for sale.

Recent examples include:

The Department of Housing and Urban Development and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum proposing public land sales as part of affordable housing strategies
Congressional rule changes aimed at expediting development and reducing public oversight on federal lands
State-level resolutions, including in Montana, have attempted to support lawsuits like Utah’s effort to seize federal lands
A wave of federal bills pushing for land transfers or outright liquidation of public assets

This report makes it clear: this isn’t a hypothetical. It’s already underway.

What We Stand to Lose

If Montana were to absorb the management of federal lands without the accompanying federal support, it would quickly face an impossible choice: raise taxes dramatically, cut vital public services, or sell off public lands.

And once they’re gone, we don’t get them back.

Transferring ownership or management of federal public lands would undercut the very systems that have made Montana a leader in wildlife management, public access, and land stewardship. It would undermine generations of work by hunters, anglers, landowners, and conservationists who’ve fought to keep these places open, productive, and wild.

At Montana Wildlife Federation, we believe that public lands should stay in public hands—and that Montanans shouldn’t have to pay more just to lose what’s already ours. We’re proud to stand alongside partners like BHA, Mountain Mamas, and MCV Education Fund in co-releasing this report and sounding the alarm on what’s at stake.

Support HB 932: Montana’s Smartest Conservation Investment

October 21, 2025April 12, 2025 by Cameron Evans

Tell your legislators: Support HB 932.

Montana’s outdoors depend on it.

Montana’s wildlife, working lands, and outdoor heritage are central to who we are. The rivers we fish, the ranges we hunt, and the open spaces we roam all require ongoing stewardship. Keeping this land wild, working, and accessible takes funding, coordination, and a long-term strategy.

The Habitat Legacy Account—established by HB 932—delivers just that.

At its core, the Habitat Legacy Account is designed to support and strengthen the very programs that keep Montana’s wildlife habitat healthy, its working lands productive, and its outdoor traditions alive. Here’s how it works, what it funds, and why it matters.

Why It Matters

Montana has many tools to conserve public and private lands, but we lack one critical tool: A robust funding mechanism to restore our land, wildlife and water resources in the face of drought, wildfire, invasive species and deteriorating wildlife habitat conditions.

In 2021, the Montana Legislature passed HB 701, which allocated 20% of the state’s recreational marijuana tax revenue to Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Habitat Montana program. This was a step forward, but as conservation challenges have grown more complex and more urgent, stakeholders recognized the need to build on that success and create something more flexible with even broader reach.

The Habitat Legacy Account is a historic opportunity to channel Montana’s marijuana tax revenue into a suite of Montana’s most important conservation and access programs—expanding their reach, increasing flexibility, and ensuring long-term funding stability.

Creating the Habitat Legacy Account

The Montana legislature is currently considering two legislative proposals to establish the Habitat Legacy Account, House Bill 932, sponsored by Rep. Ken Walsh, R-Twin Bridges, and Senate Bill 537, sponsored by Sen. Daniel Zolnikov, R-Billings.

The proposals uphold the conservation funding allocated by the Montana Legislature in 2021 and are supported by Montana’s conservation and hunting communities. It would ensure that the Habitat Legacy Account is properly funded, allowing for a more comprehensive and flexible approach to land, wildlife and water conservation.

What the Habitat Legacy Account Would Fund

The Habitat Legacy Account is a long-term commitment to ensuring conservation keeps pace with the demands on our land and water. Key focus areas include the following:

1. Habitat Montana

The Habitat Montana program is one of the most successful tools in the state for wildlife conservation and public access. It funds both short-term and perpetual conservation easements, FWP land acquisitions, and access improvements.

Thanks to Habitat Montana, projects like the Big Snowy Mountains Wildlife Management Area—providing access to nearly 100,000 acres of public land—and the Montana Great Outdoors Project in northwest Montana have preserved critical habitat while opening up new ground for hunters, anglers, and other recreationists. The Habitat Legacy Account ensures Habitat Montana has the funding it needs to continue seizing big opportunities as they arise, including habitat leasing and partnerships with willing landowners.

Screenshot 2025 04 12 at 9.28.04 PM — Using funding from the Habitat Montana program, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks secured nearly 6,000 acres of native prairie and foothill habitat at the base of the Big Snowies to create a new Wildlife Management Area. The WMA opens access to nearly 100,000 acres of previously landlocked public land, provides critical year-round range for elk, deer, and antelope, and protects some of the state’s most intact native grassland and conifer woodland ecosystems. Photo from Montana FWP.

2. WHIP Legacy Expansion

The Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program (WHIP) has already played a role in tackling noxious weeds and improving habitat on both public and private land. But the scope of the program has been narrow—until now.

A Habitat Legacy Account would expand WHIP through the new WHIP Legacy initiative, funding landscape-scale restoration and stewardship work across rural Montana. The program would support ranchers, Tribes, conservation districts, local governments, hunters, and nonprofits in their efforts to heal degraded land and improve fish and wildlife habitat.

Eligible projects would include the following:

Rangeland and soil restoration
Invasive species removal
Fence modifications for improved wildlife movement
Water retention and development
Aspen and wetland enhancement
Fish passage and irrigation upgrades

These types of projects directly improve wildlife habitat and water quality, while helping working lands stay productive. Importantly, this program puts funding in the hands of people who know the land best—those who live and work on it.

3. Wildlife Crossings

Montana ranks second in the nation for wildlife-vehicle collisions. Every year, more than 6,000 big game animals are struck and killed on our roads. These crashes cost Montanans more than $119 million annually in vehicle damages, injuries, and emergency services. Worse still, they threaten the health of our big game herds and the safety of our communities.

The Habitat Legacy Account would create a dedicated funding stream for wildlife accommodations—overpasses, underpasses, and fencing that allow animals to safely cross highways and keep drivers safe. According to recent surveys, 77% of Montanans support more investments in wildlife crossings. With this bill, we can turn that public support into action.

Wildlife crossings are also cost-efficient. By helping species like elk, deer, moose, bears and pronghorn move safely across the landscape, these structures improve long-term herd vitality and prevent roadkill-related costs. They’re a win-win for wildlife and public safety.

Why Now?

Montana has many tools for conserving public and private lands, but we lack one essential piece: a robust, reliable funding mechanism for habitat stewardship. With changing climate conditions and growing land-use pressures, we can’t afford to wait.

The Habitat Legacy Account fills that gap by creating a framework that’s flexible, efficient, and grounded in local knowledge. It supports the people who know the land best—ranchers, Tribes, land managers, hunters, and conservationists—and gives us the tools to get the work done.

Take Action

Montanans overwhelmingly support conservation, wildlife, and access. HB 932 proposes strategic, common-sense investments in all three legs of the stool.

Contact your legislators and urge them to support HB 932. It’s how we keep Montana wild, working, and open for the next generation.

To provide testimony and/or written comments, visit https://participate.legmt.gov. You can also send a message to legislators through the public participation portal.

MWF Supports Public Land and Wildlife Professionals

February 20, 2025February 17, 2025 by Frank Szollosi

The Montana Wildlife Federation roots trace back to 1936 when hunters, anglers and other conservationists joined landowners to address the loss of Montana’s natural lands, healthy waters and abundant wildlife. Since then, MWF has championed scientific wildlife management and fought to conserve the great natural resources found in this state and wildlife populations have rebounded. This legacy is maintained through our dedicated staff and volunteers, and our steadfast support of wildlife and habitat professionals within both the public and private sectors.

Federal Workforce Under Attack

Earlier this month, the Montana Wildlife Federation sent a letter to our four-person federal delegation, voicing concern for federal workers, especially those who provide valuable services supporting wildlife, habitat and public access.

ince then, thousands of federal employees have been terminated from key agencies, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and departments that assist farmers, ranchers, veterans, tribes, and rural communities. These are the people who manage our public lands, protect endangered species, restore habitat, and ensure outdoor access for Montanans—and their absence is already having dire consequences.

Fortunately, the judicial branch has intervened in multiple cases, preventing further erosion of federal law, the U.S. Constitution, and the integrity of our public workforce. However, the damage is already being felt on the ground.

Conservation Efforts Stalled

In addition, conservation projects in Montana have already been negatively impacted by the Administration’s freezing of federal funding, in abject contradiction to acts of Congress. Governor Greg Gianforte has issued a statewide temporary stop work order through the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation: 20250211_Temporary Pause on Federally Funded DNRC Projects_Letter (002) (1) (1)

We repeat our call for Montana’s federal legislators to step up, act to protect science and our federal workforce and provide Congressional oversight.

As of February 17—President’s Day—we have only received a response from Senator Steve Daines. His response ignores our concerns about how politicians, unelected billionaires, and their unqualified minions are threatening and bullying federal agencies and federal employees.

MWF’s Four Core Asks of Our Congressional Leadership:

1 Insist that the federal civil service remain non-partisan and that political operatives not be inserted into career civil service positions.

2. Defend the impartiality of public service.

3. Promote a positive work environment where employees are not subject to threats to their employment that have nothing to do with job performance.

4. Conduct appropriate oversight of political or self-dealing tampering with career civil service jobs and hiring and firing of government employees.

Attached is our letter and the Daines response.

We’ll gladly share responses from Senator Sheehy and Representatives Zinke and Downing should we receive them.

MWF letter in support of career federal employees (1)

Contact Montana’s Congressional Delegation:

It is critically important that every one of us who cares about Montana SPEAK UP TO OUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES to help our friends and neighbors who work for agencies and are now being fired and whose careers are at an end. Please call and tell them what you think and ask that they reverse this destruction of our agencies and our Montana way of life.

Senator Steve Daines: 202-244-3121 DC or 406-453-0148 Great Falls

Senator Tim Sheehy: 202-224-2644 DC or 406-452-9587 Great Falls

Representative Ryan Zinke: 202-225-5628 DC or 406-413-6720 Bozeman

Representative Troy Downing: 202-225-3211 DC or in-state 406-413-6720

Supreme Court Rejects Utah’s Attempt to Take Over Public Lands

October 21, 2025January 14, 2025 by Cameron Evans

The U.S. Supreme Court has delivered a victory for conservation Monday, refusing to hear Utah’s attempt to seize control of nearly 18.5 million acres of federally managed public lands. While the court’s decision blocks this particular lawsuit, it comes amid escalating efforts to transfer or sell public lands under state control, posing significant risks to the landscapes, wildlife, and access cherished by hunters, anglers and outdoor enthusiasts.

“Utah’s lawsuit is nothing more than an attempt to acquire lands to sell off to the highest bidder. Montanans love these lands. They are critical for wildlife, hunters, anglers, ranchers, and rural communities,” said Frank Szollosi, executive director of the Montana Wildlife Federation.

Utah’s lawsuit, backed by a dozen other states, aimed to transfer federal lands used for grazing, energy production, and recreation into state hands. This would open the door to privatization, degradation and the sale of lands to the highest bidder.

MWF appreciates Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, Attorney General Austin Knudsen, and our Congressional delegation for recognizing that these arguments have no legal merit. But the fight isn’t over, and we must remain vigilant to protect our public lands.

With a new Congress adopting rules to make public land transfers easier and Utah signaling readiness to refile the case in a lower court, threats to public lands remain. These efforts could strip protections from millions of acres, jeopardizing wildlife habitat, rural economies, and public access to lands that belong to all Americans.

Monday’s decision by the Supreme Court comes as the newly Republican-controlled Congress adopted a rules package that includes language allowing lawmakers to more easily transfer or sell off public lands managed by federal agencies. The rules consider public lands to have no monetary value, meaning lawmakers will no longer need to account for lost revenue if they decide to give parcels to states or extractive industries.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, Senate President Stuart Adams, House Speaker Mike Schultz and Attorney General Derek Brown said they were disappointed in the court’s decision, but noted that the decision does not prevent the state from filing the case in federal district court in the future.

“We are also heartened to know the incoming [Trump] administration shares our commitments to the principle of ‘multiple use’ for these federal lands and is committed to working with us to improve land management,” they said in a Monday statement. “We will continue to fight to keep public lands in public hands because it is our stewardship, heritage and home.”

What’s Next?

The Montana Wildlife Federation is committed to defending public lands and the values they represent. We’ll continue to track developments and fight against any attempts to privatize or degrade the landscapes that define Montana and the West. Thank you to everyone who has taken action, signed petitions and spoken out on this issue. Your voices are crucial in ensuring these lands remain public for generations to come.

As the U.S. Senate prepares for Doug Burgum’s confirmation hearing as Secretary of the Interior this week, the Montana Wildlife Federation (MWF) sent an open letter to Senator Steve Daines and Senator Tim Sheehy urging them to prioritize Montana’s conservation and public land, wildlife, and access in their decision-making.

With nearly 27 million acres of federal public lands, including iconic destinations like Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks, outdoor recreation is a cornerstone of Montana’s economy and integral to its way of life. A U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis report from November highlights the economic significance of outdoor recreation, which contributed $3.4 billion to the state’s economy in 2023 and accounted for 4.6% of Montana’s GDP.

“We encourage our Senators to ask the nominee if he supports Utah’s wholesale federal land transfer scheme. As it stands, Burgum’s nomination comes with a clear directive to put oil and gas drilling above all other uses of public lands, which would be detrimental to our state’s economy and way of life,” said Frank Szollosi, Executive Director of MWF. “We urge Senator Daines and Senator Sheehy to protect the $3.4 billion economic engine our public lands provide in Montana and seek commitments to safeguard our economy, wildlife, and way of life as they consider Governor Burgum for Interior Secretary.”

Public interest in Montana aligns with conservation goals. Seventy-seven percent of Montanans statewide and 82% in Southwest Montana support prioritizing conservation of lands near rivers and streams or with threatened wildlife, on par with oil and gas drilling, according to a recent poll conducted by New Bridge Strategy that MWF commissioned. The poll surveyed Montanans statewide and found that 69% of Montanans favor leasing in areas with a high likelihood of oil and gas production, avoiding speculative leasing that ties up public lands unnecessarily.

The Department of Interior oversees more than 500 million acres of federal public lands and hunters and anglers don’t believe that decisions about public land management should favor extractive industries over rural families, Indigenous communities, wildlife, public access, sustainable recreation, and conservation.

MWF sent the following letter to Senator Steve Daines and Senator Tim Sheehy:

January 14, 2025

Dear Senator Tim Sheehy,

On behalf of the Montana Wildlife Federation, we urge you to prioritize Montana’s public lands and wildlife conservation programs as you begin the 119th Congress. This week, former North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum’s Secretary of the Interior confirmation hearing is scheduled. As you can meet with the nominee, we encourage you to seek commitments from Governor Bergum to safeguard Montana’s wildlife, habitat, access, outdoor heritage, and economy. Critical species such as sage grouse, wolves, grizzlies, wolverines, grayling, bull trout, and lynx are of particular concern. Collaboration between the DOI, sovereign tribes, and Montana is fundamental to resolving conflicts. Key habitat and wildlife management – driven by science and ethics – will require commitment and leadership from the Department of Interior and its agencies.

Montana’s public lands are integral to our way of life and our economy. With 27 million acres of federal public land, including Glacier and Yellowstone National Park, outdoor recreation is a pillar of Montana’s economy and way of life. In 2023, outdoor recreation-adjacent business accounted for 4.6% of Montana’s gross domestic product (GDP) and added $3.4 billion to our state’s economy, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis report released in November. Governor Bergum’s known ties to extractive industries raise concerns about conservation priorities. Please ask Governor Bergum not to prioritize oil and gas extraction on public lands that undergird such a critical element of Montana’s economy.

Montanans across the aisle value conservation. A recent University of Montana poll shows that more than 70% of Montanans—across all political affiliations—prioritize conservation and want it to have equal footing with extractive industries. Additionally, many Montanans are concerned about the impacts of development on the quality of life that makes our state so special.

As you know, Utah has sought to take over all federal lands in that state. We encourage you to press Mr. Burgum and forcefully oppose transferring federal lands to the states. Any proposal leading to a wholesale public lands sale is anathema to Montana’s sporting community. Please ask Doug Bergum if he supports Utah’s wholesale federal public land transfer bid.

Montanans are depending on you to defend our values. By prioritizing conservation, public land, wildlife, and access, you can help ensure that future generations enjoy the Last Best Place and that Montana continues to thrive as a leader in outdoor recreation and stewardship. We hope you will meet with Montana’s conservation community in the coming months to discuss these priorities.

Thank you for your time and your service to our state.

Protecting Montana’s Public Lands from Utah’s Land Grab

November 18, 2024November 18, 2024 by Frank Szollosi

Utah politicians have a history of trying to sell off public land to benefit the real estate developers and extractive industries that fund them. Recently, the State of Utah filed a lawsuit in the United States Supreme Court, aiming to seize control of 18.5 million acres of America’s public lands within the state’s borders. And now 13 other states have joined in support of it. But not the State of Montana. Thanks, Governor and Attorney General, let’s keep it that way.

While Utah claims it only wants to manage these lands, history shows that—when given the opportunity—it opens the door to massive sell-offs of public lands to private interests. Let’s not mince words: Utah’s ultimate goal is to sell off all federal public lands to the highest bidder at the expense of wildlife, habitat and public access. If this effort succeeds, it could jeopardize the future of public lands everywhere, especially across the West and here in Montana.

Utah’s lawsuit claims the federal government can constitutionally only own property for military bases and the nation’s capital. By that logic, the federal government couldn’t own any Bureau of Land Management lands, national forests, national parks, monuments, or wildlife refuges across the United States.

The consequences would be devastating. Ranchers could find grazing fees much, much higher. Our state budget would be burdened with millions of dollars in new obligations for fire suppression and extractive industry permitting. Rural communities would face even greater disruption as prized parcels get sold to and developed by absentee landowners. Wildlife habitat and migration routes would be further compromised. And the access to public lands and waters we treasure here in Montana could be lost forever.

This is our call to action. Sign this petition encouraging Montana Governor Greg Gianforte and Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen to stand firm and reject Utah’s public land heist.

We’ll make sure your voices are heard. The petition will be delivered to Montana’s Governor and Attorney General, shared with all 150 incoming Montana State Senators and Representatives convening in Helena in January 2025, and sent to our new Congressional delegation and the incoming Trump Administration.

We’ll also keep you posted on the latest developments of this extraordinary test of character of Montana elected officials.