Public lands are our birthright. A conservation legacy passed down from generation to generation. We hunt, fish, hike, fall in love, and heal on our lands and waters. We use them to make a living or escape from the grind. That’s not just in Montana — it’s for everyone. Every single person enjoys the same rights to public lands, whether you’re from New Mexico or New York, Mississippi, or Montana.
Public lands are a key part of our heritage and a major economic engine that provides a wealth of natural resources that build and power our country. Public lands and waters support a $1.1 trillion outdoor recreation industry and 7.6 million jobs, many in rural communities that otherwise would have limited economic activity. They provide a place for low-cost grazing lands, which ensures ample and affordable meat to feed our people. Roughly 24% of domestic oil production and more than 800 mines operate on federal lands. These energy and mineral leases accounted for nearly $11 billion in royalties to federal coffers last year.
