Deer and deer hunters across the nation depend on our federal public lands. However, regardless of whether particular tracts are used by deer or deer hunters, the collective existence of our federal estate comprises a national treasure that must be carefully stewarded for future generations – not liquidated for short term gain.
While we are not currently faced with a specific proposal to sell off public land, we could be soon and want to make our position clear: Our public lands are not for sale and they never should be.
“We know that a high percentage of deer hunters rely on federal public lands to pursue America’s most sought-after game animal, myself included,” said Nick Pinizzotto, President and CEO of the National Deer Association. “Further, The National Deer Association has been actively working to improve this precious resource through our Public Lands Initiative that has already resulted in nearly 1 million acres of habitat and hunter access upgrades.”
For better or worse, the conservation community has experience dealing with occasional proposals to dispose of our federal estate, the history of which extends back to the beginnings of our modern federal land management institutions. No proposal has ever succeeded, which shows the widespread value of this national asset and our collective ability, as owners of that asset, to protect its ownership.
NDA stands firm on the principle that funds derived from worthy, thoughtful sale of certain parcels must be put towards the improvement of the overall federal estate.
Private landowners know well that land is worth far more than what it can be sold for. The same is true of public lands. There is immense and immeasurable value in wildlife habitat, places to explore, and landscapes that inspire a sense of awe. Rather than sell public lands – the results of which constitute one final derivation of value from these shared resources – we must strive to use them more wisely, thereby increasing their value today, tomorrow, and forever.
The National Deer Association is a proud steward of these resources. We work closely with the U.S. Forest Service and other federal land management agencies to accomplish necessary management, restoration, and conservation work on land that belongs to all of us, though there is surely more that must be done. We also believe that this work must be done better and faster, and that improvements must be made to the systems by which our government makes decisions about our land.
We further acknowledge that our federal public lands, like all real estate portfolios, may require sales, trades, transfers, and acquisitions to improve its collective value to its owners. However, current administrative authorities are sufficient to meet the needs of all public land users. NDA stands firm on the principle that funds derived from worthy, thoughtful sale of certain parcels must be put towards the improvement of the overall federal estate.
The National Deer Association remains vigilant for such proposals and stands ready to join our fellow hunters and conservationists, as well as our partners in agriculture, forestry, and industry, to ensure a prosperous future for all our federal lands.