Do you have what it takes to dare greatly like T.R.? “It is not the critic who counts…” You’ve likely heard this powerful quote—but do you know where it came from, or what Theodore Roosevelt was really saying about striving valiantly and daring greatly, even if you fail? Read the speech that inspired generations to step into the arena—then put your knowledge to the test with our ultimate Theodore Roosevelt trivia quiz. Ready to channel your inner Rough Rider? Read the speech and take the quiz now 👉 trcp.org/2011/01/18/it-is-no…

BLM Seeks Projects to Open Landlocked Public Land trcp.org/2026/10/22/blm-seek… The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is seeking projects that would open access to Dingell Act nominated lands and other inaccessible public parcels. The request follows September’s executive order directing federal land agencies to prioritize practical access to hard-to-reach federal lands and waters. For hunters and anglers, the effort targets a long-standing challenge that keeps millions of acres of public land out of reach. In 2018, a TRCP and onX analysis found 9.52 million acres of landlocked federal land across 13 western states, most of it managed by the BLM. Read the full blog: trcp.org/2026/10/22/blm-seek…

“How beautiful the leaves grow old. How full of light and color are their last days.” - John Burroughs 📸: Josh Metten Photo

On Nov. 10-11, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission will be making pivotal decisions that will shape the Atlantic menhaden fishery for years to come. The Commission's Menhaden Management Board will tackle three major questions: 1. How many menhaden should be harvested coastwide? 2. How should the menhaden reduction fishery be managed in Chesapeake Bay? 3. How should menhaden harvest access be divided among Atlantic states? The TRCP has been closely engaged in all three issues, advocating for science-based management that supports healthy fisheries and thriving coastal communities. Go to our blog to learn more 👉 trcp.org/2026/10/21/much-at-…

What the Senate’s Permitting Bill Could Mean for Hunters and Anglers trcp.org/2026/10/23/what-the… Few phrases put readers to sleep faster than “permitting reform.” But the rules that decide how a pipeline, transmission line, mine or dam gets approved also decide whether hunters and anglers have a say in where those projects go — and what happens to the elk winter range, trout stream or migration corridor in their path. On September 30, the leaders of the two Senate committees that handle these issues released the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026. It is the most significant permitting package Congress has considered in years, and a Senate vote is expected after lawmakers return in November. TRCP has long seen opportunity in a permitting reform deal—not only to move energy and infrastructure projects but to clear away unnecessary and duplicative barriers to habitat restoration that can be posed by the environmental review process. We share the goal of a more predictable and efficient process for approving projects and commend the bill’s sponsors for reaching a bipartisan compromise in several areas that would likely remove barriers to getting restoration work on the ground. Targeted revisions to key provisions would give TRCP greater confidence that the bill can achieve those goals without weakening conservation safeguards. Read more: trcp.org/2026/10/23/what-the…

Help Preserve American Waterfowl Habitat Many waterfowl hunters are opting to purchase two Federal Duck Stamps this year, rather than the single stamp required for hunting, because every purchase is a strong investment in conservation. A full 98% of the price of each stamp goes directly to acquiring and protecting waterfowl habitat and conservation easements. Plus, a second, physical duck stamp, like the ones our parents and grandparents once purchased each fall, can serve as a collector's item. Join other conservation-minded hunters from around the country, like TRCP’s Lower/Middle Mississippi River Representative, Ryan DuLaney, and buy one for the wallet, and one for the wall. Learn more: trcp.org/2026/10/09/one-for-… #MSwetlands #BuyTwoDuckStamps #DuckStamp #WaterfowlConservation #DuckHunting

The Bridger-Teton National Forest is revising its Forest Plan right now. Hunters and anglers need to speak up for the forest’s incredible hunting and fishing opportunities today. trcp.org/2026/10/19/big-drea… My first introduction to the Bridger-Teton National Forest was in 2018. I was on a summer work trip to Star Valley, Wyoming and with some extra time on my hands, I decided to head up a dusty Forest Service Road into the surrounding mountains. I was met with incredible views and the camaraderie of an old-timer who told me stories of hunting big mule deer in this beautiful terrain. He graciously invited me to return and hunt with him, so two weeks later I drove back from Laramie for a weekend bowhunting adventure. I was hooked on the Bridger-Teton after that. Read the full blog and take the survey to be entered in the gear giveaway! 👉 trcp.org/2026/10/19/big-drea…

Jaclyn Lunaas, TRCP’s forage fish manager, and Chris Macaluso, TRCP’s director of the Center for Fisheries and Mississippi River Program, joined the On The Water podcast to talk about the ASMFC’s upcoming decisions on menhaden management and why leaving more menhaden in the water matters for the striped bass, bluefish, weakfish and other fish anglers chase. Let the ASMFC know you want the coastwide menhaden catch quota reduced, and fairer reallocation between states and listen to the podcast here: onthewater.com/blitzes-lies-…

All Hunters Love Stories Some stories are worth telling twice. A morning chasing swamp rabbits in the Mississippi Delta reminds us that hunters speak the same language, no matter where we come from. Read the story here: trcp.org/2025/10/14/all-hunt…

“When you play, play hard.” – Theodore Roosevelt Through our collaboration with Withernot, a portion of every purchase of their Roughrider Rugby Shirt comes back to TRCP to support our mission of guaranteeing all Americans quality places to hunt and fish. Withernot’s rugby shirts are built to last, from the backcountry to the backyard and back again. Play hard while supporting conservation – it’s a win-win. Get your Roughrider Rugby Shirt at withernot.com/collections/ru…

TRCP Supports Colorado Amendment 83: Right to Hunt & Fish 🔗 trcp.org/2026/10/16/trcp-sup… Amendment 83 recognizes the essential value of hunting, fishing and keeping wildlife management grounded in science. For generations, hunters and anglers have helped fund wildlife management, habitat restoration, public access, species recovery, rural economic prosperity and outdoor recreation opportunities, which benefit all Coloradans. License fees and excise taxes hunters and anglers pay are a major source of funding for species and habitat conservation programs. “Hunting, fishing, and wildlife conservation are a major part of who we are as Coloradans, and hunters and anglers have long been partners in conserving the state’s fish and wildlife,” said Liz Rose, TRCP’s Colorado field representative. “Amendment 83 recognizes that role and helps ensure hunters and anglers continue to contribute to the conservation and management of wildlife in Colorado, through on-the-ground work and through the dollars they contribute.” Learn more: trcp.org/2026/10/16/trcp-sup…

One for the Wallet, One for the Wall TRCP staff like Aaron Field, director of private lands conservation, are joining hunters across the nation by purchasing two Federal Duck Stamps this year, rather than the single stamp required for hunting waterfowl. Besides a second duck stamp serving as a collector's item, every purchase is an investment in conservation, with a full 98% of the price of each stamp going directly to acquiring and protecting habitat and conservation easements through the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund. That means your dollars are actually spent protecting duck factories like the Prairie Potholes Region—breeding grounds that replenish America’s waterfowl populations. We've bought our two stamps. Now it’s your turn. Learn more: trcp.org/2026/10/09/one-for-… #BuyTwoDuckStamps #DuckStamp #WaterfowlConservation #DuckHunting #MSwetlands

Whether you hunt behind a springer, a lab, or your own two boots, pheasant season brings us all back to the same places and traditions we love. Who's getting ready for roosters?

Days like this are why we do the work. Clean water, healthy fish and access to public waters make a morning like this possible. A few TRCP staffers spent a day on a Montana river, a good reminder that this is work worth doing. 📸: James Wicks

Western Wetlands Benefit Wildlife, Wildland Firefighters, and Water Resources trcp.org/2026/10/08/western-… This past September, local, state, and Congressional representatives from Colorado saw firsthand how restoring mountain streams and wetlands can reduce wildfire risk, slow the flow of water across the landscape, and improve fish and wildlife habitat. Projects like this one on Soda Creek, near Dillon, CO fulfill many purposes, and are ever more important in a drought-parched landscape. “These kinds of projects make sense. Stream and wetland restoration can be cost-effective investments that improve watershed health and habitat availability, while also supporting fire preparedness and suppression efforts,” says @urn:li:person:pRRv_aiDMl, TRCP’s senior director of Western water. Read our latest blog to learn more.

TRCP Data Centers & Conservation Science Forum Sign up here! 👉 bit.ly/3To6iyp Join us for the third of four sessions, where Eric Sjostedt, Ph.D., and Lauren Bridges, Ph.D., will discuss "Infrastructure and Policy: The Virginia Case Study." As data center development accelerates across the United States, questions are emerging about the implications for water resources, energy demand, and land use. Through this four-part series, TRCP aims to convene leading experts to examine the scientific evidence, explore emerging challenges and opportunities, and foster informed dialogue that supports thoughtful conservation and natural resource decision-making.

Help Strengthen Chesapeake Bay Menhaden Protections trcp.org/action-alert/help-s… This November, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission will consider several management changes to the industrial menhaden reduction fishery in the Chesapeake Bay. One area of consideration is to allow less menhaden harvest earlier in the season to protect predators like ospreys and striped bass, rather than “reduce” them into livestock feed and diet supplements. But having seasonal quota limits must actually MEAN something, by also penalizing the reduction industry if it overharvests during any quota periods and deducting catch allowances in the following year. Sign a petition to let the ASMFC know that overfishing must be penalized, and that you support better menhaden management in the Chesapeake Bay. Sign our petition 👉 trcp.org/action-alert/help-s… 📸: CosmoVision Media

TRCP Welcomes Opening of Wildlife Crossings Grants trcp.org/2026/10/02/trcp-wel… The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced on Sept. 30 that applications are being accepted for the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program. Approximately $80 million is now available for projects that keep elk, mule deer, and pronghorn migrations intact, reconnect trout streams and make roads safer for drivers. Proposals are due Nov. 16, 2026. “Wildlife crossings are one of the clearest examples of a project that makes roads safer for families and keeps big game herds on the move,” said Madeleine West, TRCP’s vice president of Western conservation. “TRCP has worked alongside states, Tribes and partners for years to advance crossings because they deliver for everyone, from commuters and rural communities to the hunters and anglers who depend on healthy herds and connected streams. We’re encouraged to see this new round of funding open and look forward to the projects it will put on the ground.” Learn more: trcp.org/2026/10/02/trcp-wel…

There's nothing like a crisp fall morning on the river. Where are you wetting a line this fall? 📸: James Wicks

Charting a Course for Public Access The MAPOceans Act is now law. Signed by the president after clearing Congress with bipartisan support, it requires NOAA to digitize fishing and boating rules for federal waters. It's also the third win in a broader effort TRCP has helped lead since 2022. The MAPLand Act digitized access records on public land. The MAPWaters Act, signed into law last December, did the same for rivers and lakes. MAPOceans extends that work offshore. One bill remains: the MAP Roads Act, which is still working its way through the House and Senate. Each of these solves the same basic problem for hunters and anglers - knowing where you're allowed to go, and what the rules are once you get there. TRCP has been at the table for all of it. Learn more about TRCP's work to improve your access to public lands and waters by visiting trcp.org/mapping-access/

Help Strengthen Chesapeake Bay Menhaden Protections trcp.org/action-alert/help-s… Atlantic menhaden are baitfish that provide a necessary foundation for healthy ecosystems, preyed on by numerous predators. This fall, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has an opportunity to cut the Chesapeake Bay's industrial menhaden harvest to protect sportfish and other predators, and in turn support coastal communities through a smarter, more precautionary management system. An important consideration the Commission will weigh deals with making sure the Bay menhaden management system is more adaptable, by requiring fishery managers to revisit the Bay Cap on menhaden harvest every 3 years. Let the ASMFC know you support a provision ensuring that managers keep decisions in line with the latest science. Sign our petition 👉 trcp.org/action-alert/help-s… 📸: @HamptonsDrone