Giants of Conservation Rally For Public Lands

Giants of Conservation Rally For Public Lands

Conservation and democracy are among America’s most enduring principles. In fact, no other nation enjoys the vast array of national parks, monuments, wildlife refuges, rangelands, forests, rivers, and wilderness as the United States. The deed on a big part of this public lands inheritance dates back to a veteran and Medal of Honor recipient, Theodore Roosevelt.[1]

Roosevelt would be proud that today his legacy is being upheld by fellow veterans like BHA’s Armed Forces Initiative (AFI) members, who proclaim loudly and proudly, our “mission is conservation.” In a June 2025 Greeley Tribune letter to the editor (“Hunters are the next endangered species,” 6/7/25) I quoted U.S. Marine Corps veteran and AFI board member Garrett Robinson.[2]

“As a Marine, I dedicated my career to defending the United States against foreign threats. But it’s unsettling to see domestic threats to the same public lands I fought to protect,” Garrett wrote in the Spring 2025 Backcountry Journal. “It’s an affront to everything I believe … These lands belong to all Americans, held in trust for current and future generations. Seeing them threatened by short-sighted interests is deeply troubling.”[3]

“Timid souls neither know victory nor defeat,” Teddy Roosevelt said in his 1910 “Man-in-the-Arena” speech. It is quoted often, but I never tire of the words. Roosevelt was a bold leader who advocated for a uniquely American approach to conservation, a legacy we are now entrusted with protecting and perpetuation for future generations.

Garrett spoke at BHA’s North American Rendezvous in Missoula during the Rally For Public Lands (on June 15). He shared a story of military service, love of the outdoors, redemption, and hope. He drew a line in the sand on public land sales and urged us to be “giants” of conservation, like Roosevelt and so many others who came before us.[4] We won’t let him (or them) down.

I recall a Winston Churchill quote: “It’s not good enough that we do our best; sometimes we have to do what’s required.”[5] We’ve kept our powder dry long enough. Now’s the time to show up and speak up: Loudly. Clearly. And without compromise. Here’s how we can fight back on behalf of every public landowner. 

Even if you’ve called your Senator’s office (Washington, DC and/or local offices), DO IT AGAIN! Then again the next day, and the next day. The more ALL (R+D) Senators hear from us the better! They ALL need to feel the heat!!

1.) Call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to speak to your Senator. 

2.) Tell your Senator: “My name is [your name], and I’m a public land hunter and angler. I’m calling to urge you to oppose any public land sales in the budget reconciliation bill. These lands belong to all Americans. This process has been rushed, and the public deserves better. Keep public lands in public hands.” 

3.) Then follow up with an email at BHA’s Action Center.

4.) Repeat 1. & 2. (in particular) daily if/as necessary.

“The only equality in this world is that we’re all given the gift of life and have an opportunity to do something with it,” Cameron J. Kirby wrote in the Winter 2025 Backcountry Journal.[6] If you aren’t already doing something, now’s a good time to start.

I can think of nothing better to do with my life than to fight this public lands battle with every ounce of energy, perseverance, and ingenuity I can muster; to take the initiative and raise hell on behalf of our wild public lands, waters, and wildlife alongside this indomitable BHA tribe. Join us!

David Lien is co-chair of Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, a former Air Force missile launch officer, and author.[7] In 2014 he was recognized by Field & Stream as a “Hero of Conservation.”[8] During 2019 he was the recipient of BHA’s Mike Beagle-Chairman’s Award “for outstanding effort on behalf of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers.”[9]

“There is nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer.”

-General Jimmy Doolittle

Additional Information/Resources

-BHA’s Armed Forces Initiative. “Armed Forces Initiative-Get Involved.”

-Take Action: https://www.backcountryhunters.org/take_action#/

-The billionaires will be back, and we’ll be here waiting. Join us! https://www.backcountryhunters.org/join

-United We Stand-Fuel the Fight!

https://www.backcountryhunters.org/united_we_stand_donate

-Randy Newberg (6/15/25). “Millions of Acres at Risk – Unless We Act NOW!”

-Randy Newberg: Fresh Tracks (6/12/25). “This is Not a Drill | Fresh Tracks Weekly (Ep. 102).”

-“Armed Forces Initiative Helps Veterans Hunt … And More.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 8/17/22.

[1] David A. Lien. “Armed Forces Initiative Helps Veterans Hunt … And More.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 8/17/22.

[2] David A. Lien. “Hunters are the next endangered species.” Greeley Tribune: 6/7/25.

[3] Garrett Robinson. “Faces of BHA.” Backcountry Journal: Spring 2025, p. 19.

[4] afi_hucahuca (6/15/25). “A new friend of AFI Huachuca named Garrett [Robinson] just shared his story at the @backcountryhunters Rendezvous 2025 ‘Rally for Public Lands.’ Garrett is part of the @bha_afi board, and shared a story of military service, love of the outdoors, redemption, and hope. He drew a line in the sand, and strongly opposed the sale of your #publiclands, not just for himself, but for Servicemembers and Veterans everywhere. Please call, write, email, or use the BHA Call to Action to tell your Senators that you oppose public land sales as written into the current budget bill.”

[5] Jim Carrier (as told by Neal Oberlee). “‘Solotripper Toughs It Out.” The Boundary Waters Journal: Fall 2020, p. 67.

[6] Cameron J. Kirby. “Unfair in Your Favor” Backcountry Journal: Winter 2025, p. 73.

[7] David A. Lien. “A Higher Calling.” Association of Air Force Missileers (AAFM) Newsletter: March 2011, p. 4.

[8] Editors. “Heroes of Conservation: Safeguarding Winter Elk Range.” Field & Stream: July 2014, p. 29.

[9] https://www.backcountryhunters.org/co_bha_award_winners