Legislation would open federal land to hunters, anglers

Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., is photographed in his office on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 11, 2015, with some of his hunting memorabilia including elk antlers and scull mounted on the wall behind his desk. A bipartisan group of senators is working on legislation that would dramatically improve access to federal land for hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation. Sens. Heinrich and Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican, have introduced legislation that would also decrease some regulations for hunters and fishers and strengthen land conservation. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., is photographed in his office on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 11, 2015, with some of his hunting memorabilia including elk antlers and scull mounted on the wall behind his desk. A bipartisan group of senators is working on legislation that would dramatically improve access to federal land for hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation. Sens. Heinrich and Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican, have introduced legislation that would also decrease some regulations for hunters and fishers and strengthen land conservation. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

By Associated Press March 12, 2015 4 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – Sen. Martin Heinrich was hunting for Barbary sheep across the terrain in his native New Mexico when he was stopped in his tracks.

Tracts of land around him were under the control of the federal Bureau of Land Management – and off limits. Period. Among them: areas where he recalled hiking or hunting when he was younger that are now behind a locked gate.

“You have land that taxpayers own, you know, that is my kids’ birthright,” Heinrich, who used a 270 Winchester rifle for the recent sheep hunt. “You can’t even get on it.”

The New Mexico Democrat is working with a bipartisan group of Senate colleagues on legislation to dramatically broaden access to federal land for hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation. The bill, which he is sponsoring with Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, also would ease some regulations for those who hunt and fish, and strengthen land conservation.

A Senate committee scheduled its first hearing on the bill Thursday, with witnesses including federal officials and conservation experts.