Hunting Β· Public Land

Public Land Hunting
National Forests, BLM & WMA Grounds

Hundreds of millions of acres of national forest, BLM, wildlife management areas, and state forests are open to American hunters. Learn how to find them, navigate the rules, and head afield with confidence.

Homeβ€ΊHuntingβ€ΊPublic Land
Open to All

More Public Land
Than Anywhere on Earth.

The United States holds roughly 640 million acres of federal public landβ€” managed by the BLM, US Forest Service, US Fish & Wildlife Service, and National Park Service. Millions more are managed by state agencies. Most of it is open to hunters with a valid license, and learning to navigate the rules is the difference between a frustrating trip and a successful one.

245M
BLM Lands
Acres managed by the Bureau of Land Management β€” mostly in 12 western states.
Source: BLM.gov
193M
National Forests
Acres in 154 national forests & 20 grasslands managed by the US Forest Service.
Source: USDA Forest Service
95M
Refuge System
Acres in 568+ National Wildlife Refuges β€” most allow some form of hunting.
Source: US FWS
200M+
State & WMA
State forests, wildlife management areas, and conservation easements across all 50 states.
Source: State agency totals
Know the Difference

Types of Public Hunting Land

National Forest
National Forest

National Forests

Managed by the US Forest Service for multiple uses including hunting, logging, grazing, and recreation. Generally open to all licensed hunters with state permits.

USDA Forest Service Β· fs.usda.gov
BLM Land
BLM

BLM Lands

Bureau of Land Management tracts dominate the West β€” open prairie, sagebrush, and high desert. Often unmarked, requiring GPS to locate boundaries. Most allow dispersed camping.

Bureau of Land Management Β· blm.gov
WMA
WMA

Wildlife Management Areas

Owned and managed by state fish & wildlife agencies specifically for wildlife habitat and hunting. Special regulations often apply β€” quota hunts, walk-in only, blaze orange required.

State wildlife agencies
State Forest
State / Other

State Forests & Refuges

State forests, conservation easements, and select National Wildlife Refuges. Each unit has its own rules β€” always check the unit-specific regulations before you hunt.

State and federal agencies

Featured Hunting Tracts

National Forest
White River National Forest
πŸ“ 2.3M acresπŸ“ Colorado
🎯 Primary species: Elk, mule deer, black bear
⚠️ Motor vehicle use map required. No shooting near campgrounds. Check seasonal closures.
πŸ—ΊοΈ View on agency map β†’
National Forest
Shoshone National Forest
πŸ“ 2.4M acresπŸ“ Wyoming
🎯 Primary species: Elk, bighorn sheep, mule deer
⚠️ Wilderness areas: no mechanized equipment. Pack out all waste.
πŸ—ΊοΈ View on agency map β†’
National Forest
Gallatin National Forest
πŸ“ 1.8M acresπŸ“ Montana
🎯 Primary species: Elk, mule deer, black bear, mountain goat
⚠️ Campfire restrictions in summer. Grizzly bear aware area.
πŸ—ΊοΈ View on agency map β†’
BLM Land
BLM Royal Gorge Field Office
πŸ“ 300k+ acresπŸ“ Colorado
🎯 Primary species: Mule deer, elk, pronghorn
⚠️ No target shooting near recreation sites. Open to dispersed camping.
πŸ—ΊοΈ View on agency map β†’
BLM Land
BLM Kemmerer Field Office
πŸ“ 1M acresπŸ“ Wyoming
🎯 Primary species: Pronghorn, sage grouse, mule deer
⚠️ Open to hunting. Check for temporary fire closures and MVUMs.
πŸ—ΊοΈ View on agency map β†’
BLM Land
BLM Lakeview District
πŸ“ 2.5M acresπŸ“ Oregon
🎯 Primary species: Mule deer, pronghorn, sage grouse
⚠️ No OHV use in certain sensitive areas. Hunter orange recommended.
πŸ—ΊοΈ View on agency map β†’
WMA
San Luis Valley WMA
πŸ“ 19,000 acresπŸ“ Colorado
🎯 Primary species: Waterfowl, pheasant, deer
⚠️ Walk-in only. Special regulations apply. Check Colorado Parks & Wildlife.
πŸ—ΊοΈ View on agency map β†’
WMA
Granger WMA
πŸ“ 12,000 acresπŸ“ Texas
🎯 Primary species: Waterfowl, dove, white-tailed deer
⚠️ Limited draw for gun deer. Archery allowed with Annual Public Hunting Permit.
πŸ—ΊοΈ View on agency map β†’
WMA
Sauvie Island WMA
πŸ“ 12,000 acresπŸ“ Oregon
🎯 Primary species: Waterfowl, pheasant, deer
⚠️ Daily parking pass required. Restricted access during waterfowl season.
πŸ—ΊοΈ View on agency map β†’
Field-Tested

Pro Tips for Public Land Hunters

Hunt Weekdays
01

Hunt Weekdays

Pressure on public land spikes on opening weekend. Take a Friday off and you'll find more game and have more room to yourself β€” especially in popular elk and deer states.

E-Scout with Maps
02

E-Scout with Maps

Use OnX, Google Earth, or HuntStand in the off-season to find game trails, water sources, and hidden meadows away from roads. Saves boot leather and tag soup.

Walk at Least a Mile In
03

Walk at Least a Mile In

Most hunters never go more than a half-mile from a road. Put in some boot leather, climb that ridge, drop into that drainage β€” that's where untouched pockets live.

Map Apps Hunters Trust

E-Scouting Tools

OnX Hunt
The Industry Standard
Color-coded land ownership boundaries (federal, state, private), saved waypoints, offline maps, and 3D terrain. Subscription-based but considered essential by most public land hunters.
HuntStand
All-in-One Tactical
Land maps, weather, wind direction, scouting reports, and shareable maps with your hunting party. Free tier available with paid Pro upgrade.
Gaia GPS
Backcountry Navigation
Topo-focused with heavy emphasis on trails, USFS Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUMs), and offline downloads. Popular with backcountry hunters who hike deep.
Public land hunting
Before You Go

Rules & Etiquette

Public land hunting comes with shared responsibility. Before heading afield, confirm the rules for the specific unit you're hunting β€” they vary widely between agencies and even between adjacent tracts.

01
Confirm Boundaries
Use a mapping app to verify you're on public land β€” boundaries are often unmarked. Trespass on adjacent private land carries fines or charges.
02
Check Motor Vehicle Use Maps
National forests publish MVUMs showing which roads are legal for trucks, ATVs, or foot-only. Off-route travel can result in fines and federal charges.
03
Wear Required Blaze Orange
Most states mandate hunter orange during firearms seasons. Quantity and placement vary β€” confirm with your state's regulations.
04
Pack It In, Pack It Out
Leave No Trace. Carry out gut piles where required, dispose of trash, and respect wilderness restrictions on mechanized travel.
Public Land Legacy
β€œWhen you step onto a national forest or a WMA, you step onto ground preserved by people who believed wild places matter. Pick up trash, follow travel restrictions, and share your harvest. That's the culture worth growing.”

Public land hunting can be challenging β€” but every elk taken on public ground is earned. Use the agency links above to map your unit, then head afield with confidence.

Get Public Land Updates

Subscribe and get fire closures, MVUM changes, and access updates for the units you hunt β€” straight to your inbox. No spam.