“ A 2026 budget plan introduced by President Donald Trump effectively signs the death warrant for the Federal Bird Banding Laboratory, which keeps track of millions of small aluminum bands placed on the legs of ducks, geese and swans.”
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John Pollmann
Federal threats to conservation, access
Not. One. Acre.
That was the message coming from angry, frustrated hunters, anglers and conservation organizations this summer as Rep. Sen. Mike Lee of Utah proposed the sale of up to 3.3 million acres of public lands scattered across 11 western states. The chorus of boos from the outdoor community was loud enough that Sen. Lee ultimately pulled his amendment and tabled the large-scale sale of public lands, for now.
Similar to running into someone you haven’ t seen for a while at a funeral(“ Hey, good to see you, though I wish it was under different circumstances.”), the outcry from the greater outdoors community was a reassuring reminder that the voice of the public does, in fact, still carry weight with elected officials. Unfortunately, during this second go-around with the Trump administration, there have been several reasons for hunters and anglers to shout“ no!”
The impacts of a federal funding freeze in February continue to ripple across the Dakotas, where Regional Conservation Partnership Program projects previously selected for funding were scrapped, totaling around $ 76 million of work in South Dakota alone. In addition, an $ 86 million U. S. Department of Agriculture research grant at SD State University was canceled.
The funds were to be used to support beef and bison producers implement grazing techniques that benefited the bottom line as well as supported important environmental factors, including grassland health( i. e. quality habitat) and water quality. Also on the chopping block were
call for sportsmen to“ band” together
In essence, bird bands are medals for hunters, especially in the world of waterfall. Over a lifetime, a hunter can gather several dozen trophies. John Pollmann photos.
Page 14, Dakota Country, September 2025 www. dakotacountrymagazine. com