Why Defend the Rocky Mountains

Hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation are not just hobbies in the Rocky Mountain West; they are a way of life. Westerners take great pride in our outdoor recreation. While many parts of the country have squandered what they once had, people are drawn to our public lands, clean air and water, and world-class hunting and fishing opportunities. We are home to thriving economies, renowned colleges and universities, and a quality of life that cannot be found elsewhere.

Sportsmen and -women across the West share a common value of conservation of our vast resources. We understand the importance of energy development on public lands. That's why hunters and anglers from across the nation are committed to finding solutions to the threat caused by haphazard energy development in our region.

In 1913, President Theodore Roosevelt wrote in his autobiography, "The rights of the public to the natural resources outweigh private rights, and must be given first consideration." Sportsmen still share Roosevelt's conservation values today and want to balance fish and wildlife needs with energy development on America's public lands.