The TRCP

Do you have what it takes to dare greatly like T.R.? “It is not the critic who counts…” You’ve likely heard this powerful quote—but do you know where it came from, or what Theodore Roosevelt was really saying about striving valiantly and daring greatly, even if you fail? Read the speech that inspired generations to step into the arena—then put your knowledge to the test with our ultimate Theodore Roosevelt trivia quiz. Ready to channel your inner Rough Rider? Read the speech and take the quiz now 👉 trcp.org/2011/01/18/it-is-no…

“Wildlife and habitat cannot speak, so we must, and we will.” – Theodore Roosevelt One of the most precious freedoms we Americans have is the right to vote for the people we feel should lead us, and today is one simple opportunity to step into the arena for conservation, fish, wildlife, habitat, and access. Theodore Roosevelt believed that access to the outdoors was fundamentally American, and for more than a century, hunters and anglers have been the driving force in conservation in America. Together we can carry on that work worth doing: strengthening broad-based conservation efforts, protecting fish and wildlife habitat, and ensuring public access to natural resources for generations to come. 🇺🇸 #Vote

Mark Rehbein joins the TRCP as Vice President of Development trcp.org/2026/11/02/mark-reh… The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP) is pleased to announce the hiring of Mark Rehbein as Vice President of Development, bringing more than a decade of conservation fundraising and nonprofit leadership experience to the organization. As the nation’s most impactful conservation coalition, TRCP will draw on his expertise to expand philanthropic support and build lasting relationships with the donors and partners who make its work on behalf of hunters and anglers possible. Learn more: trcp.org/2026/11/02/mark-reh…

On Oct. 26, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced 42 new Regional Conservation Partnership Program projects, totaling $325 million. Each project will benefit hunters and anglers by creating or improving habitat, reducing erosion and sedimentation, protecting open spaces, or promoting groundwater recharge. We are especially pleased to see that several selected projects will be led by TRCP partners. So what will these projects actually accomplish? Below are a few examples hunters and anglers should be particularly excited about. Learn more: trcp.org/2026/10/28/usda-nrc…

Clocks fell back this morning. More light at dawn, less after work. Make the most of every hour in the woods and on the water. 📸: James Wicks

Some things return to the river every fall. Happy Halloween.

In the Arena: Peter Brookes trcp.org/2026/10/28/in-the-a… Peter Brookes spent decades in national security, with stints in the Navy, at the State Department and the CIA, on Capitol Hill and as a senior Pentagon official. He traveled to 65 countries on five continents, including North Korea. But he didn’t cast a fly or carry a rifle afield until his future wife brought him home to Idaho to meet her family. Today, Brookes is an award-winning outdoor and travel writer and photographer who covers destination fly fishing and hunting as @BrookesOutdoors. He’s hunted or fished in 37 states plus the District of Columbia, and he credits public lands and waters, and the conservation work that sustains them, with making it possible. Few hunters and anglers have seen as much of the world as Brookes, and that vantage point has given him a deep appreciation for what we have here at home. He talked with us about his late start, a memorable hunt, and why conservation should matter to the next generation. Here is his story: trcp.org/2026/10/28/in-the-a…

Doubling Down on the Duck Stamp TRCP staff are spread around the country, including folks like Grayson Haynes on our Government Affairs team in Washington, D.C. Along with nearly everyone at TRCP, Grayson is a passionate hunter and angler, and in solidarity with other staff he's turning that personal interest into action by purchasing an additional Federal Duck Stamp this year to help protect waterfowl habitat and duck hunting opportunities. Almost every cent for every dollar spent on each stamp goes directly to acquiring and protecting habitat and conservation easements. We're buying our two stamps. Now it’s your turn. Learn more: trcp.org/2026/10/09/one-for-… @NWFoutdoors / @DeltaWaterfowl / @HunterandAngler / @IWLA_org / @ManometCenter / @pheasants4ever / @quail4ever

TRCP’s Melanie Thornton Brings Western Water to The MeatEater Podcast Every cutthroat trout in a headwater creek, every mallard working a backwater marsh and every elk herd watering in a desert canyon depends on the same thing: water in the river. Few people understand that connection better than Dr. Melanie Thornton. Thornton, TRCP’s senior director of western water, joined @stevenrinella on episode 951 of The @MeatEaterTV Podcast. By Rinella’s count, she’s the first hydrologist ever to sit on the show’s couch. She walked listeners through how the Colorado River and Rio Grande are managed, why there is less water to go around and which solutions are already working. Learn more and watch the full episode: trcp.org/2026/10/27/trcps-me…

Happy 168th birthday, TR. Meet us in the arena: trcp.org/donate “Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” Theodore Roosevelt lived those words, conserving roughly 230 million acres of public lands and laying the groundwork for the fish and wildlife hunters and anglers still rely on today. TRCP carries that work forward every day, in Congress, in statehouses and on the ground, so that all Americans have quality places to hunt and fish. From conserving critical habitat to safeguarding access to our public lands and waters, it’s work worth doing. There’s no better way to honor TR on his birthday than by joining the work he started. Meet us in the arena. trcp.org/donate/

BLM Seeks Projects to Open Landlocked Public Land trcp.org/2026/10/22/blm-seek… The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is seeking projects that would open access to Dingell Act nominated lands and other inaccessible public parcels. The request follows September’s executive order directing federal land agencies to prioritize practical access to hard-to-reach federal lands and waters. For hunters and anglers, the effort targets a long-standing challenge that keeps millions of acres of public land out of reach. In 2018, a TRCP and onX analysis found 9.52 million acres of landlocked federal land across 13 western states, most of it managed by the BLM. Read the full blog: trcp.org/2026/10/22/blm-seek…

“How beautiful the leaves grow old. How full of light and color are their last days.” - John Burroughs 📸: Josh Metten Photo

On Nov. 10-11, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission will be making pivotal decisions that will shape the Atlantic menhaden fishery for years to come. The Commission's Menhaden Management Board will tackle three major questions: 1. How many menhaden should be harvested coastwide? 2. How should the menhaden reduction fishery be managed in Chesapeake Bay? 3. How should menhaden harvest access be divided among Atlantic states? The TRCP has been closely engaged in all three issues, advocating for science-based management that supports healthy fisheries and thriving coastal communities. Go to our blog to learn more 👉 trcp.org/2026/10/21/much-at-…

What the Senate’s Permitting Bill Could Mean for Hunters and Anglers trcp.org/2026/10/23/what-the… Few phrases put readers to sleep faster than “permitting reform.” But the rules that decide how a pipeline, transmission line, mine or dam gets approved also decide whether hunters and anglers have a say in where those projects go — and what happens to the elk winter range, trout stream or migration corridor in their path. On September 30, the leaders of the two Senate committees that handle these issues released the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026. It is the most significant permitting package Congress has considered in years, and a Senate vote is expected after lawmakers return in November. TRCP has long seen opportunity in a permitting reform deal—not only to move energy and infrastructure projects but to clear away unnecessary and duplicative barriers to habitat restoration that can be posed by the environmental review process. We share the goal of a more predictable and efficient process for approving projects and commend the bill’s sponsors for reaching a bipartisan compromise in several areas that would likely remove barriers to getting restoration work on the ground. Targeted revisions to key provisions would give TRCP greater confidence that the bill can achieve those goals without weakening conservation safeguards. Read more: trcp.org/2026/10/23/what-the…

Help Preserve American Waterfowl Habitat Many waterfowl hunters are opting to purchase two Federal Duck Stamps this year, rather than the single stamp required for hunting, because every purchase is a strong investment in conservation. A full 98% of the price of each stamp goes directly to acquiring and protecting waterfowl habitat and conservation easements. Plus, a second, physical duck stamp, like the ones our parents and grandparents once purchased each fall, can serve as a collector's item. Join other conservation-minded hunters from around the country, like TRCP’s Lower/Middle Mississippi River Representative, Ryan DuLaney, and buy one for the wallet, and one for the wall. Learn more: trcp.org/2026/10/09/one-for-… #MSwetlands #BuyTwoDuckStamps #DuckStamp #WaterfowlConservation #DuckHunting

The Bridger-Teton National Forest is revising its Forest Plan right now. Hunters and anglers need to speak up for the forest’s incredible hunting and fishing opportunities today. trcp.org/2026/10/19/big-drea… My first introduction to the Bridger-Teton National Forest was in 2018. I was on a summer work trip to Star Valley, Wyoming and with some extra time on my hands, I decided to head up a dusty Forest Service Road into the surrounding mountains. I was met with incredible views and the camaraderie of an old-timer who told me stories of hunting big mule deer in this beautiful terrain. He graciously invited me to return and hunt with him, so two weeks later I drove back from Laramie for a weekend bowhunting adventure. I was hooked on the Bridger-Teton after that. Read the full blog and take the survey to be entered in the gear giveaway! 👉 trcp.org/2026/10/19/big-drea…

Jaclyn Lunaas, TRCP’s forage fish manager, and Chris Macaluso, TRCP’s director of the Center for Fisheries and Mississippi River Program, joined the On The Water podcast to talk about the ASMFC’s upcoming decisions on menhaden management and why leaving more menhaden in the water matters for the striped bass, bluefish, weakfish and other fish anglers chase. Let the ASMFC know you want the coastwide menhaden catch quota reduced, and fairer reallocation between states and listen to the podcast here: onthewater.com/blitzes-lies-…

All Hunters Love Stories Some stories are worth telling twice. A morning chasing swamp rabbits in the Mississippi Delta reminds us that hunters speak the same language, no matter where we come from. Read the story here: trcp.org/2025/10/14/all-hunt…

“When you play, play hard.” – Theodore Roosevelt Through our collaboration with Withernot, a portion of every purchase of their Roughrider Rugby Shirt comes back to TRCP to support our mission of guaranteeing all Americans quality places to hunt and fish. Withernot’s rugby shirts are built to last, from the backcountry to the backyard and back again. Play hard while supporting conservation – it’s a win-win. Get your Roughrider Rugby Shirt at withernot.com/collections/ru…

TRCP Supports Colorado Amendment 83: Right to Hunt & Fish 🔗 trcp.org/2026/10/16/trcp-sup… Amendment 83 recognizes the essential value of hunting, fishing and keeping wildlife management grounded in science. For generations, hunters and anglers have helped fund wildlife management, habitat restoration, public access, species recovery, rural economic prosperity and outdoor recreation opportunities, which benefit all Coloradans. License fees and excise taxes hunters and anglers pay are a major source of funding for species and habitat conservation programs. “Hunting, fishing, and wildlife conservation are a major part of who we are as Coloradans, and hunters and anglers have long been partners in conserving the state’s fish and wildlife,” said Liz Rose, TRCP’s Colorado field representative. “Amendment 83 recognizes that role and helps ensure hunters and anglers continue to contribute to the conservation and management of wildlife in Colorado, through on-the-ground work and through the dollars they contribute.” Learn more: trcp.org/2026/10/16/trcp-sup…

One for the Wallet, One for the Wall TRCP staff like Aaron Field, director of private lands conservation, are joining hunters across the nation by purchasing two Federal Duck Stamps this year, rather than the single stamp required for hunting waterfowl. Besides a second duck stamp serving as a collector's item, every purchase is an investment in conservation, with a full 98% of the price of each stamp going directly to acquiring and protecting habitat and conservation easements through the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund. That means your dollars are actually spent protecting duck factories like the Prairie Potholes Region—breeding grounds that replenish America’s waterfowl populations. We've bought our two stamps. Now it’s your turn. Learn more: trcp.org/2026/10/09/one-for-… #BuyTwoDuckStamps #DuckStamp #WaterfowlConservation #DuckHunting #MSwetlands