Sale of 1.5 million acres of Montana public lands proposed, sparking national protests.

A proposal to sell 1.5 million acres of Montana's public lands has sparked protests across the country. The parent company of OnX Maps, which assists hunters and hikers, argues that most of the land is landlocked, making it inaccessible after sale. Public land advocacy groups urge contacting senators to oppose the sale in the budget bill. Despite opposition, threats to public land access persist in the bill, including provisions that could impact national forests and wildlife areas. Conservation groups celebrate the removal of similar land sale amendments in Nevada and Utah but remain vigilant as the Senate could reintroduce these provisions.