91 Percent of Wyoming Voters Oppose Federal Public Land Sell-Offs
A remarkable 91 percent of Wyoming voters agree that Wyoming’s federally managed public lands should remain in public hands and oppose any efforts to sell them off, according to a new survey by Keep It Public, Wyoming.
Wyoming is among the most politically conservative states in the U.S., and public land stewardship is a non-negotiable priority for voters across the Equality State. The survey reveals that more than 9 in 10 Wyoming voters oppose proposals calling for the sell-off of federally managed public land, such as those managed by the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, and National Park Service.
The survey of 450 likely Wyoming primary and general election voters was conducted for Keep It Public, Wyoming from July 27-29 by Cygnal, an international public opinion polling firm that regularly conducts surveys in the Cowboy State. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.61 percent.
Nearly half of Wyoming’s land base is federally managed public land—one of the largest shares of any state. These lands are used for hunting, fishing, grazing, mining, energy production, and outdoor recreation.
More than 90% of Wyoming voters agree that Wyoming’s federally managed public lands should remain in public hands and oppose any efforts to sell them off. (Photo GYC)
Key Survey Highlights:
Overwhelming Rejection of Land Sales: 91 percent of respondents oppose selling or privatizing public lands, with 80 percent stating they strongly oppose such measures.
Conservative Support: The near-universal opposition to selling off public lands included almost all Republican voters polled, 91 percent of whom support current multiple-use management practices over sell-off.
Speaking from Experience: More than 9 in 10 voters say they or someone in their household hunts, fishes, or recreates on public lands.
Access for Outdoor Heritage: Public lands are vital to Wyoming’s way of life. The top public lands priorities for Wyoming voters are maintaining hunting/fishing/recreation access (40 percent), passing land to future generations (28 percent), and keeping decisions in Wyoming’s hands (21 percent).
Opposition to Data Centers: A mere 10 percent of voters think building data centers on public lands is an acceptable use.
In 2025, Wyoming lawmakers defeated Senate Joint Resolution 2 (SJ-2), a resolution calling for the transfer of all federal public land (except Yellowstone National Park) to the state. That same year, a massive bipartisan backlash stopped a federal proposal to sell off 3 million acres of public lands across the West.
In 2024, the Wyoming State Board of Land Commissioners with a 3-2 vote approved the sale of the 640-acre Kelly Parcel to Grand Teton National Park. The $100 million sale benefits Wyoming public schools and ensures this spectacular piece of land is public for Wyomingites and visitors to enjoy.
Public lands continue to unite people of all backgrounds and political stripes. We will continue to work together to keep public lands in public hands and steward them for the next generation.
Stay in touch with our public lands work by joining our online community. You’ll receive important opportunities to make a difference for the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
—Emmy Reed, Senior Digital Communications Associate (Bozeman, Montana)
