What Information Can Be Found in Public Hunting Related Resources?
A comprehensive guide to navigating the complex landscape of land ownership, regulations, and wildlife data in the American West
The Land Ownership Challenge
In the American West, boundary lines are invisible in the wild
When Hunting in the American West
When hunting in the American West, the most frustrating thing is figuring out who owns the land beneath your feet. BLM land, National Forest land, state land, private ranches—boundary lines are invisible in the wild. Step over the line and it's trespassing.
A young man named Eric Siegfried in Montana moved to Missoula in 2007, looking at the Bitterroot Valley mountains with no idea where to start. He was studying mechanical engineering at Montana State University, so he loaded land ownership data onto an SD card himself and plugged it into a Garmin GPS. In 2009 he turned it into a product called onX. A decade later, the company received over $20 million in investment.
The onX Solution
Now open onX Hunt: yellow is BLM land, green is National Forest. Tap a parcel and you can see the owner's name, address, and acreage. Maps can be downloaded offline—works even with no signal in the backcountry. Annual subscription is $30 for a single state, $100 for nationwide. This tool solves a real problem: don't step in the wrong place.
onX Hunt Annual Subscription
Offline maps, landowner data, boundary lines—accessible anywhere
Annual Hunting Regulation Handbooks
Each state wildlife agency publishes annual hunting regulation handbooks. Arizona's big game handbook comes out in mid-September. Colorado's big game handbook is released before the draw application period. The handbooks contain season dates, bag limits, open areas, and hunting method restrictions.
Arizona
Big game handbook comes out in mid-September. Contains season dates, bag limits, open areas, and hunting method restrictions.
Colorado GMU System
Colorado divides the entire state into GMUs (Game Management Units), with a fixed number of permits issued for each unit. Want to hunt elk? Draw first. Didn't draw? Buy leftover tags.
The License System Goes Digital
The license system is going digital. Texas has an app called Texas Hunt & Fish. After buying a digital license, when you harvest a deer, tap once on your phone to complete the tag. The system gives you a confirmation code. Write the code and date on waterproof paper and attach it to the deer. The app supports offline operation. Log in before heading into the mountains, and your tags and licenses are stored on your phone.
Digital License Rollout Timeline
Oregon goes online with digital licensing
Washington State preparing to launch
Mandatory Harvest Reporting
Harvest reporting is mandatory. Washington State requires hunters to report whether they harvested anything or not. Failure to report results in a $10 fine. Report deadline is January 31.
This data is used to calculate how many permits to issue the following year. Zero-harvest reports are just as important as successful harvest reports—they help agencies estimate how many people are hunting and how much is being taken.
CWD: The Unavoidable Topic
CWD has been an unavoidable topic in recent years. Chronic Wasting Disease—prion proteins turn the brains of cervids into sponge-like tissue. Always fatal, no vaccine, no treatment. First discovered in Colorado in 1967, it has now spread to 36 states.
Washington State confirmed its first case in Spokane County in 2024, immediately issuing emergency regulations restricting deer carcass transport and wildlife feeding. Every state wildlife agency website has CWD testing site locations, test results, and carcass transport restrictions. Iowa has an interactive dashboard where you can enter a number to check your animal's test results.
National Wildlife Refuges
At the federal level, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages 572 National Wildlife Refuges. In November 2024, they announced opening or expanding hunting and fishing opportunities at 12 refuges, covering approximately 210,000 acres. To hunt on a refuge, check the Federal Register for annual regulations specifying which refuges allow hunting for what species, during what seasons, and with what methods. Some newly opened hunting requires non-lead ammunition.
Hunter Education Certificates
Hunter education certificates are recognized across states. Pass the test in one state, and you can use it to buy a license in another state. New York was the first to require this in 1949, mandating that 14-15 year olds complete firearms safety training before purchasing a hunting license.
Other states followed, and the content has expanded over time. Now available online, about four hours, and those 17 and older can get certified upon completion.
New York Sets the Standard
New York State was the first to implement hunter education requirements, mandating that 14-15 year olds complete firearms safety training before purchasing a hunting license.
Where Does the Money Come From?
The Pittman-Robertson Act of 1937
The 1937 Pittman-Robertson Act takes 11% excise tax from firearms and ammunition specifically for state wildlife agencies. Funds are distributed based on state area and number of licensed hunters. States pay project costs upfront, federal government reimburses 75%. Interesting context: the law passed during the Great Depression—hunters and the firearms industry voluntarily taxed themselves.
How the Funds Are Used
Habitat Restoration
Preserving wildlife habitats
Species Research
Scientific population studies
Hunter Education
Safety training programs
Shooting Ranges
Public facility construction
The Complete System
These resources—regulation handbooks, license systems, land maps, harvest reporting systems, CWD monitoring data, hunter education courses—must be used together. Check regulations before buying a license. Download maps and confirm boundaries before heading into the backcountry. Report after harvesting game. Data flows back to wildlife agencies, becoming the basis for next year's management decisions.