Montanans have become more concerned about protecting federal public lands in the last two years. That’s according to the results of the University of Montana’s Crown of the Continent and Greater Yellowstone Initiative poll released this week.
Rick Graetz is the Initiative’s Director.
"People just do not want to get rid of public lands. They want to protect them. They want access. They want to leave them the way they are," Graetz says.
The poll has been conducted every other year since 2014. This year included 515 Montanans across the political spectrum from urban and rural areas.
Eighty-five percent of Montanans polled said they would support a ban on the sale or transfer of public land. This comes after a proposal last fall, to sell federal land parcels in 11 western states in the Trump administration’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” Act. It was withdrawn following public backlash.
Congress is now considering President Trump’s proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year. It includes cutting $4 billion dollars to national parks, forests and wilderness areas as well as the largest ever proposed cut to the National Parks Service.
Public lands have long been considered the “third rail” in Montana politics. The state’s entire congressional delegation went against the Republican caucus to oppose sell-offs.
Montanans also showed strong support for continuing protections for Wilderness Study Areas, and the Roadless Rule.
Thousands of employees have been fired from land management agencies, and budgets were slashed since President Trump began his second term. Two-thirds of Montanans polled say that could hurt the state’s ability to manage wildfire risks.
Lori Weigel is with New Bridge Strategy, a Republican pollster. She said when it comes to public lands access for recreation, hunting and fishing, majorities worry about negative impacts from funding and staff cuts.
This year’s results follow similar trends from years prior, but with stronger support for public lands across the political spectrum. Graetz says he hopes Montana lawmakers consider the poll’s results in their decision-making.
Survey results: University of Montana Crown of the Continent and Greater Yellowstone Initiative 2026 Montana Statewide Survey Key Findings
