"Lee says Western states would be better off if they were more like Missouri or Illinois, with virtually no public land." (
Senator Mike Lee Pledges Long-Term Attack on Public Lands | Outdoor Life ).
Like Illinois . . . ?
Well, to hunt my home state public land, I have to apply for and be drawn in an individual lottery for specific parcels of public land. The bigger parcels are about 2000 acres, and they let 40 to 50 people out on it. Private land sells for $4,000 to $6,000 an acre (maybe a bit cheaper in the south part of the state). Most decent private land is either outfitted (thousands of $$ to hunt) or leased out. Getting permission to hunt private land is next to impossible. This year, I failed to draw a tag in the first lottery, so I'm scrounging for options, I'll probably get on somewhere, but it'll be third rate land, possibly a long distance away.
This is what Senator Lee is holding up as a model of land use. Frankly, I'm getting out when I can.