Wyoming Sportsmen Wary of Land Transfer to the State

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Federal legislation that would transfer control and even ownership of federal land to states has caught the attention of a national sportsmen's group.

National Wildlife Federation President Collin O'Mara said Friday he understands why some local officials become frustrated with federal land management in the West.

One bill brought by Idaho Rep. Raul Labrador would enable advisory committees appointed by governors to manage up to 4 million acres of national forest land to encourage logging.

Wyoming Rep. Cynthia Lummis says states often are better forest managers than the federal government. Lummis is among those co-sponsoring Labrador's bill.

O'Mara says many people would rather fight than to make things better on the ground. He says collaboration is better than litigating over how to manage public land.