Hunters and Anglers Resist Trump Administration's Attacks on Public Lands

Pelican Lake gathering highlights growing opposition to administration's policies from outdoor enthusiasts

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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In late January, a regional gathering of hunters, anglers, and public lands advocates took place on Minnesota's Pelican Lake, coinciding with two controversial police shootings in Minneapolis. The keynote speaker, public lands advocate Hal Herring, warned that the Trump administration's 'concentrated assaults' on conservation, public lands, and outdoor recreation have 'brought our public lands into focus for the American people in a way that has not been seen before.' The event highlighted how hunters, anglers, and other outdoor enthusiasts are emerging as a powerful political force against the administration's agenda.

Why it matters

The Trump administration's policies targeting public lands and outdoor recreation have galvanized a diverse coalition of hunters, anglers, and conservationists who are increasingly vocal in their opposition. As the 2026 election approaches, this constituency could play a pivotal role in determining the outcome, posing a significant challenge to the administration's agenda.

The details

The Pelican Lake gathering took place on January 24, the same day that a Veterans Affairs nurse named Alex Pretti was shot and killed by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis. The administration quickly labeled Pretti a 'domestic terrorist,' despite video evidence contradicting their claims. Just two weeks earlier, an ICE agent had also fatally shot a 37-year-old mother of three, Renee Good, in Minneapolis. In both cases, the administration moved swiftly to defend the shooters and smear the victims as 'domestic terrorists' without evidence.

  • The Pelican Lake gathering took place on January 24, 2026.
  • On January 24, 2026, federal immigration agents shot and killed Veterans Affairs nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
  • On January 7, 2026, an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, in Minneapolis.

The players

Hal Herring

A public lands advocate and contributing editor at Field & Stream, who was the keynote speaker at the Pelican Lake gathering.

Chance Adams

The chair of the Minnesota Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Board.

Alex Pretti

A Veterans Affairs nurse who was shot and killed by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026.

Renee Good

A 37-year-old mother of three who was fatally shot by an ICE agent in Minneapolis on January 7, 2026.

Kristi Noem

The Homeland Security Secretary who labeled Pretti and Good as 'domestic terrorists' despite lack of evidence.

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What they’re saying

“The current attacks by the Trump administration have brought our public lands into focus for the American people in a way that has not been seen before.”

— Hal Herring, Public lands advocate and Field & Stream contributing editor (RE:PUBLIC)

“In the lifetime of any living American, there has never been such a melee of concentrated assaults on our hard-won heritage of conservation, public lands, hunting, fishing, and the liberty that they provide.”

— Hal Herring, Public lands advocate and Field & Stream contributing editor (Backcountry Journal)

“And those phones turned out to be Trump's kryptonite, because they showed the world what was happening — thousands of videos, tens of thousands of stories that accomplished what speeches, rants, podcasts, and Congress could not. Their images broke through — everywhere.”

— Charlie Sykes (Substack)

What’s next

The judge in the cases of Alex Pretti and Renee Good will decide on Tuesday whether to allow the officers involved to be released on bail.

The takeaway

Hunters, anglers, and other public lands advocates have emerged as a powerful political force against the Trump administration's agenda, which has included a 'melee of concentrated assaults' on conservation, public lands, and outdoor recreation. As the 2026 election approaches, this constituency could play a pivotal role in determining the outcome and pushing back against the administration's 'post-truth' approach to governance.