U.S. Rep. Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho) launched an online survey this week asking constituents how they think federal land in Idaho should be managed, covering topics from recreation and wildlife to roads, permitting, and maintenance.

A Large Footprint, a Contested Debate

Federal agencies control nearly two-thirds of Idaho’s total land area, making public land policy one of the most consequential issues for the state’s residents, ranchers, and outdoor economy. Fulcher cited figures showing that roughly 2.7 million acres were subject to public closure between 2020 and 2025, a data point he has used to argue that federal management has become increasingly restrictive.

Fulcher said the survey is meant to make sure Idahoans have input as Washington evaluates its approach to public lands. “Feedback from this survey is intended to ensure Idahoans have a voice and seat at the table as policy in Washington, D.C., on federal lands is evaluated,” he said.

Transfer Debate Divides Idaho Delegation — and Voters

Fulcher has previously backed proposals to sell or transfer federal land to state or local control. That position puts him in some tension with his Idaho colleague Rep. Mike Simpson, who co-sponsored legislation in 2025 to prohibit large-scale sales or transfers of federal public land except under specific, limited conditions.

Fulcher also voted in favor of an amendment — ultimately unsuccessful — related to federal land sales in Nevada and Utah as part of broader congressional negotiations. In December, he wrote to Idaho state lawmakers encouraging them to explore transferring management authority over federal land to local entities.

Public opinion on the transfer question remains divided. A 2026 Boise State University survey found that 46.4 percent of respondents opposed shifting land management to the state, while 35 percent supported it and 18 percent were undecided. Those numbers suggest the issue is far from settled among Idaho voters, even as it gains momentum at the federal level.

Broader Political Context

The survey arrives as Fulcher faces a challenge from retired Air Force General Scott Grow, who is running as an independent and has pointed to concerns about the direction of the Republican Party. Federal land management is likely to remain a central issue in Idaho’s First Congressional District race given the sheer scale of federally controlled acreage within its boundaries.

The push for greater local or state control over federal lands is part of a wider debate about the proper role of federal agencies in Western states, where the land ownership patterns left by 19th-century settlement policies continue to shape agriculture, recreation, and economic development. Idaho’s congressional delegation has not presented a unified front on the issue, and Fulcher’s survey could serve as both a policy tool and a way to build a political case for his preferred approach ahead of the fall election.