Most BLM-managed public lands are located in the 11 Western States, including Alaska, although small parcels are scattered throughout the Eastern United States. America's Backyard is a comprehensive brochure describing BLM's entire land and realty management function including a history of the public lands, an explanation of land records, and a description of how to obtain leases and permits. The public lands have long been a popular place for the motion picture industry, for example, and special permits are required to use the public lands for commercial film production. BLM public lands have starred in such hits as Maverick , Geronimo , and Star Trek 7 . Under certain circumstances, BLM does occasionally sell some parcels of land.
Any lands sold are at fair market value, based on the value of other lands in the area.
Homesteading is no longer available in the United States. The best source for information on public lands for sale is contacting the BLM Office with jurisdiction over an area of interest. Desert Land Entries explains the costly and time-consuming procedure for obtaining desert land under the 1877 Law. Through this Act, individuals may apply for a desert-land entry to reclaim, irrigate, and cultivate arid and semiarid public lands in the Western United States. Individuals may apply for tracts of land totaling no more than 320 acres.