Access & Opportunity
Access has emerged as a priority issue for North American hunters and anglers, and lack of access is cited by sportsmen and women as the No. 1 reason why we stop pursuing our passions.
Our outdoor heritage is guided by the public lands legacy established a century ago by visionary leaders. These foresighted individuals understood the importance of taking action both for the sake of the resource and for the benefit of the generations that follow ours. That spirit of stewardship, along with the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation and the Public Trust Doctrine, make the United States and Canada unique. The enshrined rights to pursue opportunities in the field on public lands and waters is a core aspect of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers mission and a main driver of our vision to make certain all hunters and anglers are able to seek fish and game on shared public lands.
The concepts of access and opportunity extend well beyond physical barriers. Well-monied interests are invested in dismantling the North American Model in favor of practices that benefit only those who can pay for these privileges. BHA is committed to amplifying the voices of our chapters to influence policies that not only address the physical issue of access but also prioritize conservation of key lands and waters, protection of valuable habitat, implementation of responsible land management policies, and resistance against the privatization of public lands, waters and wildlife.
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