FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 11, 2025  Contact: media@backcountryhunters.org    MISSOULA, Mont. — Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) is rebuking a sweeping new proposal released by the Senate...

This is your March 4th edition of BHA's Western Policy Spotter - a high-level scan of state policy and legislation impacting wild public lands, waters and wildlife across the West. Note - this...

Welcome to your first glimpse of BHA's Western Policy Spotter - a high-level scan of state policy and legislation impacting wild public lands, waters and wildlife across the West. Much like...

The Arizona Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) have come together for a handful of rewarding days of volunteer work on Perrin Ranch in Unit 10, Arizona. This effort was part of the...

  The Arizona Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is saddened to hear of the passing of founding member Kurt Bahti.  Kurt's dedication to protecting the earth’s most valuable resources and...

HB 2021 This bill would require the holder of a conservation easement to make an annual payment in place of taxes on the reduction of value of the original parcel caused by the placement of the...

The fourth Annual Arizona Hunting for Sustainability (H4S) camp brought together new hunters, past participants, and mentors to chase quail, dove, and rabbits North of Tucson. Many of the new...

Situated between Southern Utah’s Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Dixie National Forest, Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park, the Paunsaugunt Plateau is home to one of the West’s...

The 7th Annual 2023 Family Squirrel Camp hosted by the Arizona Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and the Arizona Wildlife Federation is in the books! This event just keeps getting better and...

I received word in 2019 that the military was sending me to Fort Huachuca, Arizona. To save time among ourselves, my wife and I named the move “Operation Javelina.” Javelina - more properly...

News for Immediate ReleaseAug. 8, 2023Contact: Katie McKalip, 406-240-9262, mckalip@backcountryhunters.org Close to 1 million acres of public lands in Arizona permanently conserved via Antiquities...

Last month The Arizona Chapter gathered volunteers for a clean up on the Perrin Ranch in Northern Arizona. The 2 day project had volunteers spread out across the ranch to clean up campgrounds,...

We are halfway through the legislative year with our representatives back in session since June 12. As usual, many measures were introduced, but very few impactful items related to public-land...

News for Immediate ReleaseApril 28, 2023Contact: Katie McKalip, 406-240-9262, mckalip@backcountryhunters.org BHA roundly condemns suite of House bills that would undermine America’s most...

Bad legislation considered last year has reared its head again with the introduction of SB 1057. If passed, this legislation would give feral horses currently ravaging the Apache National Forest...

Bella, my German wiredhaired pointer, rounded the prickly pear cactus and jammed onto a staunch point. I quietly motioned Tyrell and Harrison towards either side of her quivering body. As they...

We owe tremendous thanks to our partners who made these workshops possible: Timber to Table, G&H Decoys, Boss Shotshells, OnX Maps, Teller Wildlife Refuge, Arizona Wildlife Federation, and...

The following opinion article by Arizona BHA Legislative Director Jason Ceola follows the BHA's Policy Position on the need for science-based sustainably managed populations feral horse and...

A long-awaited markup of public lands legislation by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee was held on Thursday, July 21. Among a total of more than three dozen bills were eight pieces...

Recently a proposed concurrent resolution has been introduced in Arizona (HCR 2024) that opposes a global initiative to conserve 30% of our land and water resources by the year 2030. Commonly...

The Arizona Chapter has recently been working to gather information regarding the Arizona Game & Fish Department’s Proposed Hunt Guidelines. This comment period and process has been making the...

Is sustainability an overused word? Maybe; but it is a critical concept in the hunting and fishing world. From November 6th to November 8th BHA’s Arizona Chapter and the Northern Arizona...

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Bella the Public Land Bird Dog and I headed up the trail in Oak Creek Canyon into the designated wilderness. We went solo as we usually do and especially now with the need to reduce our contact...

Freeport-McMoran, the internationally involved and Arizona-based mining company, has once again acquired tracts of Arizona State Lands as the lone bidder. This time, acquiring nearly 26 square...

Some of my favorite traditions involve spending time outside with my family in the great outdoors. We make annual trips to places all over the state. We love to chase elusive trout in pristine...

Bella, my German Wirehair Pointer, and I quartered through the thick grass cover, prickly pear cactus, yucca, and a few pinon and juniper in search of Arizona’s renowned Gambel's quail. We were...

This past summer we spent time with the University of Arizona on their Santa Rita Experimental Range continuing the placement of our OHV “Ride Legally” signs across the state. The Santa Rita is...

This article originally appeared in the Fall 2019 issue of Backcountry Journal.   By Justin Nelson Earlier this year, Arizona BHA heavily engaged in a fight against two bills that had the...

In September our Arizona chapter held its 1st annual Dove Cook-off and Pint Night to celebrate the opening of dove season. Held in Yuma, the event brought together BHA members and supporters from...

September 28, 2019 was National Public Lands Day and was celebrated by members of the Arizona chapter of BHA by assisting the University of Arizona’s Santa Rita Experimental Range (SRER) with the...

Members of the Arizona chapter came from all over the state and braved the scorching desert heat to meet up in the town of Gila Bend and work alongside Bureau of Land Management employees to...

We have been watching a handful of legislative bills that could impact public land access since the beginning of the year. HB2557 was amended to include the previously introduced HB2056 and HB2547...

The 54th session of the Arizona legislature concluded this May, and, thanks to the engagement and perseverance of hunters, anglers and other outdoor enthusiasts across the state, our voices were...

It is not often that a bill moves through the legislature with such widespread and bipartisan support as HB 2271, which would establish the first Saturday in April as Public Lands Day throughout...

Most trout stockings involve hard-working hatchery personnel, a hatchery truck, and an exciting ride down a stocking pipe for those trout! However, sometimes native trout need to get into remote...

HB 2210 was introduced to the Arizona House earlier during the 2018 legislative session and passed out of committee on a 5 to 3 vote. This bill was met with large opposition by sportsmen and...

The Arizona BHA Chapter received a grant from the Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation (AZSFWC) to help fund production of 200 aluminum trailhead signs, a full page ad in next season’s Elk...

AZ BHA has joined Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation. We attended our first meeting in February. This organization unites the most important conservation organizations in Arizona and...

   

Research clearly shows that off-trail motorized use can have significant impacts on fish and wildlife habitat.  Thus I am struck by the fact that the Arizona Game & Fish continue to advocate for...

September 4, 2014   RE: Comments from Arizona Backcountry Hunters & Anglers on Tonto National Forest Travel Management Plan   Neil Bosworth, Forest Supervisor,   Please consider the following...

Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (BHA) is proud to announce the formation of a new chapter in Arizona. The official BHA roster lists only 20 members for Arizona. Twelve of these members...

In Arizona, Phoenix area BHA members escaped the heat this past weekend (6/29) for a meeting at Bass Pro Shops in Mesa, AZ. In recognition of a growing need for a voice that better reflects...