Last week in response to Sen. Mike Lee’s relentless attempts to sell off our public lands, the Idaho chapter rapidly organized three pint nights across the state in concert with “Flood the Lines...

This is your July edition of BHA's State Policy Spotter - a high-level scan of state policy and legislation impacting our wild public lands, waters and wildlife across North America. Note - this...

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...

On May 9-10, BHA volunteers teamed up with the BLM biology department of the Upper Snake Field office to improve fencing around riparian areas in Stinking Springs Canyon Idaho. The removal of...

I received a well written email from the head of student council at a local high school asking for BHA to come table an event during their Earth Week. He was put up to this task by his...

A veteran’s story and thoughts on protecting the Kootenai River     I am 36 years old. At this point in, what I like to think of as being, my young life, I have served my country and community in...

Camas Creek NWF, USFWS photo by Brent Lawrence   In the past week, we saw the Idaho State Legislature adopt Senate Joint Memorial 104 which requests that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service...

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...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - February, 24th, 2025 BHA Contact: Dre Arman arman@backcountryhunters.org BLM Contact: Bruce Hallman bhallman@blm.gov Interagency Collaboration Leads to Reward for Private...

  Agency Layoffs Jeopardize Our Public Lands  Late last week, on orders from President Trump’s Office of Personnel Management, our federal land and wildlife management agencies laid off thousands...

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...

  As the Utah lawsuit to seize our public lands rages on, some of our elected officials in Idaho are jumping on Utah’s bandwagon to destroy our public land heritage. In October we saw Idaho...

By Melissa Hendrickson   What better way to celebrate the rejection of Proposition 127 in Colorado, the citizen initiative that tried to ban mountain lion hunting, than baking up a delicious...

Utah’s lawsuit to seize 18.5 million acres of public land has brought with it significant outcry from public land enthusiasts across the beehive state. It can be tempting to think the...

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is pleased to issue a $500 reward to Ken Mason as a token of appreciation for the time and effort invested in reporting a tip that resulted in two separate...

The Left Flip Flop Hypothesis (Recap of the Clark Fork Public Land Pack-Out) The author’s husband and son cruising the drift holding areas for trash.   Words and Photos by Melissa...

The Public Lands Rule could be great for conservation – we should give it a chance   The Bureau of Land Management Conservation and Landscape Health rule, commonly known as the Public Lands Rule,...

By Rome Fiore My hunting journey started all the way in California when I was a kid. My father and grandfather taught me the necessary skills to harvest upland game birds and fish. These lessons...

The Idaho Chapter recently hosted the 6th annual Salmon River Cleanup Float near Challis, Idaho. This fun summer event brings volunteers together to float the famous Salmon River to pick up trash...

A different kind of FHF adventure Words and Photos by Melissa Hendrickson One of the lessons I’ve learned over the many years of doing field work and hunting is having several backup plans can...

Grouse Creek Pack Out Recap Words and Photos by Melissa Hendrickson   How much trash can 12 adults, 3 pre-teens, and 3 toddlers pick up in 3 hours? Apparently the answer is 2 overfull dump...

  The Long Road to Rendezvous Words and Photos by Melissa Hendrickson   As far as driving directions go, it’s a pretty easy route from our hometown to Rendezvous in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It...

Look Near Before You Look Far One of the lessons I have learned over and over while elk hunting is ‘look near before you look far.’ In other words, make sure there are no animals right in front of...

The Idaho legislature adjourned the 2024 session on April 10, bringing to a close what was ultimately a fairly average session from a conservation and public lands perspective. Idaho BHA tracked a...

After joining the Idaho State Chapter Board, I’ve been lucky enough to get acquainted with the University of Idaho (U of I) Collegiate Chapter and their powerhouse of a President Jacob Young.  We...

February 15, 2024   Senator Van T. Burtenshaw Chair, Senate Resources & Environment Committee P.O. Box 83720 Boise, ID 83720-0081   Chairman Burtenshaw:   The Idaho Chapter of Backcountry Hunters...

The alarm went off way too many hours before sunrise. The air was crisp with indecision on layers to wear. How many decoys to bring, what snacks to pack. Did the dog’s vest make it in? Should we...

February 6, 2024   Representative Ron Mendive Chair, House Resources & Conservation Committee P.O. Box 83720 Boise, ID 83720-0038   Chairman Mendive:   The Idaho Chapter of Backcountry Hunters &...

Senator Doug OkuniewiczChair, Senate Transportation Committee P.O. Box 83720Boise, ID 83720-0081 Tuesday, February 6th, 2024 Chairman Okuniewicz: The Idaho Chapter of Backcountry Hunters &...

Representative Ron Mendive Chair, House Resources & Conservation Committee P.O. Box 83720 Boise, ID 83720-0038   Wednesday, January 24th, 2024   Chairman Mendive: The Idaho Chapter of Backcountry...

Shining headlamps over the lake, the beams are refracted in a million different directions in the dense fog. The marsh bottom isn't as boot sucking mud as it has been in the past years, so decoy...

On Saturday, September 23rd, 16 volunteers gathered in the Pahsimeroi Valley to complete a phase of the Sawmill Canyon project for National Public Lands Day. The volunteers represented Idaho BHA,...

In December of 2021, a scoping letter was sent from the BLM Challis Field Office (CFO) to BHA, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Idaho Wildlife Federation, Idaho Department of Fish and...

Idaho BHA recently commented on a draft Environmental Assessment for the Upper Snake East Travel Management Plan. Read the full comments here.  General Comments:  Human population increases...

  Idaho BHA is excited to see construction begin on the wildlife overpass across State Highway 21 near Lucky Peak. This project is a win for wildlife in Idaho, especially along a critical...

On May 20th, volunteers from Idaho Chapter BHA and Idaho Trails Association (ITA) worked together to rehabilitate a spring on BLM-managed public lands in the Owyhee Mountains. The spring near the...

The Chapter was busy with public comment periods this spring, sending in comments on a range of issues impacting our public lands, waters and wildlife. The BLM has continued to demonstrate the...

News for Immediate ReleaseMay 26, 2023Contact: Katie McKalip, 406-240-9262, mckalip@backcountryhunters.org BHA maintains that wetlands and other waters with a significant connection to traditional...

The 2023 session of the Idaho Legislature is in the books, with formal adjournment taking place towards the end of March. As always, Idaho BHA paid close attention to legislation with the...

Over the last two summers, the Idaho chapter has been improving trail access in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. With financial support from Idaho Fish and Game (IDFG), National...

The Idaho Legislature officially adjourned on March 31, 2022, capping off an 81-day session. As in every year, multiple bills were introduced in the legislature during this session that...

    Idaho BHA has joined with a range of other conservation organizations on the Priest River Project. The Priest River remains a relatively unknown fishery in North Idaho, compared to its more...

On February 1, House Bill No. 507 was introduced by the Idaho House Resources and Conservation Committee. The bill pertains to archery equipment and would make it legal for lighted nocks and...

  The Bureau of Land Management recently held a comment period for the potential acquisition of a 275-acre ranch in the Treasure Valley. The ranch was offered for sale to the BLM by the Alta...

All Americans have a right to enjoy our public lands and waters – but no small minority has a right to damage those public treasures or ruin the experience of others enjoying the Great Outdoors....

On August 10, the Idaho Department of Lands (“IDL”) notified Trident Holdings, LLC that the Trident proposal to exchange just over 20,000 acres of timberland in northern Idaho for a similar amount...

    Update – Endowment Lands, and the formation of United Payette Ever since real estate developer Trident Holdings, LLC submitted a proposal to the Idaho Department of Lands in 2019 to acquire...

In April of this year, the Idaho Legislature introduced and passed Senate Bill 1211. The bill, which was signed into law by the Governor in May, relates to wolf management within Idaho and will...

    The Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) released a draft strategy for 5,478 acres of endowment lands surrounding or within the city of McCall. Idaho's constitution mandates these lands be managed...

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced they have decided not to pursue a plan to build a 15-mile mountain bike trail along Lucky Peak Reservoir. The proposed "Lakeview Trail" would...

If you purchased a raffle ticket for the Idaho BHA online raffle back in August, you helped the chapter contribute $5,000 to the County Line Wildlife Friendly Fence Project. This collaborative...

On Saturday, October 3, twenty BHA volunteers assembled to assist the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) with planting sagebrush seedlings at Dedication Point near Boise, Idaho to help with an...

The Idaho Chapter of the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers partnered with the Payette National Forest on August 14 & 15 to construct a dozen barriers on West Mountain northwest of No Business...

  The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is proposing a mountain bike trail (Lakeview Trail) along the undeveloped southern shore of Lucky Peak Reservoir that would include sections of the Boise...

Today, the House passed the Great American Outdoors Act with a 310-107 vote. It now makes its way to the President's desk for a final signature. BHA members across the U.S. made their voices...

 Pronghorn on lands conserved with LWCF funds in the Sawtooth Valley   The Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) provides full, dedicated funding to the Land and Water Conservation Fund, along with...

                Photo from 1948 issue of Scenic Idaho Magazine                                                  Keep over 28,000 acres of currently accessible state land surrounding Payette Lake...

Idaho BHA – 2020 Idaho Legislative Session Recap The 2020 legislative session wrapped up in late March and we had several victories for hunters and anglers in the State of Idaho. Idaho BHA was...

The Idaho Chapter recently sent a letter (included below) to the US Fish and Wildlife Service applauding the expansion of access to wildlife refuges in Idaho as per Secretarial Order 3347 and the...

The Idaho Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers officially welcomes Kestrel Glassing Systems as an official chapter sponsor!  The Kestrel® monopod was born of the desire to outperform...

On Tuesday December 10th, Idaho BHA Chapter sponsored a meeting of the local Boise youth fly fishing club, the Woolly Buggers. Idaho BHA was represented by Ted Koch (Idaho BHA Region 1 Rep) and...

The Idaho chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is excited to announce that Argali has become a chapter level corporate sponsor.  Argali sells outdoor gear for backcountry hunters via an online...

On the morning of Oct. 19, 2018, Crystal and Justin Sandy were following a herd of elk in a large basin near the Salmon-Challis region of Idaho when they witnessed a white Toyota pickup operating...

Earlier this fall, an Idaho hunter pursuing antelope in a coveted special draw unit took a stand in support of fair chase and legal access of our public lands. Josh S. was chasing pronghorn with...

Idaho BHA co-signed a letter to the North Fork Ranger District of the Salmon-Challis National Forest (SCNF) regarding the Hoodoo Airstrip Maintenance Project.  The Hoodoo airstrip is an existing...

Idaho BHA submitted comments to the Boise District office of the BLM regarding the Four Rivers Resource Management Plan (RMP).  Idaho BHA encouraged the Boise BLM District to thoroughly evaluate...

Idaho BHA Habitat Watch coordinator Dan Herrig and Habitat Watch volunteer Larry Callister worked together to submit comments to the Owyhee Field Office of the BLM regarding the Silver City Travel...

Dear Bonner County Board of Commissioners, The Idaho Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers would like to thank you for the opportunity to comment on the proposed draft Bonner County Natural...

On May 3, 2014, 18 Idaho BHA volunteers gathered near the confluence of the Salmon and Snake Rivers north of Hell's Canyon to restore habitat in the Craig Mountain Wildlife Area - an area the...

The Idaho Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers recognizes the importance, and the challenges, of balancing our state's water needs - for business and residential purposes, recreation, and...

Good morning Idaho BHA members,I would like to take this opportunity to draw your attention to some legislation being considered by the Agricultural Affairs Committee next Tuesday (2/18) at 8:00...

This week, Idaho BHA member Derek Farr (pictured) will be traveling to Washington DC to express support for the Land & Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). LWCF is a critical source of funding for...

Each year Backcountry Hunters & Anglers recognizes the members and partners that have dedicated substantial time and energy to furthering the mission and reach of BHA. Through hard-work and...

The followingGood morning,To follow up on the ISCAC Action Alert I need to bring your attention to the2 bills that are being ramrodded through the end of thelegislative session without YOUR input....

To: Rick Brazell Forest Supervisor Clearwater National Forest 12730 Hwy 12 Orofino, ID 83544Dear Mr. Brazell,Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is a national group of outdoors-people who cherish the...

Elimination of all cross country travel by ATV's on public land (BLM, USFS, State (IDL)). The IDFG must retain its ability to regulate ATV use as an aid to hunting. Non-motorized regulations...