State Policy Spotter
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 is not a comprehensive list of legislation or issues that chapters are working on, but rather a spotlight in the moment of what is moving. There are many more bills and issues BHA's chapters are grappling with so be sure to check out individual chapter pages for more news and updates.
Pennsylvania: Sunday Hunting. News
The Pennsylvania chapter is celebrating a major milestone as House Bill 1431, which repeals the ban on Sunday hunting, a major obstacle to hunting access for at least a century, is heading to the Governor’s desk for signature. The PA Chapter embarked on a public campaign to repeal the ban in 2018, and was the first national non-profit to do so. The chapter credits this victory to the collective efforts of its policy team and members, whose dedication, outreach, and advocacy, through calls, emails, and many days spent with legislators in the capitol, propelled the repeal forward over the last eight years. Credit also goes to many partner organizations, individuals and to Representative Mandy Steele, the bill’s sponsor, and Senator Dan Laughlin, who ran a companion bill, for their leadership and support of hunters and future hunters.
Utah: Chapter Rallies 21 Sportsman's Organizations and 56 Utah-based Businesses in Opposition to Public Land Sales. News
Twenty-one Utah-based sportsmen’s organizations and over 50 Utah-based businesses in the hunting and fishing industries signed on to a coalition letter that opposed the sale of federal public lands in the budget reconciliation bill. The letter, which requested that the sale of public lands be removed from the bill completely, was hand delivered to the offices of Utah Senators Mike Lee and John Curtis by Utah BHA Chapter Chair Perry Hall. The businesses represented in the letter include small fly-fishing guide operations, gear retailers, major hunting equipment manufacturers, and everything in between.
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California: Chapter Helps to Mobilize Opposition to a Bill that Would Restrict Hunters from Purchasing Bird Dogs. News
The California chapter has joined partner organizations by submitting a comment letter in opposition to AB 519 (Berman), a bill that would prevent hunters from purchasing bird dogs in California. The Chapter also provided testimony in Committee in opposition to this bill on June 30th. The letter requests that Assembly members oppose the bill, which would make it illegal for a broker to assist in the sale, offer for sale, or adoption of a dog unless the bill is amended to exempt hunting dogs.
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North Carolina: Inshore Shrimp Trawling. News
The North Carolina chapter had actively advocated for the passage of HB442, a bill aimed at addressing the harmful impacts of large-scale commercial, inshore bottom shrimp trawling. As the only state on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts still allowing this practice, North Carolina faces significant ecological and economic consequences, including the annual destruction of hundreds of millions of juvenile fish like Southern flounder, gray trout, and blue crab. This destructive trawling not only depletes marine resources but also threatens the state’s fishing heritage, tourism industry, and outdoor recreation opportunities. The chapter had emphasized the importance of protecting public fishing access and conserving marine habitats for future generations, urging legislators to join other shrimping states in prohibiting this practice. Unfortunately, despite these efforts, the North Carolina House ultimately killed the bill, halting progress toward preserving the state’s fishing opportunities for all and ensuring the health these fisheries for years to come.
Nevada: Hunting, Conservation and Environmental Organizations Formally Protest Greenlink North RMP Amendments. News
Last year, Nevada BHA submitted comments in opposition to the proposed Greenlink North transmission Project, citing threats to wildlife, fragmentation of habitat, and more while recommending an alternative location for project siting along the already developed I-80 corridor. This prior opposition meant the chapter had standing in the NEPA process to protest the final decision along with several other hunting, conservation and environmental orgs. This project could fragment some of the most pristine and ecologically significant landscapes in Nevada, disrupting habitats that are critical for both game and non-game species.
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New York: Crossbow Regulations. News
The New York chapter successfully advocated for a bill (A8330a) that modernizes and expands crossbow use in the state. The legislation brings New York’s crossbow statutes in line with modern equipment. It also grants the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) the authority to allow crossbow use during any big-game season where longbows are permitted, rather than limiting it to late-season periods. To address safety in densely populated areas, the bill introduces a 500-foot set-back buffer in suburban counties like Westchester, Nassau, and Suffolk, while allowing other counties to opt in with similar restrictions. These changes aim to enhance hunting opportunities while ensuring safety and addressing community concerns, reflecting the chapter’s commitment to balancing tradition, conservation, and giving regulation authority to DEC.
Idaho: Chapter Mobilized Wave of Grassroots Opposition to Public Land Sales for Flood the Lines Day. News
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 Day”. These events activated over 200 public land owners between Boise, Lewiston, and Moscow, ID to call, email, and snail mail their elected officials while gathering at local watering holes Payette Brewing, Groundworks Brewing, Hunga Dunga Brewing. These efforts complimented 1944 Idaho based actions taken through BHA’s action center throughout the day.
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June 2025
Alaska: Chapter Continues to Amplify Threat from Second Crossing to Mendenhall Wetlands. Take Action
The Mendenhall wetlands in Juneau, AK are not only a haven for hunters and anglers—they’re a globally important bird area and vital spawning grounds for anadromous fish—and now this irreplaceable refuge is under serious threat. The proposed Juneau Douglas Second Crossing could shut down public access for hunting and fishing and cause irreversible harm to critical habitat for fish and migratory birds. Alaska BHA is calling for accountability and science-based planning in the final draft of the PEL study that was just released, and has launched an action alert during the comment period that runs until June 9. According to Alaska Fish and Game, the wetlands provide over 2,000 annual hunting days on average and over 20,000 user days annually. Catch a recording of the On Step Alaska Podcast with Mary Glaves for more info and take action today.
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Protect the Brooks Range, Oppose Ambler Road
BHA also continues to push back against threats to the Brooks Range in the budget reconciliation process. The Chapter was pleased to see the Ambler Road provision removed from the House bill after mobilizing opposition and submitting comments to the House Natural Resources committee. The threat still looms in the Senate, however, and BHA's bringing everything we've got to protect the Brooks Range, one of the last truly wild landscapes in North America from development of a 211-mile long private industrial mining road.
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Colorado: Chapter Is Firing on all Fronts and Finding its Targets. News
The Colorado Chapter is applauding several new laws that it helped to move through the legislature this session, including:
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Senate Bill 49: Making the habitat stamp program permanent. The Colorado Wildlife Habitat Stamp Program within Parks and Wildlife has invested over $212.6 million to preserve wildlife habitat and ensure recreational access since 2006. Since its inception, the state agency has used the funding to secure conservation easements on 300,650 acres, grant public access via easements on 156,100 acres, acquire 34,950 acres for Parks and Wildlife, and ensure river bank access along 393 miles of river bank.
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Senate Bill 53: Reclassifying bison as both wildlife and livestock. This new law will classify bison as both wildlife and livestock, granting protections to wild animals that wander in from Utah — something not possible under prior law, which treats all bison as domestic. Notably, the law doesn’t authorize reintroduction, but aims to safeguard the few wild bison that have crossed the state line in recent years and honors their cultural significance to Native communities while potentially paving the way for a hunting season in the future if herd management objectives are achieved.
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Senate Bill 168: Prevention of wildlife trafficking. This law will strengthen Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s ability to combat wildlife trafficking by expanding enforcement tools, increasing penalties, and initiating research to better understand the scope of the issue. The bill responds to a growing problem linked to poaching and international trade of species like bears, eagles, reptiles, and big cats—a threat to both native ecosystems and public safety.
Colorado BHA also helped to kill House Bill 1258, a dangerous move that would have made the North American Model of Wildlife Management optional, potentially removing hunting and fishing as the main tools for managing for wildlife.
The Chapter recently hosted its 3rd annual Beers, Bands & Barbed Wire Strands event which brought close to 200 public land owners together to remove 7 miles of barrier fencing for wildlife movement, restore wet meadow habitat, take action against public land sales in Congress and rally support for the newly formed Stream Access Coalition.
Finally, Colorado BHA provided written comment and launched an action alert in opposition to funding for the Mad Rabbit trail Project in Steamboat Springs.
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Florida: Black Bear Hunt. News
The Florida chapter has been working hard to bring back the Florida black bear hunt, which is moving forward as the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) recently approved amendments to bear hunting rules. These rules are expected to be finalized in the August 2025 Commission meeting, potentially taking effect during the 2025-26 hunting season. Big props to chapter leader Mark Barton who has been making the media rounds, appearing in both television and print media in support of the hunt.
North Carolina: Disaster Recovery Stream/River Restoration. Take Action
The South Carolina Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers raises concerns about North Carolina House Bill 1012, which allocates $500 million for Hurricane Helene disaster recovery. While the funding is welcomed, the issue lies in Part III, Section 3.1(a), which mandates the use of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE) contractors for waterway and riparian buffer cleanup. Reports from affected areas indicate that USACOE contractors have caused additional environmental damage by ignoring best practices recommended by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission and the NC Department of Environmental Quality. In contrast, local governments that chose their own contractors achieved better outcomes in preserving aquatic habitats and water quality.
The bill, already approved by the NC House and now in the NC Senate, restricts flexibility by requiring USACOE contractors unless they are unavailable or inefficient. The chapter has urged the NC Senate Committee on Rules and Operations to remove this section, arguing that it undermines local control and environmental stewardship. They encourage members and supporters to contact their state senators to advocate for the removal of Part III, Section 3.1(a) from HB 1012.
Oregon: BHA Applauds New Law Ensuring Access to Navigable Waters. News
The Oregon Chapter is celebrating after shepherding a bill through the legislature aimed at improving the process to determine navigable waters by the Department of State Lands (DSL). This will ensure long term access for hunters, anglers and anyone who wants to float many of the state's iconic waterways. Due to a historically complicated and burdensome process, only a few rivers have actually been declared navigable in Oregon, despite meeting every qualification. Hunters and anglers have even been harassed for wading or anchoring in places that would have no problem meeting the controlling test of navigability, and this law helps the DSL streamline the process to provide clarity for landowners and the public. The chapter submitted written and verbal testimony in both chambers of the legislature to ensure the commonsense solution could move forward.
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Rhode Island: Coastal Resources Management Council Reform. News
The Rhode Island team of the New England Chapter is advocating for the reorganization of the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) by supporting bill H5706. This initiative aims to disband the politically appointed council and delegate its authority to a newly established independent executive agency. The chapter argues that CRMC has consistently failed to hold regular meetings, complete essential regulatory tasks promptly, and make legally sound decisions. The current structure is deemed insufficient for the effective management of Rhode Island's coastal resources. Transitioning to an independent agency is seen as crucial for safeguarding the public interest in managing the state's invaluable coastal zone. For more details, read the chapter’s letter backing H5706.
Wyoming: Corner Crossing Fight Headed to the Supreme Court and BHA is Once Again Fundraising for the Win. Take Action
From the beginning, the Wyoming Chapter of BHA has stood its ground in defense of the four Missouri hunters who were wrongly sued for civil trespass simply because they stepped from one piece of public land to another without ever setting foot on private land. BHA helped raise more than $220,000 from grassroots donors nationwide to fund their legal defense. In addition, BHA submitted two amicus briefs in federal court outlining the importance of the case to millions of public land users and reinforcing the legality of corner crossing under current law. “Corner crossing has always been about the right of the public to access the lands they own,” said Patrick Berry, President and CEO of BHA. “The 10th Circuit made it clear: stepping from one corner of public land to another is not a crime. If the Supreme Court takes this case, we’ll be ready—because access for all is worth fighting for, all the way to the highest court in the land.” If the Supreme Court takes the case it will establish binding precedent on this issue across the nation where access to millions of acres of public lands are still up in the air.
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May 2025
California: BHA Drafts Resolution and Submits Petition in Support of a Second Bear Tag. Take Action
After many years advocating for science-based management of fish and wildlife, California BHA celebrates the release of the Final Black Bear Conservation Plan and has submitted a petition to the Fish & Game Commission seeking to amend Title 14, § 708.12 - Bear License Tags to allow for a second bear tag. Take action and read more about California BHA’s work on black bears, including leading opposition to attempts to ban bear hunting, fundraising $8k for a population study, as well as several black bear biology seminars and hands-on hunt camps.
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Colorado: Attorney General Weighs in on 10th Circuit Corner Crossing Decision. News
The Colorado Attorney General's office recently released a position regarding the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals decision on corner crossing. While this interpretation is a clear and resounding win for public access to federal lands, it opens the door for future conversations and stakeholder engagement regarding access to state lands that are open to the public but that will appear to remain "corner locked" following this interpretation. Join us at BHA's annual North American Rendezvous this summer for a deep dive and panel discussion titled - Corner Crossing is not a Crime - where we unpack this 10th Circuit ruling and discuss its implications inside and outside of the 10th circuit.
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Maine: Right to Hunt & Fish. News
The New England Chapter’s team from Maine has submitted testimony and has been working to support a amendment to Maine’s constitution to establish to right to hunt and fish. LD 820 is similar to other constitutional efforts in other states to protect the right to hunt, fish, and trap in that it only extends those rights within state regulations. The bill has received bipartisan support and has passed out of committee and could see a floor vote in the near future. It will require a ⅔ vote by the house and senate to go on a future ballot.
Montana: BHA Celebrates Priority Bills Awaiting Governor's Signature. News
As the final gavel dropped and Montana’s 2025 legislative session came to a close, the dedicated members and volunteers from the Montana Chapter of BHA took a deep breath—and then a moment to celebrate. The Chapter is proud to report that three of Montana BHA’s top-priority bills made it through the legislature and now await the governor’s signature. These bills include major wins for conservation, public land access and wildlife funding; they represent meaningful progress for Montana hunters, anglers, and anyone who values the state’s wild places and wildlife. Learn more about what passed, what’s next, and how these bills will shape Montana’s outdoor future.
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North Carolina: Protecting River Access. News
, a contentious section of North Carolina's Senate Bill 220 has been successfully removed, preserving public access for recreational activities. The original bill contained a provision (Section 4) that would have prohibited launching canoes or kayaks from public rights of way, such as areas beneath bridges with small pull-offs. This amendment represents a big win for public access rights to North Carolina’s waterways.
North Dakota: Balancing Pronghorn Hunting Opportunities. News
North Dakota has achieved a significant win for hunting opportunities with a fairer distribution of pronghorn licenses between landowners and the general public. Previously, the state law led to an imbalanced distribution, where a large portion of pronghorn tags were allocated free of charge to landowners, leaving fewer available to the public lottery. Specifically, the system allocated the first 50 tags in a unit exclusively to landowners, and the remaining tags were divided equally between landowners and the public lottery. In a unit with only 54 tags available, this resulted in 52 tags going to landowner hunters. However, the introduction of SB 2155 aimed to rectify this by instituting an equal 50/50 distribution between landowner and non-landowner hunters. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of the North Dakota Chapter, this bill was recently signed into law by the Governor, ensuring a more balanced allocation of hunting licenses.
Oregon: Chapter Applauds Passage of Legislation that will Advance Wildlife Crossing Collaboration. News
HB 2978 is a bipartisan proposal aimed at reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions and preserving habitat connectivity by enhancing collaboration between Oregon’s transportation and wildlife agencies through infrastructure like overpasses and underpasses - it is awaiting the Governor's signature. With nearly 4,900 collisions in 2022 alone costing over $91 million, the bill seeks to protect wildlife, public safety, and Oregon’s outdoor heritage. OR BHA strongly supported the measure by signing on to a fact sheet for legislators, submitting testimony in committee and activating grassroots support through an action alert.
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April 2025
Connecticut: Establishing a Black Bear Hunt & Sunday Hunting. News
The Connecticut State Leadership team from the New England chapter recently delivered testimony on two bills to the CT Joint Committee on Environment. The first in support of a bill to establish a bear hunting season. Connecticut has experienced a significant uptick in bear-human conflicts and the population is steadily rising. The current approach of non-lethal management has not sufficiently curbed these rising encounters. The second bill which the chapter also supported would lift the general prohibition of hunting on Sunday, which would allow for at least 25 additional hunting days across the various seasons.
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Idaho: SJM 104 Echoes “Transfer to the States” Movement. Take Action
This week Idaho lawmakers passed Senate Joint Memorial 104 (SJM 104) requesting a transfer of Camas Creek National Wildlife Refuge to state ownership. While SJM 104 is not legally binding, there are steps the federal government could take to dispose of this land and place it in state ownership that we fear may gain traction with the support of the state delegation. Idaho BHA is encouraging supporters, and all Americans, to take action now in support of the Public Lands in Public Hands Act which would require congressional approval for the sale or transfer of publicly accessible tracts of federal land greater than 300 acres, or greater than five acres if accessible by public waterway. This would add a layer of protection to the Camas Creek NWF and so many more of our cherished public lands in Idaho and beyond.
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Illinois: Improving Stream Access for All. News
Illinois stream access is often misunderstood because the state law differs from federal law. While federal law may deem a stream public, Illinois law considers both the stream bed and flowing water as privately owned. This affects many rivers, such as the Upper Sangamon and Dupage, making them private under state law. Despite having public amenities like boat ramps and fishing guides on these rivers, using them can be considered trespassing. The Illinois Chapter has been leading the charge on a bill that would align Illinois stream access laws with federal stream laws, which would open up 87,000 miles of streams and rivers to public access. It’s difficult to predict how far this bill will travel this session, but one thing is for sure, the chapter is taking it further than it has been in previous years.
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Florida: Reinstating a Black Bear Hunt in Florida. Take Action
The last time a bear hunt occurred in FL was in 2015 after anti-conservation groups sued the state and ended the hunt. Since that time, the bear population has steadily grown and human/bear conflicts are at an all time high. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is entertaining the possibility of reinstating the hunt and the Florida Chapter has been working to support this effort. FWC will be hosting a series of virtual public hearings to collect feedback on a proposed hunt on April 2, 3, and 5. Click here for more information. Please consider voicing support for this hunt!
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Montana: BHA Rallies Against Anti-Public Lands Legislation. Take Action
Last week, Montana BHA members showed up in full force at the state legislature, advocating for the conservation and stewardship of our public lands, wildlife habitat, and hunting heritage. The bills that the chapter testified in opposition to include: HB 676 - Streamlining the Sale of State Lands; SB 307 - Cutting Funds for Habitat Montana Program; SJ 14 - Release of Federal Wilderness Study Areas; HJ 24 - Support for state of Utah Lawsuit against the federal government regarding public lands; and with support from a lobbyist paid for by the chapter, Montana BHA was able to kill HB 379 - Revising laws related to state land leases for commercial purposes and the sale of state land. Read news coverage of BHA’s testimony on several bills from three different news outlets and Take Action at the link below.
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Utah: 2025 Utah Legislative Session Recap & Impacts. News
After an extremely busy legislative session, Utah BHA leaders break down their extensive engagement and the fallout from several attempts to privatize public trust resources in this blog post. Despite being overshadowed by the passing of H.B. 202, a transferrable tag bill that allows landowners to profit off the public trust with no benefit to the public, the chapter covers a couple good bills that passed in this write-up and they also mention a bad stream access bill they killed. During this session, BHA members and supporters sent over 5000 messages to legislators in Utah opposing bills attempting to privatize our public trust resources and helped to influence a number of bills through their seat on the Advisory Council for the Utah Sportsman’s Caucus.
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Wyoming: 10th Circuit Court Affirms District Court Decision in Corner-Crossing Case, Upholding Public Access Rights. News
In a huge victory for public land owners, BHA applauded the ruling by United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit affirming the right to “corner-cross" to access public lands. The ruling marks a pivotal decision that cements the legality of public access to millions of acres of public lands in the West within the jurisdiction of the 10th Circuit. "This decision is a major win for hunters, anglers, and anyone who values the freedom to access and enjoy our public lands," said BHA’s President and CEO Patrick Berry. "The American ideal of public land ownership depends on access to the landscapes and wild places that belong to all of us, not just a select few. This ruling makes it clear that corner-crossing is a legally acceptable way to preserve that access."
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Devin O'Dea
Devin grew up abalone diving, spearfishing, and backpacking in CA before discovering a love of bowhunting and wing shooting. He worked as a marketing manager for a carbon division of Mitsubishi, but the allure of adventure and wild places led him to BHA
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Devin grew up abalone diving, spearfishing, and backpacking in CA before discovering a love of bowhunting and wing shooting. He worked as a marketing manager for a carbon division of Mitsubishi, but the allure of adventure and wild places led him to BHA
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