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 navigable waters must retain Clean Water Act protections WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court has ruled against clean water and wetlands, narrowing interpretations for the test that determines Clean Water Act protections under what are called “waters of the United States.” The ruling yesterday in favor ...

News for Immediate ReleaseMay 19, 2023Contact: Katie McKalip, 406-240-9262, mckalip@backcountryhunters.org  The bicameral Clean Energy Minerals Reform Act would impose industry royalties and fees, fund abandoned mine cleanup, protect cultural, Tribal resources WASHINGTON – The Clean Energy Minerals Reform Act, bicameral legislation that would modernize hardrock mining laws in the United States and fund the restoration of abandoned mines, was introduced this morning by House Natural Resources ...

News for Immediate ReleaseMay 19, 2023Contact: Katie McKalip, 406-240-9262, mckalip@backcountryhunters.org  Montana’s House Bill 486 increases the fine 10X for illegally blocking public roads Missoula, Mont. – More than 3 million acres of public lands in Montana are inaccessible. House Bill 486 - which increases the fines for illegally blocking public roads from $10 per day to $100 per day and is now law - seeks to stop that number from growing any higher. The previous fine for illegally ...

News for Immediate Release May 3, 2023 Contact: Katie McKalip, 406-240-9262, mckalip@backcountryhunters.org  BHA continues fight for public waters access in the Centennial State  DENVER, Colo. – As the Colorado Supreme Court takes up consideration of Hill v. Warsewa, a lawsuit that has the potential to drastically change public access to the state’s waters, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is continuing to fight for the interests of public lands hunters, anglers and others who rely on our ...

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 successful conservation and access program WASHINGTON – Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is strongly criticizing four bills in the House of Representatives that take aim at the Land and Water Conservation Fund and the Great American Outdoors Act, the bipartisan law that ensures continued LWCF funding. Together ...

News for Immediate ReleaseApril 14, 2023Contact: Katie McKalip, 406-240-9262, mckalip@backcountryhunters.org The new issue of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers’ magazine, featuring access-related coverage, is available now MISSOULA, Mont. – The Access Issue, a special edition of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers’ quarterly magazine, Backcountry Journal, is arriving in mailboxes across North America. Here are some of the highlights of an issue that explores the critical link between healthy habitat ...

News for Immediate ReleaseMarch 30, 2023Contact: Katie McKalip, 406-240-9262, mckalip@backcountryhunters.org BHA commends administration’s ‘forward-looking, comprehensive’ management approach to lands, waters, fish, wildlife; urges members of the public to provide input WASHINGTON – Responding to this afternoon’s announcement by the Interior Department of a proposal to facilitate balanced administration of Bureau of Land Management lands, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers lauded the department’s ...

News for Immediate ReleaseMarch 31, 2023Contact: Katie McKalip, 406-240-9262, mckalip@backcountryhunters.org  U.S. Senate reinvigorates bipartisan push for state and Tribal conservation of at-risk species with $1 billion-plus funding bill WASHINGTON – Popular, bipartisan legislation to secure funding for state and Tribal efforts to conserve at-risk species was introduced in the U.S. Senate late yesterday by Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Thom Tillis (R-NC). The Recovering America’s ...

News for Immediate ReleaseMarch 30, 2023Contact: Katie McKalip, 406-240-9262, mckalip@backcountryhunters.org An impressive slate of honorees receives BHA’s 2023 awards MISSOULA, Mont. – At the 12th annual North American Rendezvous, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers announced its 2023 award winners. BHA’s highest honors recognize individuals, chapters and entities that set themselves apart with their demonstrated commitment and unending effort on behalf of public lands and waters, fish and ...

News for Immediate ReleaseMarch 21, 2023Contact: Katie McKalip, 406-240-9262, mckalip@backcountryhunters.org President Biden designates Avi Kwa Ame National Monument and Castner Range National Monument following requests by Tribes, hunters, business owners, local residents WASHINGTON – Valuable wildlife habitat and important cultural lands will be permanently conserved following the Biden administration’s designation today of Avi Kwa Ame National Monument in southern Nevada and Castner Range ...