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 wading through the marsh wearing heavy waders and a bag overloaded with decoys, BHA’s chapter leaders are trudging through a few bills this legislative session that will require careful footwork and dogged persistence. While there are many mission critical bills currently in front of BHA's chapters, one ...

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 conservation easement. HB 2022 This bill would require the holder of a conservation easement to maintain the property free of noxious weeds that are a threat to health or safety. HB2021 and HB2022 are an attempt to dissuade conservation easements through inconvenience and complexity and they ignore ...

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 greatest mule deer herds. Named by the Southern Paiute, the “home of the beavers” rises to an elevation of 9,300 feet and extends 25 miles southward into the stunning Pink Cliffs. The Paunsaugunt mule deer herd numbers around 5,200. This prized herd starts their 78-mile winter migration from the Plateau ...

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, illegal dump sites, and the ranch’s original ranch house that was formerly used by sheep herders.   Trailers full of tires, wire fencing, trash, old camper shells, and even an abandoned boat were hauled off the landscape. The Arizona Chapter was able to organize this event with the help of the Arizona ...

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 approached, the Gambel’s quail rocketed out of the cactus cover. Two shots rang out at precisely the same moment. The bird fell to the ground and Bella was on top it—followed by a quick retrieve. They both had hit the bird! Tyrell and Harrison were participating in a three-day mentored quail hunt with ...