“I have read many definitions of what is a conservationist, and written not a few myself, but I suspect that the best one is written not with a pen, but with an axe. It is a matter of what a man thinks about while chopping, or while deciding what to chop. A conservationist is one who is humbly aware that with each stroke he is writing his signature on the face of his land.” (Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac) In the past, we have written about the importance of science-based forest ...

TAKE ACTION- Indiana wetlands continue to be in the crosshairs during the 2024 session with HB 1383. Backed by the Indiana Builders Association, state officials are once again reworking classifications of wetlands reducing many of our highly protected Class III wetlands down to just Class I and II.  Wednesday, HB 1383 passed out of the Senate Environmental Affairs Committee by a 7-2 vote despite the majority of the 20 testimonies being in opposition. The bill now goes to the senate floor ...

By: Brian Stone PHD Indiana’s native bird populations are in trouble. Several species are declining, and US Forest Service proposals to address the issue in the Hoosier National Forest have been met with resistance. Most recently, federal legislation known as the Benjamin Harrison National Recreation Area and Wilderness Establishment Act (S. 2990) has been introduced by Senator Mike Braun (R-IN) to create a wilderness designation comprising for approximately 15,300 acres of disconnected ...

The Indiana Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (BHA), the voice for our public lands in the Hoosier state, is excited to announce a new volunteer partnership with the U.S. Forest Service in the Hoosier National Forest. Located in southern Indiana’s hill country, the Hoosier National Forest consists of 204,000 acres of hardwood forests, streams, and backcountry trails. Known to outdoor enthusiasts as simply “the Hoosier,” this forest is Indiana’s largest public-land holding, ...

Expanding Public Land Hunting Access in the Hoosier State By Rob Seilheimer Photo by Adam Perrry   The Department of the Interior looks to keep its promise to expand hunting and fishing access on our public lands. According to a Department of the Interior press release, “U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt announced … a historic proposal for new and expanded hunting and fishing opportunities across more than 2.3 million acres at 97 national wildlife refuges and 9 national fish ...