Stewardship in Action: Fence Removal, Field Education, and Sweat Equity  On the Thursday leading into Rende 2025, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers and the Missoula BLM field office kicked off the weekend with a boots on the ground stewardship project. Twenty-five volunteers and four BLM staff headed up the Blackfoot River, just east of Missoula, to remove half a mile of old fencing along Belmont Creek.     Over coffee and a light breakfast, the BLM's Assistant Field Manager gave a ...

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 ...

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. “Sine Die” is Latin for “without a day,” signaling the end of the session, and this year it also marks the culmination of months of hard work, strategic advocacy, and grassroots activism from BHA members across the state. The Chapter is proud to report that three of Montana BHA’s top-priority ...

In 2021, Montana led the nation by dedicating a portion of marijuana tax revenue to the Habitat Montana program. That funding has already delivered significant returns, including improved public access and habitat conservation, most notably through the creation of the Big Snowy Mountain Wildlife Management Area which improved access to nearly 100,000 acres of federal public lands. Yet every session since, this funding has faced legislative threats. It’s time we move from defense to ...

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. As the grassroots voice for hunters, anglers, and all who appreciate Montana’s wild spaces, we have been closely monitoring and pushing back against several bad bills that threaten these resources.  HB 676: Streamlining the Sale of State Lands One of the most pressing pieces of legislation ...