History In 2011, a law was passed permitting natural gas drilling at state parks in Ohio. (Ohio Senate approves bill to allow oil and gas drilling at state parks). Largely due to public concern about the impact on state parks, then Governor John Kasich effectively eliminated leasing of these lands by not appointing members to the Oil and Gas Land Commission (Ohio House bill would ease fracking in state park). There were various attempts to restart the process, but none was successful until ...

To be beaten in a game when you’re on the field and playing hard – that’s a defeat you can live with.  To be beaten in a game that you didn’t even know had started – that’s just not fair.  The good news is, we are not beaten yet.  But it’s a bitter pill to swallow knowing that legislators and special interest groups hid behind a tiny piece of legislation aimed at 4H poultry projects to try and pull a fast one on Ohio’s citizens.  Enter the “Chicken Bill” – HB 507.  And yes, all the puns I ...

Ohio BHA's Policy & Advocacy Committee hopes you follow our journey as we learn about the impacts of lead in hunting and angling, confront our own misconceptions about the subject, and consider voluntary and incremental adoptions of non-lead alternatives as we seek to become better stewards of our public lands and waters and encourage additional research and continued education and communication. Conservation-minded hunters recognize they are stewards and are increasingly aware that ...

Dear Ohio BHA Members, Over the last few days, many have found themselves nervously perusing different states’ fish and game websites to see what the latest responses are to the COVID19 situation.  For those of you unaware, over the last week there have been several states that have closed some of their hunting/fishing seasons.  Washington closed its youth turkey season, which was supposed to take place April 4-5. Nebraska has stopped selling non-resident hunting licenses for the current ...

The Wayne National Forest is currently in the process of revising its Forest Plan that has been in place since 2006. Now in the assessment phase, the Forest Service is soliciting input from partners, stakeholders, and the public on how things have changed since the 2006 Plan was adopted. These changes may include, but are not limited to: changes in recreation, shifting forest conditions, different land uses and pressures on the National Forest, and more. Ohio Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is ...