FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 11, 2025  Contact: media@backcountryhunters.org    MISSOULA, Mont. — Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) is rebuking a sweeping new proposal released by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee that would force the sale of up to 3 million acres of public lands under the guise of a solution to the housing crisis. This proposal—led by committee chair Senator Mike Lee (R-UT)—would apply to public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest ...

After an extremely busy session, the Utah Legislature wrapped up on Friday, March 7. The chapter leaders of Utah Backcountry Hunters and Anglers tracked several bills this year and participated in multiple public comment opportunities to voice our support / opposition. BHA members and supporters sent over 5000 messages to legislators in Utah opposing bills attempting to privatize our public trust resources. This session was particularly exciting due to the restructuring of Utah’s ...

The Power of Community: BHA’s Mission Across the Country by Alec Boyd-Devine I recently had the opportunity to attend the Western Hunting and Conservation Expo in Salt Lake City, Utah. Having done short contract work in Utah over the past few years—and spending some time hunting and fishing while there—I’ve kept an eye on the Utah BHA chapter, hoping for a chance to attend one of their events. When I learned that BHA Utah was hosting a Public Lands Party after the expo at a nearby bar, I ...

For the last handful of years, Utah BHA’s Board has been involved with the Utah Sportsmen’s Caucus at the Capitol during the Legislative Session. In the past, the Caucus served as an opportunity for Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) with an interest in wildlife issues to come together multiple times during the Legislative Session to shake hands with legislators and hear directly from legislators running bills related to wildlife. While it was beneficial to have a forum to converse with ...

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 ...