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 ...

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 ...

Elk Hoof Disease 101 – What You Need to Know About the Disease Afflicting Elk in the Pacific Northwest and Beyond Finding an elk herd in the thick, fog-laced forests of Southwest Washington can be like finding a needle in a haystack. Rolling hills create countless pockets of concealment, often limiting visibility beyond 100 yards to clear-cuts and the sparse pasture or agricultural field. When a herd is found, it's not hard to get caught up in the excitement – we become absorbed in taking ...

To: The Office of Governor Jay Inslee Cc: Ruth Musgrave, Senior Policy Advisor for Natural Resources Subject: Fish and Wildlife Commission Reappointment- Molly Linville Dear Governor Inslee, On behalf of the Washington Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, an organization representing thousands of dedicated members and supporters across the state, we write to express our strong support for the reappointment of Commissioner Molly Linville to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission. ...

By Dan Wilson & Josh Wilund On August 1st, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced the first confirmed case of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Washington state. The news hit like a gut punch, and within minutes, our phones lit up with texts from board members, emails from conservation partners, and calls from media contacts. Deep down, many of us in Washington who are tracking CWD knew this day would come, though we hoped we had more time. For those unfamiliar, CWD ...