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 ...

This is your March 4th edition 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. 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, and those will be added to the Spotter when they are strategic to surface. Jump to ...

The Wyoming Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) has long advocated for sportsmen’s and women’s ability to access public lands via corner crossing—the act of moving between adjoining public parcels at their corners. While we appreciate the intent of House Bill 99 to clarify legal ambiguities, we encourage lawmakers to address issues in its current draft to ensure it protects public access without creating unintended consequences. Wyoming BHA secured a significant victory two years ...

Earlier this year, with your help, Wyoming BHA helped to defeat HB60 in the legislature. Our efforts were aimed at protecting the investment of hunter and angler dollars from a significantly expanded damages program that would incentivize wildlife to consolidate on private lands without any corresponding increase in public access. Unfortunately, in July we saw this game damages plan renewed by the Game & Fish Department through a regulation change, despite the overwhelming negative response ...

WYOMING — The corner crossing lawsuit is on appeal at the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit in Colorado after moving from state court in Wyoming, to federal court in Wyoming, and now to federal court in Colorado. Earlier this month, the lawyers representing the four men fighting for the right to access public lands submitted a brief to the court summing up the issues and current standing of the case. Read below to learn more about the arguments being made to keep our ...