Media Chapter News State Issues Press Releases
Media Chapter News

Arizona BHA Helps Maintain Access on Perrin Ranch

The Arizona Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) have come together for a handful of rewarding days of volunteer work on Perrin Ranch in Unit 10, Arizona. This effort was part of the...
Media Chapter News

A Tribute to Arizona BHA Founding Member Kurt Bahti

  The Arizona Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is saddened to hear of the passing of founding member Kurt Bahti.  Kurt's dedication to protecting the earth’s most valuable resources and...
Media Chapter News State Issues

AZ Public Lands Bill Watch

HB 2021 This bill would require the holder of a conservation easement to make an annual payment in place of taxes on the reduction of value of the original parcel caused by the placement of the...
Media Chapter News

Tucson Hunting for Sustainability Recap

The fourth Annual Arizona Hunting for Sustainability (H4S) camp brought together new hunters, past participants, and mentors to chase quail, dove, and rabbits North of Tucson. Many of the new...
Media Chapter News

7th Annual Family Squirrel Camp Recap

The 7th Annual 2023 Family Squirrel Camp hosted by the Arizona Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and the Arizona Wildlife Federation is in the books! This event just keeps getting better and...
Media Chapter News

Operation Javelina

I received word in 2019 that the military was sending me to Fort Huachuca, Arizona. To save time among ourselves, my wife and I named the move “Operation Javelina.” Javelina - more properly...
Media Chapter News Press Releases

Administration Designates Grand Canyon Monument

News for Immediate ReleaseAug. 8, 2023Contact: Katie McKalip, 406-240-9262, mckalip@backcountryhunters.org Close to 1 million acres of public lands in Arizona permanently conserved via Antiquities...
Media Chapter News

AZ BHA Supports Adopt-A-Ranch Program with Cleanup

Last month The Arizona Chapter gathered volunteers for a clean up on the Perrin Ranch in Northern Arizona. The 2 day project had volunteers spread out across the ranch to clean up campgrounds,...
Media Chapter News State Issues

AZ BHA First Half Legislative Summary - June 2023

We are halfway through the legislative year with our representatives back in session since June 12. As usual, many measures were introduced, but very few impactful items related to public-land...
Media Chapter News Press Releases

House Bills Would Weaken, Strip Funding from Land and Water Conservation Fund

News for Immediate ReleaseApril 28, 2023Contact: Katie McKalip, 406-240-9262, mckalip@backcountryhunters.org BHA roundly condemns suite of House bills that would undermine America’s most...
Media Chapter News

Chasing Quail in Southern Arizona with New Hunters

Bella, my German wiredhaired pointer, rounded the prickly pear cactus and jammed onto a staunch point. I quietly motioned Tyrell and Harrison towards either side of her quivering body. As they...
Media Chapter News

Hunting for Sustainability Continues in Colorado, Montana, and Arizona

We owe tremendous thanks to our partners who made these workshops possible: Timber to Table, G&H Decoys, Boss Shotshells, OnX Maps, Teller Wildlife Refuge, Arizona Wildlife Federation, and...
Media Chapter News

Slate of Public Lands Bills and Nominee Considered in Senate Committee

A long-awaited markup of public lands legislation by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee was held on Thursday, July 21. Among a total of more than three dozen bills were eight pieces...
Media Chapter News State Issues

Arizona BHA Opposes Resolution That Would Put Habitat Conservation On the Back Burner

Recently a proposed concurrent resolution has been introduced in Arizona (HCR 2024) that opposes a global initiative to conserve 30% of our land and water resources by the year 2030. Commonly...
Media Chapter News

Support Science-Based Wildlife Management in Arizona

The Arizona Chapter has recently been working to gather information regarding the Arizona Game & Fish Department’s Proposed Hunt Guidelines. This comment period and process has been making the...
Media Chapter News

NAU Club Hosts Hunting for Sustainability Workshop

Is sustainability an overused word? Maybe; but it is a critical concept in the hunting and fishing world. From November 6th to November 8th BHA’s Arizona Chapter and the Northern Arizona...
Media Chapter News

July 2020 AZ BHA Newsletter

Download Newsletter PDF Here
Media Chapter News
Media Chapter News
Media Chapter News

Social Distancing on Arizona Public Lands

Bella the Public Land Bird Dog and I headed up the trail in Oak Creek Canyon into the designated wilderness. We went solo as we usually do and especially now with the need to reduce our contact...
Media Chapter News
Media Chapter News

The Lone Bidder: State Lands Easily Facilitate Private Transfer

Freeport-McMoran, the internationally involved and Arizona-based mining company, has once again acquired tracts of Arizona State Lands as the lone bidder. This time, acquiring nearly 26 square...
Media Chapter News
Media Chapter News State Issues

Opinion: AZ BHA Thanks Sen. McSally for Supporting LWCF

Some of my favorite traditions involve spending time outside with my family in the great outdoors. We make annual trips to places all over the state. We love to chase elusive trout in pristine...
Media Chapter News State Issues

Understanding Access on Arizona's State Trust Lands

Bella, my German Wirehair Pointer, and I quartered through the thick grass cover, prickly pear cactus, yucca, and a few pinon and juniper in search of Arizona’s renowned Gambel's quail. We were...
Media Chapter News

Winter 2020 Arizona Chapter News

This past summer we spent time with the University of Arizona on their Santa Rita Experimental Range continuing the placement of our OHV “Ride Legally” signs across the state. The Santa Rita is...
Media Chapter News Backcountry Journal

Arizona Chapter Defeats Public Land Transfer Attempts

This article originally appeared in the Fall 2019 issue of Backcountry Journal.   By Justin Nelson Earlier this year, Arizona BHA heavily engaged in a fight against two bills that had the...
Media Chapter News Field to Table

Fried Dove with Mesquite Pancakes and Smoked Prickly Pear Syrup

In September our Arizona chapter held its 1st annual Dove Cook-off and Pint Night to celebrate the opening of dove season. Held in Yuma, the event brought together BHA members and supporters from...
Media Chapter News

OHV Signage Protects Santa Rita Experimental Range

September 28, 2019 was National Public Lands Day and was celebrated by members of the Arizona chapter of BHA by assisting the University of Arizona’s Santa Rita Experimental Range (SRER) with the...
Media Chapter News

Arizona's OHV Signage Install Protects National Monument

Members of the Arizona chapter came from all over the state and braved the scorching desert heat to meet up in the town of Gila Bend and work alongside Bureau of Land Management employees to...
Media Chapter News

Summer 2019 Arizona Chapter News

We have been watching a handful of legislative bills that could impact public land access since the beginning of the year. HB2557 was amended to include the previously introduced HB2056 and HB2547...
Media Chapter News State Issues

Arizona BHA Policy Recap

The 54th session of the Arizona legislature concluded this May, and, thanks to the engagement and perseverance of hunters, anglers and other outdoor enthusiasts across the state, our voices were...
Media Chapter News State Issues

Letter: Let’s Celebrate Public Lands Day in Arizona

It is not often that a bill moves through the legislature with such widespread and bipartisan support as HB 2271, which would establish the first Saturday in April as Public Lands Day throughout...
Media Chapter News

Arizona Chapter Volunteers Pack Gila Trout into Backcountry

Most trout stockings involve hard-working hatchery personnel, a hatchery truck, and an exciting ride down a stocking pipe for those trout! However, sometimes native trout need to get into remote...
Media Chapter News State Issues

Arizona BHA Leads OHV Signage Project to Protect Habitat & Access

The Arizona BHA Chapter received a grant from the Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation (AZSFWC) to help fund production of 200 aluminum trailhead signs, a full page ad in next season’s Elk...
Media Chapter News

Arizona BHA Spring 2016 Update

AZ BHA has joined Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation. We attended our first meeting in February. This organization unites the most important conservation organizations in Arizona and...
Media Chapter News State Issues Publications
Media Chapter News State Issues

Hunters Don't Need Exceptions to the Rules

Research clearly shows that off-trail motorized use can have significant impacts on fish and wildlife habitat.  Thus I am struck by the fact that the Arizona Game & Fish continue to advocate for...
Media Chapter News State Issues

Arizona BHA Comments on Tonto Travel Management Plan

September 4, 2014   RE: Comments from Arizona Backcountry Hunters & Anglers on Tonto National Forest Travel Management Plan   Neil Bosworth, Forest Supervisor,   Please consider the following...
Media Chapter News

Arizona BHA - Our Newest Chapter!

Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (BHA) is proud to announce the formation of a new chapter in Arizona. The official BHA roster lists only 20 members for Arizona. Twelve of these members...
Media Chapter News

Arizona BHA Members Meet to Form State Chapter

In Arizona, Phoenix area BHA members escaped the heat this past weekend (6/29) for a meeting at Bass Pro Shops in Mesa, AZ. In recognition of a growing need for a voice that better reflects...