Media Chapter News State Issues State Policy Spotter 7/1/2025 This is your July edition of BHA's State Policy Spotter - a high-level scan of state policy and legislation impacting our wild public lands, waters and wildlife across North America. Note - this... Tags: Montana Chapter, idaho news, Idaho Chapter, Florida Chapter, Florida Issues, Florida news, New England news, New England issues, New England Chapter, Illinois Chapter, Illinois issues, Illinois news, Montana issues, Utah Chapter, Utah Issues, Utah News, Idaho Issues, policy blog, the campfire Download
Media Chapter News State Issues Press Releases BHA Condemns Senate Proposal to Sell Off Up to 3 Million Acres of Public Lands 6/11/2025 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... Tags: Colorado News, Colorado Issues, Washington News, idaho news, Utah Issues, Utah News, Idaho Issues, policy blog, the campfire, featured, press releases, Alaska issues, New Mexico news, Alaska news, Arizona news, Arizona issues, California issues, California news, Nevada issues, Nevada News, New Mexico issues, Oregon Issues, oregon news, washington issues, Wyoming Issues, wyoming news Download
Media Chapter News State Issues Press Releases Public Lands Victory: BHA Applauds Removal of Land Sale Amendment from House Budget Bill 5/21/2025 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 21, 2025 Contact: media@backcountryhunters.org Public Lands Victory: BHA Applauds Removal of Public Land Sale Amendment from House Budget Reconciliation... Tags: Utah Chapter, Utah Issues, Utah News, policy blog, the campfire, featured, press releases, Nevada issues, Nevada News, Nevada Chapter Download
Media Chapter News State Issues Press Releases Reintroduced Senate Bill and New House Companion Would Conserve More Than 700,000 Acres of Public Lands in Colorado 5/19/2025 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 19, 2025 Contact: media@backcountryhunters.org WASHINGTON, D.C. – Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA), North America’s leading public lands advocacy group, is... Tags: Colorado News, Colorado Issues, Colorado BHA, policy blog, the campfire, press releases Download
Media Chapter News State Issues Press Releases BHA Pushes for Permanent Protections of Two Iconic New Mexico Watersheds 4/22/2025 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 22, 2025 Contact: Kaden McArthur, Director of Policy & Government Relations, mcarthur@backcountryhunters.org BHA Pushes for Permanent Protections of Two Iconic... Tags: policy blog, press releases, New Mexico news, New Mexico issues, New Mexico Chapter Download
Media Chapter News State Issues Press Releases Hunters and Anglers Applaud the Reintroduction of the Ruby Mountains Protection Act 4/11/2025 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 11, 2025 Contacts: Dan Johnson, California/Nevada Public Lands Manager, Trout Unlimited, dan.johnson@tu.org Kaden McArthur, Director of Policy and Government... Tags: policy blog, the campfire, press releases, Nevada issues, Nevada News, Nevada Chapter Download
Media Chapter News State Issues Press Releases Hunters and Anglers Applaud Introduction of Legislation to Permanently Protect Boundary Waters 4/9/2025 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 9, 2025 Contacts: Kaden McArthur, Director of Policy & Government Relations, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, mcarthur@backcountryhunters.org Lukas Leaf, Executive... Tags: Minnesota Chapter, Minnesota news, policy blog, the campfire, press releases, Minnesota Issues Download
Media Chapter News State Issues Texas BHA - Mid-Session Legislative Update 3/27/2025 Over a week has passed since the bill-filing deadline in the 89th Texas Legislative Session, and Texas BHA has been deep in the weeds monitoring key pieces of legislation on priority issues — most... Tags: policy blog, Texas Issues, Texas Chapter, Texas News Download
Media Chapter News State Issues 2025 Utah Legislative Session Recap & Impacts 3/27/2025 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... Tags: Utah Chapter, Utah Issues, Utah News, policy blog Download
Media Chapter News State Issues Press Releases California’s National Monuments a Bullseye, 850,000 Acres of Public Lands Under Threat 3/18/2025 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 18, 2025 Contact: Kaden McArthur, Director of Policy & Government Relations, mcarthur@backcountryhunters.org California’s National Monuments a Bullseye, 850,000... Tags: policy blog, the campfire, press releases, California issues, California news, California Chapter Download
Media Chapter News State Issues New Mexico BHA Policy Update 3.17.25 3/17/2025 Have you been paying attention to your local public lands? Sierra, Otero, and Catron counties recently passed anti-public lands resolutions, and now Luna County is next. The attack on our public... Tags: policy blog, New Mexico news, New Mexico issues, New Mexico Chapter Download
Media Chapter News State Issues Western State Policy Spotter - March 3/4/2025 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... Tags: Colorado Issues, Colorado BHA, Montana Chapter, Washington Chapter, Washington News, Idaho Chapter, Montana issues, Utah Chapter, Utah Issues, Idaho Issues, policy blog, the campfire, Alaska Chapter, Alaska issues, Arizona issues, California issues, Nevada issues, New Mexico issues, Oregon Issues, Wyoming Issues, California Chapter, Texas Issues, Texas Chapter, Nevada Chapter, New Mexico Chapter, Oregon Chapter, Wyoming Chapter, Arizona Chapter Download
Media Chapter News State Issues NM BHA Supports SB 5 - Bill Summary & Status Report 3/3/2025 The New Mexico Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (NM BHA) supports Senate Bill 5 (SB 5) and has worked with legislators and hook and bullet partners to ensure the hunting and angling... Tags: policy blog, New Mexico news, New Mexico issues, New Mexico Chapter Download
Media Chapter News State Issues UTAH 2025 Mid-Legislative Session Update 2/11/2025 Every year in Q1, Utah state officials engage in the Utah Legislative Session to pass new laws or amend laws. Utah BHA follows and engages in the Session quite closely, as there are typically... Tags: Utah Chapter, Utah Issues, Utah News, policy blog Download
Media Chapter News State Issues Western State Policy Spotter - First Look 2/7/2025 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... Tags: Colorado Issues, Colorado BHA, Montana Chapter, Washington Chapter, Washington News, Idaho Chapter, Montana issues, Utah Chapter, Utah Issues, Idaho Issues, policy blog, the campfire, Arizona issues, California issues, Nevada issues, New Mexico issues, Oregon Issues, Wyoming Issues, California Chapter, Texas Issues, Texas Chapter, Nevada Chapter, New Mexico Chapter, Oregon Chapter, Wyoming Chapter, Arizona Chapter Download
Media Chapter News State Issues Senate Committee Advances Final Public Lands and Waters Legislation for the 118th Congress 11/20/2024 On November 19, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held its final Business Meeting of the 118th Congress. The record-breaking number of bills on the docket highlights the backlog of... Tags: Colorado News, Colorado Issues, Colorado BHA, policy blog, the campfire, California issues, California news, Nevada issues, access, Nevada Chapter, Public Waters Access, montana issues; montana bha Download
Media Chapter News Utah Public Lands Lawsuit: How Can I Get Involved? 10/10/2024 A lot of hunters and anglers have reached out to our chapter asking how they can get even more involved in opposing Utah’s Public Lands Lawsuit in addition to signing the petition on BHA’s... Tags: Utah News, policy blog, the campfire, featured Download
Media Chapter News State Issues Wildlife Habitat Connectivity Bill Signed into Law in California 9/30/2024 As urbanization increasingly carves up California's landscapes, the need to conserve and enhance wildlife connectivity becomes critical. Assembly Bill 1889 is a significant step toward addressing... Tags: policy blog, California issues, California news Download
Media Chapter News Keep Public Lands Out of Utah's Greedy Hands 9/4/2024 In the history of ill-advised plans and underhanded schemes to squander the public lands legacy shared by all Americans, Utah officials may have just eclipsed the rest of the bunch. In August, the... Tags: Utah News, policy blog, the campfire Download
Media Chapter News Press Releases Anglers and Hunters Applaud Introduction of Legislation to Create Sáttítla National Monument 8/30/2024 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Aug. 30, 2024 Contact: Joel Weltzien, (406) 925-3771, weltzien@backcountryhunters.org Anglers and Hunters Applaud Introduction of Legislation to Create Sáttítla National... Tags: policy blog, the campfire, press releases, California news, California Chapter Download
Media Chapter News Press Releases BLM to Maintain Conservation Status for 28 Million Acres in Alaska 8/29/2024 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Aug. 29, 2024 Contact: Mary Glaves, 415-246-5329, glaves@backcountryhunters.org BLM to Maintain Conservation Status for 28 Million Acres in Alaska Washington, D.C.... Tags: policy blog, the campfire, Alaska Chapter, press releases, Alaska news Download
Media Chapter News State Issues Press Releases Utah Attempts to Wrest Public Lands Out of Public Hands 8/20/2024 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Aug. 20, 2024 Contact: Devin O’Dea, 415-246-5329 odea@backcountryhunters.org Utah Attempts to Wrest Public Lands Out of Public Hands SALT LAKE CITY, UT — Backcountry... Tags: Utah Issues, Utah News, policy blog, the campfire, featured, press releases Download
Media Chapter News State Issues Kansas Legislative Recap 2024 - Efforts to Fight Commission Attacks 6/17/2024 The policy team at Kansas BHA rode a veritable roller coaster of legislation in the 2023-2024 session aimed at abolishing or drastically modifying the Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission, the... Tags: policy blog, Kansas News, Kansas Issues Download
Media Chapter News Senate Committee Considers Legislation to Conserve Public Lands and Waters 6/14/2024 On June 12, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining held a legislative hearing which included the consideration of six bills supported by... Tags: Colorado BHA, Montana Chapter, policy blog, the campfire, featured, California news, Nevada Chapter, Wyoming Chapter Download
Media Chapter News Press Releases BHA, TU Launch Sportsmen for the Dolores 6/7/2024 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contacts: Jay Chancellor, Trout Unlimited, jay.chancellor@tu.org, 720-484-9247 Kaden McArthur, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, mcarthur@backcountryhunters.org,... Tags: Colorado News, Colorado BHA, policy blog, the campfire, featured, press releases Download
Media Chapter News House of Representatives to Vote on Attacks to Public Lands and Waters 4/25/2024 Update 5/1/2024: On April 30, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the WEST Act with a vote of 211-202. The Superior National Forest Restoration Act was passed with a vote of 212-203. On May... Tags: Minnesota news, Utah News, policy blog, the campfire, Alaska news, Nevada Chapter Download
Media Chapter News Press Releases Chuckwalla National Monument Would Conserve, Connect Public Lands 4/16/2024 For Immediate Release April 16, 2024 Contact: Thomas Plank, 303-720-0111 plank@backcountryhunters.org Chuckwalla National Monument Would Conserve, Connect Public Lands WASHINGTON, D.C.— As... Tags: policy blog, the campfire, press releases, California news Download
Media Chapter News State Issues Kentucky Senate Bill 3 Defeated 3/29/2024 FRANKFORT, KY -- The Kentucky Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers helped defeat a dangerous bill in the statehouse that would have made conservation more difficult in the state. Senate Bill... Tags: Kentucky News, policy blog, Kentucky Issues Download
Media Chapter News State Issues Kansas BHA encourages action on three bad House bills 2/22/2024 Kansans are facing a rash of bills in the state legislature that will greatly affect hunters and anglers. It should be noted that all these bills originated from the House Committee on Agriculture... Tags: policy blog, Kansas News, Kansas Issues Download
Media Chapter News State Issues Wilderness in Virginia? Yes, that there is! 9/17/2023 Back in the spring I was fortunate enough to participate in a “fly-in” event in support of the LWCF Coalition at our Nation’s capital. You can read the blog post I published about that... Tags: policy blog, AFI Featured Stories, Mid-Atlantic News, Mid-Atlantic Issues, Capital News, Capital issues Download
Media Chapter News BHA, Other NGOs Save Waterfowl Season at Popular Missouri National Wildlife Refuge 9/6/2023 Backcountry Hunters & Anglers recently helped score a big win for hunter access and opportunity in Missouri that will keep hunting open during the upcoming waterfowl season at Swan Lake National... Tags: policy blog, the campfire, access, Missouri Chapter, Missouri News Download
Media Chapter News State Issues The Land and Water Conservation Fund benefits our nation, so let’s build on it 8/16/2023 The following article was first published by The Virginian-Pilot on 15 August 2023. It is an op-ed I wrote in support of an ongoing collaboration with the LWCF Coalition on behalf of Backcountry... Tags: policy blog, AFI Featured Stories, AFI Comms Channel, Mid-Atlantic News, Mid-Atlantic Issues, Capital News, Capital issues, lwcf Download
Media Chapter News State Issues LWCF Coalition Fly-in with Capital Region Chapter and AFI 5/25/2023 Capital Region Chapter Vice Chair and Mid-Atlantic AFI Liaison Recently I had the opportunity to participate in a fly-in hosted by the LWCF Coalition in Washington, D.C. This is the second time... Tags: policy blog, AFI Featured Stories, AFI Comms Channel, Mid-Atlantic News, Mid-Atlantic Issues, Capital News, Capital issues, Capital BHA Download
Media Chapter News State Issues Kansas Chapter Chair heads to D.C. to speak up for LWCF 5/22/2023 By Kurt Ratzlaff Kansas BHA Chapter Chair The words “What the heck am I doing here?” rattled around in my mind several times during the 48 hours I recently spent in Washington DC. But there I was,... Tags: policy blog, Kansas News, Kansas Issues Download
Media Chapter News Senate Committee Takes Action on Recreation, Conservation 5/18/2023 A May 17th business meeting held by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee was a highly anticipated opportunity to advance multiple conservation and recreation policy priorities... Tags: policy blog, the campfire, New Mexico news, California news, California Chapter, New Mexico Chapter, Oregon Chapter, Oregon Blog Download
Media Chapter News Press Releases House Bills Would Weaken, Strip Funding from Land and Water Conservation Fund 4/28/2023 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... Tags: policy blog, the campfire, press releases, Arizona news Download
Media Chapter News State Issues California BHA's Guide to Navigating a Full Fish & Game Commission Agenda 4/19/2023 The Fish & Game Commission meets this Wednesday and Thursday (4/19 & 4/20), and we hope you can show up to provide comments on some very important issues for hunters and anglers in... Tags: policy blog, California issues, California news, California Chapter Download
Media Chapter News State Issues Central Coast Heritage Protection Act Reintroduced 4/14/2023 BHA is once again rallying support behind the Central Coast Heritage Protection Act recently reintroduced by Representative Salud Carbajal (CA-24). This legislation would add nearly 250,000 acres... Tags: policy blog, the campfire, California issues, California news, California Chapter Download
Media Chapter News State Issues Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Co-Chair Receives Sigurd F. Olson Award 3/21/2023 The Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Sigurd F. Olson Award recognizes outstanding effort conserving rivers, lakes or wetland habitat. Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) Co-Chair Don... Tags: Colorado News, Colorado Issues, Colorado BHA, policy blog, Colorado Chapter Download
Media Chapter News State Issues Utah Legislature Approves Funding for Wildlife Crossings 3/13/2023 A request for appropriation (RFA) called “Wildlife Highway Mitigation” was approved by the Utah Legislature in the 2023 Legislative Session budget. This funding request was for $20M of State funds... Tags: Utah Chapter, Utah Issues, Utah News, policy blog Download
Media Chapter News State Issues Another Dam in the Arkansas River? In Tulsa? Why? 3/3/2023 The Oklahoma chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers has joined several other local conservation organizations to raise concern at a proposition brought forth by the City of Tulsa to add an... Tags: policy blog, Oklahoma News, Oklahoma Issues Download
Media Chapter News Press Releases Milestone Decision Reached on Boundary Waters, Most Visited Wilderness Area in United States 1/26/2023 News for Immediate ReleaseJan. 26, 2023Contact: Thomas Plank, 303-720-0111, plank@backcountryhunters.org Protections will Keep Pristine Wilderness Untouched for 20 Years WASHINGTON, D.C.—... Tags: Minnesota Chapter, Minnesota news, policy blog, the campfire, press releases, public lands Download
Media Chapter News State Issues Beat the "Chicken Bill" in Ohio 1/6/2023 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... Tags: policy blog, the campfire, Ohio News, Ohio Issues Download
Media Chapter News State Issues Pennsylvania BHA Legislative and Policy Roundup 2022 12/15/2022 The Pennsylvania Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers has had another busy year advocating for our members in Harrisburg. Our board members have regularly visited the capitol to meet with... Tags: Pennsylvania Chapter, Pennsylvania Issues, Pennsylvania News, policy blog Download
Media Chapter News Protect Colorado's Thompson Divide 12/7/2022 Backcountry Hunters & Anglers has been working for years to secure greater certainty for Colorado’s Thompson Divide and the quality hunting and fishing experiences it provides. Now we need your... Tags: Colorado News, Colorado BHA, policy blog, the campfire Download
Media Chapter News State Issues California BHA 2022 Policy Recap 12/5/2022 California BHA has been firing on all cylinders in 2022 not only with a record number of stewardship projects, but also on policy matters and advocating in the legislature. (link to a story map of... Tags: policy blog, California issues, California news, California Chapter, container Download
Media Chapter News State Issues Passage of SB431 Pink Envelope Bill a Win for PA Hunters! 10/26/2022 The Pennsylvania Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers applauds the passage today of SB431. Now approved by the full legislature, the bill goes to Governor Tom Wolf, who has said he will... Tags: Pennsylvania Chapter, Pennsylvania Issues, Pennsylvania News, policy blog, Events Download
Media Chapter News State Issues Southern California steelhead CESA listing 8/31/2022 It Is Time to Designate Southern California Steelhead as Endangered The story of southern steelhead is a story of concrete and progress, of the forces of human will over the balance of... Tags: policy blog, California issues, California news, California Chapter Download
Media Chapter News Slate of Public Lands Bills and Nominee Considered in Senate Committee 7/22/2022 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... Tags: Colorado BHA, Montana Chapter, policy blog, New Mexico news, Arizona news, California Chapter, public lands, Oregon Chapter Download
Media Chapter News State Issues Oklahoma HB 3280 Dies In The Senate 7/21/2022 For the 3rd consecutive year the Oklahoma Legislature has attempted to limit public land percentages, while also trying to impose government overreach into the rights of private land owners. The... Tags: policy blog, Oklahoma News, Oklahoma Chapter, Oklahoma Issues Download
Media Chapter News State Issues W.VA. Monongahela National Forest Receives Funding 6/27/2022 West Virginia is beginning to feel the effects of the Great American Outdoors act with $6Million dollars going to help with deferred maintenance at the Monongahela National Forest! The money... Tags: policy blog, West Virginia News, West Virginia Chapter Download
Media Chapter News State Issues It's time to modernize PA's antlerless license system 6/26/2022 Whether by working to ensure walk-in-access to our favorite hunting spots or breaking down barriers to recruit new hunters, BHA PA strives to improve access and opportunity for hunters throughout... Tags: Pennsylvania Chapter, Pennsylvania Issues, Pennsylvania News, policy blog Download
Media Chapter News $25 Million Dedicated to Indiana Conservation 6/25/2022 The Indiana DNR has announced the formation of the Next Level Conservation Trust and the state is passing along a record breaking $25 Million into the NLCT! This is the largest amount of money... Tags: policy blog, Indiana News, Indiana Chapter Download
Media Chapter News OH Gov. signs HB 687 Funding BIll 6/22/2022 Ohio’s Governor DeWine just signed the Capital Budget Bill(HB 687) which allocates $515 million, the largest such investment in Ohio history, to help provide significant improvements in... Tags: policy blog, Ohio News, Ohio Chapter Download
Media Chapter News State Issues Massachusetts Hunting Regulatory Amendments - Hunting Hours on WMAs & Small Game 6/14/2022 Take Action Now! For the past few months, we have been excited to share that MassWildlife will be moving forward on several of our regulatory priorities. These include ending hunting hour... Tags: New England news, New England issues, policy blog Download
Media Chapter News CO BHA Comments On State Trails Policy 6/1/2022 Public Comment - State Trails Program Policy and Grants May 27, 2022 Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission Members of our organizations have been actively engaged with the State trails program... Tags: Colorado News, Colorado BHA, policy blog Download