Current Actions

Hunting and Fishing Opportunities Threatened on the Mendenhall Wetlands

Sat, 27 Apr 2024 04:00:00 GMT

The Mendenhall State Game Refuge in Juneau, Alaska, Taashuyee-Chookan.aani/Mendenhall Wetlands was designated in 1976 by the Alaska State Legislature. It was, in part designated so hunters could learn to pursue waterfowl and have a place to hunt. The Mendenhall Wetlands not only provide opportunities for sport and subsistence hunting and fishing, but they are also a globally important bird area. The Juneau Douglas Second Crossing stands to shut down hunting and fishing opportunities in the Mendenhall State Game Refuge as well as damage significant habitat for anadromous fish and migratory bird species.

Alaska BHA demands sound scientific management and analysis of proposed projects from DOWL, Alaska Department of Transportation (AKDOT) and the City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ). If construction of the second crossing is deemed necessary by the community of Juneau and thorough analysis is conducted, Alaska BHA encourages decision makers to select the Salmon Creek location which would be the least impactful option to habitat and hunting access.

Tell Your Representative to Oppose Anti-Public Lands Bills

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 04:00:00 GMT

The House of Representatives is set to vote on a slate of legislation that would rollback the conservation of our public lands and waters. These bills would overturn protections for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, repeal the new BLM Public Lands Rule that elevates conservation as a value equal to other uses of public lands, and make drastic changes to mining law on our public lands by granting absolute rights for exploration. If passed into law, each of these bills would reverse public land management decisions that benefit intact fish and wildlife habitat valued by hunters and anglers across the United States.

Join BHA in urging your member of Congress to vote no on these bills that would reverse conservation achievements for our public lands and waters that are supported by hunters and anglers!

Oppose anti-public lands bills in Arizona

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 04:00:00 GMT

Arizona’s public lands support a 12-billion-dollar outdoor recreation economy and provide over 106,000 direct jobs. Arizona state Representatives Diaz and Hendrix have introduced two bills that seek to restrict and potentially dismantle the public lands legacy that hunters and anglers cherish, and action is needed before the bills pass the Senate and go to the governor's desk.

HB2376 & HB2377 focus on federal public lands and seek to restrict federal lands through a myopic lens that doesn't recognize the true value of these lands and the opportunities they provide.

HB2376 Requires consent from the AZ legislature and the governor to be given to any sale or transfer of private property in Arizona to the Federal Government or a federal agency, and establishes a right of first refusal for the state to purchase the lands. This overreach of state government would curtail longstanding programs that have resulted in conservation and access wins for hunters and anglers in Arizona. For example, this bill would effectively eliminate Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) acquisitions, like the 2,831 acre Cross F Land Acquisition in 2021 that was purchased by the Trust for Public Land using LWCF funding and then transferred to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). This LWCF acquisition not only conserved critical riparian habitat for federally listed species, but also corridors for mule deer, white-tailed deer, desert big horn sheep, black bear, and Gould’s turkey and opened access to 30,000 acres of formerly inaccessible BLM managed public lands.

HB2377 Requires the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC) to conduct and complete a cost and revenue study of the annual cost to manage all federal land in Arizona and all current revenue generated by federal lands that are not under the control of specified entities. The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 governs how federal lands are administered under the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. This act allows public land to be sold if the Secretary of Interior determines that the tract of land meets any of the following criteria: 1) the tract is difficult and prohibitively expensive to manage and unsuitable for management by another department or agency; 2) the tract is no longer required for the federal purpose for which it was originally acquired; or 3) selling the tract will serve important public objectives that cannot be achieved on nonpublic lands and that outweigh other public objectives and values which would otherwise be served by maintaining this tract in federal ownership (43 U.S.C. § 1713). This bill would pave the way for the future sale of federal lands.

Both bills fail to recognize the true value of federal lands and seek to dismantle important conservation programs and our public land hunting heritage. The bills have both passed the house and are moving quickly through the Senate. Take action today to stop them from getting to the governor's desk.

Vermont Legislature Considers Changes to Wildlife Management - No to S.258

Fri, 29 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT

Your voices have been heard! It is time to raise them again as an altered, but still poorly written, S.258 moves to the VT House of Representatives.

The Vermont Team at Backcountry Hunters and Anglers believes Senate bill S.258 will be bad for wildlife and wildlife habitat in Vermont. Although there are elements of the bill that are well-meaning, S258 has the real potential to harm scientific wildlife management in Vermont and undermine the foundation of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, the collection of laws and policies that has brought many wildlife populations in Vermont back from the brink of extirpation 150 years ago, and which continues to fund and support a large portion of wildlife & habitat management for both game and non-game species today.

Populations of deer, bear, moose, turkey, waterfowl, and other animals would not be as abundant or healthy in Vermont if it were not for our current conservation approach, which relies on maximizing opportunity to sustainably utilize wildlife through hunting, fishing, and trapping. S.258 seeks to drastically alter our current successful model for managing wildlife and habitat in the state, in a manner that will harm the Fish and Wildlife department's capacity to carry out its mission. The bill also includes an outright ban on some forms of hunting, that is forced by unilateral, ideologically-driven legislative action, rather than accepting the outcome of previous legislative processes. S.258 is an open door for those who wish to limit or end the role of hunting, angling, and trapping to oversee wildlife management in Vermont, as we have seen recently in other states such as New Jersey, Washington, and Colorado.

We cannot find common shared values to guide our wildlife and wildlife habitat management if those who wish to be included in the conversation have the goal of banning or unnecessarily restricting those activities. This bill does not contain any language or mechanism that would prevent this from happening.

Please join BHA in urging our state legislators not to let wildlife become a political football—tell them to vote NO on S.258.

Oppose the prohibition on hunting within public lands in Boulder County, CO

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT

In 2022 County Commissioners in Boulder Colorado voted for and passed a resolution to close the “Sugarloaf area” of USFS and BLM lands to the discharge of firearms, including all hunting. This closure encompasses about 12 square miles of land west of the City of Boulder and includes a mix of private, County owned, USFS, and BLM lands. The Boulder County Commissioners decided there were “significant safety concerns” and closed the area not just to target shooting, but to hunting with firearms and bows as well, a clear overreach of local authority. This decision was made even though the overwhelming majority of complaints were documented outside of legal hunting seasons.

BHA does not believe that this resolution complies with federal law for closure of federal lands to hunting. Public law 116-9, the “Dingell Act” clearly states that “federal land shall be open to hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting, in accordance with applicable law, unless the Secretary concerned closes an area in accordance with section 4103”. The USFS contends that county enforcement of a hunting ban would conflict with explicit provisions in the National Resources Management Act and with the procedure the Secretary of Agriculture must follow, which includes consultation with state fish and wildlife agencies and public scoping.

The Boulder County Commissioners have not recognized this federal authority in the current resolution. Commissioners are holding a public hearing May 7th, 2024 at 3:30pm to discuss the possible removal of the hunting prohibition in the currently standing resolution (2022-096).

Details on the hearing can be found here.

Help stand up for hunting access in Boulder County. Send a letter to the Boulder County Commissioners to reinforce our stance that federal lands should not be closed to hunting without a valid reason and the due process prescribed by federal law. Thank you for taking a few minutes to protect your hunting privileges and for making sure a dangerous precedent is not set by the Boulder County Commissioners in Colorado.

EXPAND PUBLIC ACCESS TO ILLINOIS WATERWAYS - Tell your Legislator to Vote Yes on HB 4708

Tue, 26 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT

Illinois stream access is widely misunderstood, a result of the state law not mirroring federal law. The term navigable is viewed differently by state and federal laws. A stream that would be considered public by federal law is not public under Illinois state law. Federal law supports streams which are navigable by small vessels such as a canoe and support commerce such as recreation are public waterways. Illinois restricts this afforded public access by designating it’s own public waterways and private ownership of an Illinois stream includes both the stream bed and the water flowing through that area. The Illinois chapter of BHA has been actively working to fight for public access to your public waters a cross Illinois and HB4708 has been introduced to clear the issue. Illinois has just over 87,000 miles of rivers and streams within its borders very few which are designated by the state as public for use by everyone.

Demands for public access to the outdoors continue to grow and disputes between public recreational users and private landowners on Illinois waterways like the DuPage and Mazon Rivers have gained a good deal of attention. House Bill 4708 which aims to expand public access in Illinois to federally recognized navigable waters has been introduced to the Illinois legislature. HB4708 will align public access to waterways with other states and federal law, expanding your access and opportunities across the state. Hunters, anglers and others recreating, treasure the rich opportunities to wade, float and enjoy waterways in Illinois. It is imperative that our public waters remain open and accessible to all as deemed by Federal law.

Please take action now!

Reconfiguration of Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission - NO to SB 347

Mon, 25 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT

Kansas Backcountry Hunters and Anglers believes in the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation which provides that each state shall have a wildlife commission. Pursuant to that Model, the Commission is then to set the rules and regulations that govern hunting, fishing, trapping, and other outdoor activities. To best serve the wildlife, as well as hunters, anglers and outdoor enthusiasts, the Commission should have as little political pressure as possible. An attack has been launched on our Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission by those who wish to commoditize nonresident hunting for the benefit of large land owners and leasers, hunting lodges, guides and outfitters, all to the detriment of Kansas resident hunters. Attempts to restructure the commission are part and parcel of that effort.

SB 347 would dissolve the existing Kansas Commission on December 31, 2024 and establish a new commission on January 1, 2025. The composition would remain at seven commissioners. The Governor would appoint four members, while the Senate President, House Speaker, and Attorney General would each appoint one. Appointees of the Governor must represent four different KDWP regions, with the attorney general appointee coming from the remaining region. No Senate confirmation is required of appointments. The political makeup would most likely consist of four Republicans and three Democrats. The Commissioners terms would be staggered to prevent a complete turnover at once and a chairperson will be elected every other year by the commission members.

Please join BHA urging our Kansas representatives to VOTE NO on SB 347 and save the Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission from being abolished and politicized.

Support SB67: Give Game Commission Authority Over Sunday Hunting

Tue, 19 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT

Pennsylvania Backcountry Hunters and Anglers believes that restrictions on Sunday hunting are an impediment to reasonable hunting access, and we support the effort made by Senator Dan Laughlin through the introduction of Senate Bill 67, which would allow the Pennsylvania Game Commission full authority to regulate hunting seasons seven days a week.

The passage of this bill could mean that Pennsylvania’s 887,000 sportsmen and women could spend double their time afield, increasing our state’s economy and boosting conservation funding.

Please join BHA in urging our state legislators to vote YES on SB67.

Support Safe Wildlife Corridors and Crossings for Maryland -- YES to SB 0902 and HB 1129

Wed, 13 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT

"This country has been swinging the hammer of development so long and so hard that it has forgotten the anvil of wilderness which gave value and significance to its labors. The momentum of our blows is so unprecedented that the remaining remnant of wilderness will be pounded into road-dust long before we find out its values."

- Aldo Leopold

In order to help ensure our heritage of hunting and fishing in a natural setting, it is important that we work on behalf of wildlife. HB1129 and SB0902 will help to create corridors and crossings for Maryland's wildlife which will result in better and safer connections to fragmented segments of habitat. Furthermore, these crossings can help reduce car collisions with deer. Currently, the odds of hitting a deer or another animal are 1 in 116, and there are nearly 33,000 deer-vehicle collisions every year in Maryland.

HB1129 and SB0902 matched with one or several of the 20 federal grant opportunities available right now can help to create infrastructure like underpasses and fencing that can help to reduce collisions by upwards of 90%, improving public safety and often paying for themselves over time.

Please take action now and support these two bills!

Iowa DNR Land Acquisitions- NO to SF 2324

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 05:00:00 GMT

The Iowa Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers believes that restrictions which would prohibit the Iowa Department of Natural Resources from acquiring land at auction or being gifted land by a nonprofit organization who acquired it at auction will severely limit the ability to increase public land acreage and recreational access.

SF 2324 would prohibit the Iowa DNR from acquiring property for sale at auction or by donation from a nonprofit corporation who purchased land for sale at auction. Passage of this bill would decrease the ability to purchase lands that could be held in the public trust and reduce potential access for hunters and anglers in a state where public access already in less than 2% of the total landmass.

Please join Kentucky BHA in urging your members of the Kentucky Legislature to defeat Senate Bill 3

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 05:00:00 GMT

Senate Bill 3 would restructure the government oversight of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, placing them under the control of the Department of Agriculture. This restructuring would also shift the appointment of Commissioners from the Governor to the Secretary of Agriculture.

Kentucky Backcountry Hunters and Anglers is asking for your action to stop this legislation from stripping the power from KDFWR!

Alabama Anglers Have the Right to Know if Their Fish are Safe to Eat! Tell your elected officials to vote YES on the SHOR Act -- HB 14

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT

The Southeast Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers believes that Alabama anglers have the right to know if their catch is safe to eat or not. The current fish testing and analysis program is paid for by Alabamians’ tax dollars.

HB 14 & SB 45 would require the program by state law, make results visible to anglers at boat ramps and on licenses, and create a committee for anglers to make their voice heard. Anglers who enjoy eating what they catch should be able to make informed decisions on what they feed their families.

West Virginia - SB 245 Support

Fri, 23 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT

Senate Bill 425 directs WVDOT to include public waterway access whenever new bridges are constructed, or old bridges are repaired greatly enhancing access to our public waterways!

This bill is currently sitting in the Senate Natural Resource Committee and we need to get it moving. Take Action to contact the Senate Natural Resource Committee and express your support for SB 245!

Complicating the KDWP Commissioner Selection Process -- No to HB 2582

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT

Kansas House Bill 2582, has had a committee hearing and passed out of Committee. The bill adds two members to the KDWP Commission and deals with how the members are chosen by requiring the following:

(3) Members appointed by the governor

(2) Members appointed by the Speaker of the House

(2) Members appointed by the President of the Senate

(2) Members appointed by the Attorney General

At least one member shall be a resident from each KDWP administration region
Consideration shall be given that each member has possessed a hunting/fishing license in Kansas for within the previous five years
Not more than a majority of the members shall be of the same political party

The Kansas Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers opposes the bill.

Per current legislation, the governor appoints all seven members of the commission. This current process has resulted in a successful commission with no reason to change course on the selection criteria.

This bill would only serve to slow the selection process of the Commission down and inject more politics into a system that needs to be as free as possible from politics. We need our Commissioners focused on utilizing scientific data to manage our wildlife, not on the politics of our state.

Please join Kansas BHA in urging our state legislators to oppose HB 2582.

Tell Congress to Keep Public Lands in Public Hands

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT

Our vast public lands estate provides access and opportunities for hunters and anglers across the United States. Yet privatization and development pose an ever increasing threat to wild places that should remain open to the public. Many sportsmen and women have nonexistent or limited access to private lands and rely on public lands to enjoy the pursuit of fish and game. Bipartisan legislation supported by BHA would recognize the irreplaceable value of publicly accessible land by helping to stop the sale or transfer of those lands.

The Public Lands in Public Hands Act, led by Reps. Ryan Zinke (R-MT) and Gabe Vasquez (D-NM), would require congressional approval for the sale or transfer of publicly accessible tracts of federal land greater than 300 acres, or greater than five acres if accessible by public waterway. This is a critical improvement from current law in which federal land management agencies have broad discretion to sell or transfer publicly owned parcels that provide valuable habitat, public access, and recreational opportunities. Hunters and anglers stand to benefit by reducing the ability to take public lands out of public hands.

Join BHA in asking your member of Congress to support this legislation that would help to stop the loss of public lands enjoyed by hunters and anglers!

Tell Congress to Renew Conservation Programs in the ACE Act

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT

Several widely supported federal programs aimed at conserving fish and wildlife habitat, restoring clean water, and addressing wildlife disease are set to expire in the 2025 fiscal year. BHA strongly supports legislation to renew those programs and continue their far reaching benefits. Led by Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Tom Carper (D-DE) and Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), the America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Reauthorization Act would renew the following programs supported by hunters and anglers through the end of the decade.

The North American Wetlands Conservation Act, a competitive grant program that has conserved more than 30 million acres of waterfowl habitat. Authorized funding for the program would also be increased from $60 million to $65 million.
The Chronic Wasting Disease Task Force, which is charged with an action plan for state and federal cooperation in managing CWD. One of the single greatest threats to wild deer and other cervids, CWD is always fatal and cannot be detected in live animals.
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the United States’ largest grant-maker for the conservation of fish and wildlife habitat.
The Chesapeake Bay Program, Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act, and the Chesapeake WILD grant program. Each of these assists in the conservation of this ecosystem through habitat restoration and improving water quality.
The National Fish Habitat Conservation Through Partnerships Initiative. Aimed at protecting healthy waters and restoring and connecting aquatic habitat, this initiative coordinates federal and state agencies with other stakeholders to achieve those goals.

Join BHA in asking your member of Congress to support this legislation that would continue conservation programs that benefit fish and wildlife habitat across North America enjoyed by hunters and anglers!

Tell the U.S. Forest Service: The Smith River is too special, too valuable to mine!

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT

One of the most cherished natural resources in Montana, the Smith River offers an unforgettable and unique multi-day experience. It winds nearly 60 miles through impressive limestone cliffs and canyons, timbered draws, and grassy hills and meadows. In addition to the scenery and solitude, people float it for fishing. A variety of wild species can be found, but the river is known for its rainbows and browns. In a word, the Smith experience is irreplaceable, and it’s seriously threatened.

Right now, a foreign-owned company continues their push to mine near the headwaters of one of the most important tributaries of the Smith, but they have more than 500 additional mining claims on federal public lands in the area. If these claims were to be developed, the risks of destroying this resource would increase substantially.

Which is why we’re asking the U.S. Forest Service for a 20-year mineral withdrawal on all public lands within the Smith River watershed. This area is just too special to mine. Read and sign the petition below, and help us protect this treasured landscape for current and future generations.

Image courtesy of Graham Coppes.

Nebraska Hunters for LB1247

Wed, 07 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT

Summary: LB 1247 will open certain Nebraska Board of Education Lands and Funds (BELF) lands to public access hunting. As of September 2020, BELF managed nearly 1.254 million acres of public land.

Background: In 1867 the Federal Government contributed land to the state of Nebraska for the support of public schools. BELF was established to serve as trustee of the lands and is bound by a fiduciary duty to the public schools. BELF leases, and occasionally sells, land in an effort to maximize contributions to the public school systems of Nebraska.

Proposed Legislation: LB 1247 would require that as old leases expire and new leases are entered into, school land with a public road access point that is owned or leased by BELF, be made available for walk-in access hunting.

An access stamp would need to be purchased from Game and Parks. The resident fee would be between $25 and $50 and Nonresident fee would be between $50 and $100.
Individuals with permission to hunt from the lessee of the school land would not need to purchase a stamp.
Land available for walk-in hunting would be featured on the Game and Parks website
Enforcement would be handled by “[a]ny officer authorized to enforce Game Law”.
Proceeds would be shared between BELF and Game and Parks.

Please join BHA in urging Senators of the Natural Resources Committee of the 108th Nebraska Legislature to advance LB 1247 to the General File of the full Legislature. Take Action Below:

Protect Indiana Wetlands - Stop HB 1383

Fri, 02 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT

HB 1383 has been voted out of the Senate Environmental Affairs Committee and is heading to the Senate Floor on SOON! HB 1383 is another bill removing restrictions on the last remaining wetlands in Indiana by reclassifying many from highly protected Class III wetlands down to just Class I & Class II. This is all in an effort continue to “pave” the way for building progress!

Take Action to protect the last remaining wetlands in Indiana by sending a letter using this Action Alert.

Take Action to Oppose Sweeping Fishing Closures in California

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT

As an organization dedicated to ensuring our North American heritage of hunting and fishing in a natural setting with over 350,000 supporters, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers expresses serious concerns regarding several of the petitions currently before the California Fish & Game Commission that would eliminate fishing access along large stretches of the California coast.

The Decadal Management Review (DMR) of the Marine Protected Area Network (MPA) has offered important insights for MPA managers to help shape the adaptive management of MPA regulations, including promising research that some MPAs may increase biomass and provide resiliency against the impacts of a changing climate for some species. The intent of the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) and the stewardship of our coastal resources are of paramount importance to California’s heritage. However, these laudable goals and conservation benchmarks should not preclude access to harvest coastal foods where state and federal fisheries managers have demonstrated robust and resilient fish stocks without any current threat of overfishing, nor for those species where targeted fishing and active management would benefit the overall ecosystem balance.

There are numerous, seemingly well-intentioned petitions currently before the Fish & Game Commission that seek to preserve California’s coastal waters citing anthropogenic impacts to biodiversity and ecosystems such as pollution, rising sea temperatures, disease, development and overfishing. While we support the intent to safeguard our fish stocks, biodiversity, and ecosystem integrity, we strongly disagree with the all-or-nothing approach adopted by many of the petitioners who proffer the wholesale elimination of fishing access without adequate scientific rationale or the acknowledgement of regulatory mechanisms already in place. Such as, those established by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act working through the Pacific Fisheries Management Council, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), the Fish & Game Commission, and the additional state/federal laws and agencies dedicated to this task.

Simply put, many of the petitions referenced below seek to advance preservation at all costs, pushing for wholesale closures that circumvent the regulatory processes already in place, ultimately bludgeoning access for the diverse angling communities that have revered these coastal traditions for generations.

Shore fishing, diving/spearfishing, kayak/boat fishing and coastal gathering are low impact activities that reflect the broad spectrum of California’s diverse community and constitute a valuable resource for individuals across the economic divide to access nature and provide food for their families at the same time. We encourage the Commission and MPA managers to consider the numerous communities that enjoy the state’s many sustainable food resources when considering protections and recommendations that might unnecessarily exclude these groups. These considerations are in line with the California Natural Resources Agency’s Outdoors for All initiative and its commitment in the Pathways to 30x30 document to “implement projects that do no further harm or pose unintended consequences to historically marginalized communities.” Specifically, we wish to highlight this issue with regards to the expansion of California’s MPA network which restricts shore-based diving, foraging, and fishing access for all Californians – especially historically marginalized communities, communities of color and Native American tribes.

It is within this context that we urge the Commission to deny those petitions that would unnecessarily erode our longstanding coastal fishing and foraging traditions.

Sign our counter-petition to make your voice heard!

View the letter we sent to the Fish & Game Commission

Support the Montana Headwaters Legacy Act

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT

***For the greatest impact, please take a moment to customize your letter and subject line.***

Montana is home to 170,000 miles of cool, free-flowing rivers that support world-class fisheries and thriving wildlife populations. These clean waters serve a critical role in Montana’s outdoor recreation and agricultural industries.

On Nov. 16, 2023 Montana's senior Senator Jon Tester announced the reintroduction of the Montana Headwaters Legacy Act, which would protect 384 miles of these waters - a small fraction representing the best of the best - through Wild & Scenic designations.

The Montana Headwaters Legacy Act is the largest river protection effort in the state in more than four decades, and according to a 2023 study by Breakthrough Campaigns, 85 percent of Montanans support it. Anyone who has floated the Smith, fished the Madison, camped along the Taylor Fork or hunted within earshot of Hyalite Creek can understand the need and the desire to protect these undammed waterways.

For more than ten years, members of the Montanans for Healthy Rivers Coalition – including the Montana chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers – have worked with Montanans from many walks of life, including business owners, hunters, anglers and all sorts of river users, to identify the free-flowing rivers in Montana worthy of the highest level of river protections: Wild and Scenic designations. Currently, less than one-half of one percent of the river miles in Montana have been given this designation.

Years of collaboration and outreach have added thousands of individual endorsements and 1,000+ businesses and organizations who support this legislation that would permanently protect these identified river sections in the Upper Missouri and Yellowstone River watersheds found to be unquestionably deserving, including portions of the following:

The Smith River and Tenderfoot Creek in the Upper Missouri watershed
The Gallatin River, Hyalite Creek, Upper Madison River, Beartrap Canyon of the Madison River, and the Taylor Fork in the Missouri Headwaters region
The Yellowstone River, Boulder River, Rock Creek, Bear Creek, West Boulder River, West Stillwater River, Slough Creek, Hellroaring Creek, Lake Fork Rock Creek, West Fork Rock Creek, and the Stillwater River in the Upper Yellowstone watershed

For a full map, click here.

Wild and Scenic designations would mean that public access and many traditional uses of these rivers remain but would ensure that these waterways remain undammed, wild, clean and free-flowing, forever. There's no doubt that this level of protection would benefit Montana’s $7.1 billion outdoor recreation industry while securing some of the most iconic stretches of river in the state for current and future generations.

Please enter your information below to thank Sen. Tester for his efforts to protect our waters for the future, and ask Sen. Daines, Rep. Zinke and Rep. Rosendale to join us, to co-sponsor or introduce companion legislation, and to help protect the agricultural and recreational opportunities that these rivers provide.

***For the greatest impact, please take a moment to customize your letter and subject line.***

Image courtesy of Veronica Corbett.

Hunters & Anglers Oppose the North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT

*** For the greatest impact, please customize your letter and subject line ***

Sponsored by Sen. Hoeven (R-ND) and Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-ND), along with Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) as a cosponsor, the entire North Dakota congressional delegation is seeking to pass legislation that would facilitate the transfer of your federal public lands to the state of North Dakota.

In seeking to consolidate lands within Tribal Reservations, the North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act would allow the swap of state trust lands inside reservation boundaries with a potentially significant amount of federal public lands - Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands - outside of the reservations.

Tribal Reservations would be awarded lands held in trust by the Department of the Interior, and the state of North Dakota would gain new lands outside of Tribal Reservations expressly intended to generate revenue through development. As a result, public land owners would be stuck with the short end of the stick as BLM lands would be lost with no new federal public land acres to replace them.

This is harder to swallow in a state like North Dakota, where sportsmen and women already have limited options to hunt public lands. According to BLM’s testimony, there are only 58,000 surface acres of BLM lands in our entire state, and since this bill would make approximately 37,000 surface acres of state lands and 186,000 mineral acres within the boundaries of the Tribal Reservations eligible for transfer, we could see a significant portion of North Dakota’s federal public lands lands at risk for transfer and development in exchange (37,000 acres is 64 percent of the 58,000 acres).

Even more worrisome, nowhere in the valuation process is public use or recreational value considered, and the public hunter could be left out of the parcel identification and transfer approval process entirely as there are no guardrails to require that sort of transparency.

The bill also does not specify what federal acres or mineral rights would be targeted for transfer to the state, or which public lands will be prioritized for transfer, so the negative impact to North Dakota’s hunters and anglers could be even more outsized depending on the parcels and their appraised valuation. At this point, North Dakota hunters don’t even know which public lands we stand to lose.

As a reminder, the state manages trust lands solely for profit, not for multiple use, and North Dakota could develop prime hunting and fishing habitat and/or close state lands to public entry entirely. So once federal public lands are transferred to the state, hunters and anglers lose.

This bill could mean a bum deal for North Dakota’s hunters.

Join the North Dakota Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers in speaking up to oppose this misguided legislation and ask that, at the very least, safeguards be added that protect the public’s interest in our public lands.

*** For the greatest impact, please customize your letter and subject line ***

Share Your Opposition to the HOUSES Act

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT

Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) has once again introduced the Helping Open Underutilized Space to Ensure Shelter (HOUSES) Act. This legislation would permit and expedite the transfer of multiple-use federal public lands for residential development at discounted rates “well below market value.” As the voice for our wild public lands, waters and wildlife, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is opposed to any legislation that would limit the ability for sportsmen and women, as well as all Americans, to access our outdoor heritage by selling off public land.

Sen. Lee has had a long-term interest in proposing to transfer public land out of public hands, including previous attempts via introducing harmful legislation. The HOUSES Act is reminiscent of historic proposals by Sen. Lee to transfer and sell off our public lands, while failing to provide a meaningful solution to address a lack of affordable housing. This legislation is yet another bad faith attempt with an unsatisfactory justification.

Join BHA to voice your opposition to the HOUSES Act and any attempt to transfer our public lands out of public hands.

Fight to Keep Game Fish Out of Commercial Nets

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT

New legislation came out of the Michigan House on October 11^th, risking the $2.3 billion-dollar recreational fishing industry along with the immense access and opportunities that we all enjoy.

Sponsored by Rep. Jason Morgon (D-Ann Arbor), HB 5108 titled “The Protect Michigan Fishing Act” would allow for the commercial take of game fish including lake trout, smallmouth, panfish, walleye, perch, and various other game species severely risking our Michigan fishing heritage. Considering these species are managed through funds generated from fishing license fees and monies from the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fishing Act, this bill threatens the opportunities and access that recreational anglers have supported for decades while undermining the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.

The Michigan BHA (Backcountry Hunters & Anglers) Chapter opposes HB 5108 and the threat it poses to the recreational fishing industry along with access and opportunities. Risking the impact on recreational fishing in Michigan is not something worth consideration and it is up to conservationists such as yourself to be the voice! Be the voice and click on the link below to contact your state senator along with the bill’s author and let them know that you oppose HB 5108.

Oppose the Transfer of Over 200,000 Acres of Nevada Public Lands

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT

Cherished and utilized by hunters and anglers, Nevada's public lands provide valuable habitat for fish and wildlife and high quality opportunities to pursue our outdoor traditions.

The Winecup Gamble Ranch, located in Elko County, is proposing to trade more than 200,000 acres of public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management in exchange for approximately 85,000 private acres – a tremendous loss of public hunting access. These public lands provide valuable opportunities to hunt elk, mule deer and sage grouse.

Driven by their owner, Kroenke Ranches, in partnership with Western Land Group, their intention is to advance federal legislation that would accomplish this transfer and result in a net loss of up to 150,000 acres of public lands. If finalized, this proposal would be the largest single transfer of public land in U.S. history and would require congressional legislation at such a massive scale.

Join BHA in asking your member of Congress to oppose this monstrous land transfer that would benefit a billionaire at the expense of public land hunters and anglers!

Urge Decision Makers to spare Swan Creek WMA from Construction Impact

Wed, 20 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT

The Southeast Chapter of BHA is concerned that the planned construction of a bridge through the Swan Creek Wildlife Management Area will be detrimental to wildlife, especially ducks, and to hunters, anglers and other outdoorspeople who depend on Swan Creek as a place to pursue outdoor pursuits.

The Southeast Chapter of BHA opposes any plan which unnecessarily negatively impacts the WMA and public land access, enjoyment, and utilization.

Please join BHA in urging city council members of Decatur, Alabama and its consulting firm, TTL, to unfailingly pursue a plan that has no impact on wildlife or public access to Swan Creek

Support the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT

Hardrock mining on our public lands and associated abandoned mines represent the largest source of pollution in the United States, with an estimated 40 percent of watersheds in the West contaminated by mine tailings and runoff. Currently, Good Samaritan groups who want to volunteer to restore these abandoned mines and improve water quality as well as fish and wildlife habitat would be liable for any future pollution from the site.

The Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act led by Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Jim Risch (R-ID) and Reps. Celeste Maloy (R-UT) and Mary Peltola (D-AK) would allow Good Samaritan entities such as state agencies, local governments, and nonprofits to clean up abandoned hardrock mine sites without assuming future liability. By implementing a pilot program with permits for qualified entities, this legislation would facilitate private investments to fill resource and capacity gaps critical to restoring healthy fish and wildlife habitat for future generations to enjoy. This legislation was reported out of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee by voice vote in January of 2024.

Join BHA in encouraging your lawmakers to support legislation that would remove hurdles for Good Samaritans to clean up abandoned hardrock mines!

Support Conserving Virginia Public Lands

Sat, 09 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT

The George Washington National Forest in western Virginia provides invaluable opportunities for public lands hunters and anglers. Within this large expanse of public land in the mid-Atlantic is habitat for white-tailed deer, black bear, turkey and other wild game. The region also includes stretches of the iconic James and Shenandoah rivers.

The Virginia Wilderness Additions Act, led by Sens. Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Mark Warner (D-VA) would designate a total of 5,600 acres of new wilderness, adding to the existing Rough Mountain and Rich Hole wilderness areas within the George Washington National Forest in Bath County, Virginia. In 2014, the U.S. Forest Service and the George Washington National Forest Stakeholder Collaborative recommended these areas for wilderness designation. The House of Representatives had previously passed this legislation in the 117th Congress, and the Senate passed it in the 116^th Congress. However, it has yet to be passed by both chambers in the same session and signed into law.

Another legislative effort led by Sens. Kaine and Warner, the Shenandoah Mountain Act, would create the more than 90,000-acre Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area, located in Rockingham, Augusta, and Highland counties. This unique designation would continue to be managed by the U.S. Forest Service and allow the continued use by hunters and anglers. Also included within the scenic area would be approximately 30,000 acres of new wilderness designations. This region holds the headwaters of the Potomac and James rivers, enjoyed by many anglers who pursue smallmouth and largemouth bass, as well as muskie. Mountain streams here provide critical coldwater habitat for native brook trout, as well.

Join BHA in asking your member of Congress to support this legislation that would conserve public lands in Virginia and ensure healthy wildlife habitat for future generations of sportsmen and women!

Support Arkansas Wilderness

Fri, 08 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT

The Ouachita National Forest in Arkansas provides invaluable opportunities for public lands hunters and anglers. In 1984 the Arkansas Wilderness Act was signed into law by President Reagan and designated the Flatside Wilderness Area within the Ouachita National Forest. The Flatside Wilderness Enhancement Act led by Rep. French Hill (R-AR) was passed into law in 2019, adding 640 new acres to the wilderness area. Today with more than 9,500 acres, this wilderness is a true backcountry experience in central Arkansas.

Now, the Flatside Wilderness Additions Act, led once again by Rep. Hill, would permanently conserve more than 2,000 acres of public lands in the Ouachita National Forest by adding them to the existing wilderness area to which they are adjacent. This region provides habitat for white-tailed deer, black bear, turkey and other small game, as well as hunting opportunities for these species.

Join BHA in asking your member of Congress to support this legislation that would conserve public lands in Arkansas and ensure healthy wildlife habitat for future generations of sportsmen and women!

Take Action to Prevent Raid of PA Hunter Funds, Loss of Pittman-Robertson Dollars

Fri, 08 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT

Last week, the PA Senate passed HB 1300, which included a last-minute amendment to transfer $150,000,000 from the Game Fund — essentially the PA Game Commission’s savings account— and divert it to another use.

This action goes against the compact made between the Commonwealth and the nearly 1 million hunters who annually purchase licenses and expect the fees paid to be part of the fund. It also sets a dangerous precedent for future legislative sessions. What will legislators raid the Game Fund for next?

In a further blow to hunters and shooters, the action is most likely a “diversion” of funds according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, which administers the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Fund. Taking this money out of the control of the PGC could very possibly result in the federal government cutting off all future P-R monies to PA. For 2023, that was nearly $42 million.

Please join BHA in opposing the transfer of $150 million from the Game Fund in HB 1300. Ask your lawmakers to reconsider the transfer and remove it from the final state budget bill. The future of hunting in Pennsylvania may depend on it.

Support Veterans Leading in Conservation

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT

The vision of Backcountry Hunters & Angler's Armed Forces Initiative (AFI) is a military community actively engaged in the conservation conversation in the field, on the water, and as active participants in the legislative process. We believe giving the military community a new mission is beneficial both to the military community in terms of long-term mental health stability and to the conservation industry: we are creating capable organized stewards of the natural resources unique to us as Americans.

Led by Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Rep. Darren Soto (D-FL), the Don Young Veterans Advancing Conservation Act would complement the AFI's vision by creating a new federal grant program aimed at supporting nonprofit organizations that hire, retrain, and redeploy veterans and would fund them to conduct coastal, Great Lakes, and underwater conservation missions. BHA supports this legislation because it would have tangible benefits both for American veterans as well as the conservation of marine and coastal ecosystems.

Join BHA in contacting your member of Congress today to support veteran-led conservation!

Support the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act

Fri, 30 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT

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The Blackfoot River runs through one of the most storied and productive landscapes in the country. This ecosystem supports healthy fish and wildlife habitats and a robust timber and outdoor recreation economy, while providing quality hunting and fishing opportunities with true backcountry characteristics. These wild lands deserve strong protections and enhanced management to preserve the benefits they provide to all stakeholders. And according to the 2023 Colorado College Conservation in the West Poll, 84% of Montanans agree.

The Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act (BCSA), reintroduced by Sen. Tester in June of 2023 (S. 2149), presents a multifaceted land management bill incorporating interests from across the region. The BCSA is the product of more than a decade of collaborative work between ranchers, timber harvesters, local communities, and recreational groups like hunters, anglers, mountain bikers, and snowmobilers. Legislation with such broad support is exceedingly hard to find these days, which is why we need every Montanan invested in the Blackfoot watershed to voice their strong support for the BCSA.

Please join us in thanking Sen. Tester for prioritizing the Blackfoot-Clearwater ecosystem, and asking Sen. Daines (R-MT) to represent your interests by supporting this critical legislation during this Congress.

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Help Protect North Carolina's Trout Streams

Tue, 27 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT

North Carolina's abundant farmland and pristine trout waters are invaluable resources that must be preserved for future generations. However, an unfortunate but preventable incident in 2021 saw extensive forested acres cleared in Surry County, resulting in severe water quality issues in Ramey Creek — a vital habitat for the Southern Appalachian Brook Trout, North Carolina's official freshwater fish and the sole native trout species.

The devastating impact nearly decimated the local trout population, necessitating a rare rescue mission by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission to capture and relocate the trout, aiming to safeguard their genetic heritage.

The underlying issue resides in the agricultural exemption provided by the Sedimentation Pollution Control Act of North Carolina. Agricultural operations are not required to maintain small vegetative buffers along streams, a rule imposed on nearly all other land-disturbing activities.

NC BHA supports a simple solution to help prevent future disasters while accommodating the needs of our farmers. An amendment has been offered and passed by the NC Senate that modifies the Sedimentation Pollution Control Act. This common-sense, targeted amendment ensures a 25-foot buffer along DEQ-designated trout streams for new agricultural operations while retaining the remaining aspects of the agricultural exemption. By implementing this straightforward safeguard, we can support our farmers and effectively mitigate farmland erosion and protect North Carolina's cherished trout fishing industry — an economic driver that generated a substantial impact of $383 million and supported approximately 3,593 jobs in 2014.

It is crucial that we take immediate action to safeguard our beloved North Carolina trout streams. We urge you to reach out to your representatives in the NC House without delay and strongly encourage them to support S613. Together, we can maintain the delicate balance between agriculture, our natural heritage, and thriving trout waters.

Join us in protecting North Carolina's trout streams. Act now!

Conserve the Owyhee Canyonlands

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT

Located in eastern Oregon, the Owyhee Canyonlands are a remarkable wild landscape with large expanses of prairie broken up by volcanic formations, sheer cliffs and the winding Owyhee River, a tributary of the Snake River home to unique native redband trout. This remote region provides important habitat for big game species including bighorn sheep, mule deer and elk as well as for upland birds like chukar partridge and greater sage-grouse. Along with our other partners in the Owyhee Sportsmen Coalition, BHA has supported a community driven, collaborative process that would permanently protect this region and the opportunities it provides for hunters and anglers.

The Malheur County Empowerment for the Owyhee (Malheur CEO) Act led by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) is the result of years of collaboration between stakeholder groups including conservation organizations, sportsmen and women, ranchers, and outdoor recreationists. In addition to designating more than one million acres of wilderness, the bill creates the Malheur C.E.O. group which will make consensus-based decisions regarding the region's management. An individual representing the hunting and fishing community will be included in the C.E.O. group. This legislation was reported out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee by voice vote in December of 2023.

Join BHA in asking your member of Congress to support this legislation that would conserve the Owyhee Canyonlands in Oregon and protect public lands for future generations of sportsmen and women!

Conserve California Public Lands and Waters

Fri, 26 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT

The Golden State offers diverse hunting and angling opportunities and boasts breathtaking scenery across a variety of climatic zones and topographies. From the old growth temperate rain forests of Northern California to the mountains and grasslands bordering the sea of the Central Coast, there are ample opportunities for sportsmen and women to pursue their quarry on these majestic public lands. The California Chapter of BHA has spent several years advocating for the passage of legislation that would have a monumental impact on rivers, forests and habitat for a number of species in the state while also helping to reduce the risk of fire through proactive management practices.

Hundreds of miles of wild and scenic river systems, hundreds of thousands of acres of national forest lands and hundreds of thousands of acres of wilderness in California stand to benefit from the Protecting Unique and Beautiful Landscapes by Investing in California (PUBLIC) Lands Act led by Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA). This language is included in three stand alone bills in the House of Representatives: the San Gabriel Mountains Protection Act led by Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA), the Central Coast Heritage Protection Act led by Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA), and the Northwest California Wilderness, Recreation, and Working Forests Act led by Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA). Throughout these landscapes are legendary salmon, steelhead and trout fisheries as well as habitat for California’s iconic game animals including bighorn sheep, bear, elk, deer, pronghorn antelope, quail, turkey and more.

Together these bills would designate nearly 600,000 acres of new wilderness, protect more than 583 miles of new wild and scenic rivers, expand San Gabriel Mountains National Monument by over 100,000 acres, and restore nearly 750,000 acres of National Forest System lands to boost watershed health, ecological resilience and reduce wildfire risk – specifically by requiring federal agencies to coordinate fire management practices in wilderness areas, especially in large wilderness areas managed across more than one jurisdiction. This legislation will secure habitat critical for California’s wildlife in the most remote portions of the state while simultaneously enhancing access and opportunities for sportsmen and women who face the challenges of encroaching urbanization along the state’s coast and inland communities. This legislation was reported out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee with a vote in December of 2023.

Join BHA in asking your member of Congress to support this legislation that would conserve habitat in California and ensure healthy wildlife for future generations of sportsmen and women!

Support the CORE Act, Conserving Colorado Public Lands

Tue, 23 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT

Now more than ever, Coloradans need increased opportunities to hunt, fish and pursue other recreational activities. Our growing population has an ever-increasing impact on our public lands, and we need to work to secure increased protections for wilderness and critical big game habitat. We know that our public lands, waters and wildlife are the lifeblood of Colorado's outdoor recreation economy.

Led by Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO), the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy (CORE) Act would provide much needed protections for over 400,000 acres of public lands in Colorado, including areas that provide some of the best big game hunting opportunities in the state. Increasing wilderness areas, strengthening conservation protections and ensuring the wild character of the San Juan Mountains, Thompson Divide, Curecanti National Recreation Area and White River National Forest that wildlife and hunters and anglers depend on. The bill would also expand stream access within the Upper Gunnison Basin.

The CORE Act would help mitigate the effects of development on wildlife habitat and would benefit game species ranging from bighorn sheep to cutthroat trout. In turn it would bolster our outdoor recreation businesses and rural communities while ensuring that hunters and anglers could still enjoy these incredible landscapes and the opportunities they provide. This legislation was reported out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee with a bipartisan vote in December of 2023.

Join BHA in asking your member of Congress to support this legislation that would conserve Colorado's public lands and waters for the benefit of hunters and anglers!

Help Restore Ohio Department of Natural Resources Funding

Tue, 16 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT

Strong opposition from the hunting and fishing community has been effective in eliminating the worst aspects of the Ohio 2024-25 appropriations bill, HSB 33. This bill was passed in the Ohio house with embarrassing provisions reducing wildlife officer authority and legislating season dates removed. Hunters and anglers are a powerful force! We certainly can celebrate a win, but it is only a partial win. This bill is currently being debated in the Ohio state senate and currently contains budgetary provisions that reduce funding to important conservation programs such as:

The proposed elimination of $2.5M in Conservation and Habitat Protection included in HSB 33 would unnecessarily hurt the users of our outdoor spaces by eliminating opportunities for recreation and harming our robust outdoor economy. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, Ohio's outdoor economy accounts for nearly 138,000 jobs(increase of 12% since 2020), attributing $6.5 Billion in compensation, and has a value of $12.8 Billion (increase of 23.3% since 2020). Eliminating this funding not only hurts the traditional user (ie hunters, anglers, and trappers), but it hurts good business and economics within our state.
The reduction of $2M for Project Wild-based education to an insulting $125k would strip outdoor education opportunities for the next generation of conservationists. Project Wild is a proven education platform, that not only supports fulfillment of State Science standards, but its also a proven avenue to connect youth with our outdoor spaces. We live in an ever closing world of screen time and being indoors, it begs the question as why on earth we would want to cut funding that reconnects kids with the outdoors. This funding reduction not only hurts our Division of Wildlife's education mechanism, but it hurts our kid's futures.

Please join Ohio BHA in helping to make each of these points to your legislator by sending a letter below.

Advance Legislation that Improves Public Access to Private Lands

Fri, 05 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT

The USDA’s Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP) is the only federal program specifically designed to facilitate public access for hunters and anglers on private lands. VPA-HIP is not only widely recognized as one of the most effective public access tools in the United States; it also helps landowners improve habitat stewardship and incentivizes restoration practices that benefit fish and wildlife.

The upcoming Farm Bill is an opportunity to reaffirm – and even increase – our investment in VPA-HIP. The Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act, led by Sens. Steve Daines (R-MT), Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Roger Marshall (R-KS), would reauthorize the program and increase funding from $50 million to $150 million over the next five years. Companion legislation, led by Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Dusty Johnson (R-SD) has also been introduced in the House of Representatives.

VPA-HIP operates by extending competitive grants to state and tribal governments – grants that are used to incentivize private landowners to voluntarily allow public access. The Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act would triple the impact of this popular and widely utilized program. Since most sportsmen and women cite insufficient access as our biggest obstacle to getting afield, the impact of this increase would be incalculable.

Join BHA in supporting public access by contacting your member of Congress today!

Speak-up for Public Shoreline Access in Rhode Island

Wed, 03 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT

H5174A & S417A, are currently before the RI General Assembly, and would not only protect public access by clarifying the boundary between public and private property but would also restore historical access to RI’s shores. Take Action to protect and restore access along Rhode Island’s shoreline by sending a letter using this Action Alert.

Support Wild and Scenic Rivers and Wilderness in Washington

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT

The Olympic Peninsula is a unique region with old-growth forests and important headwaters that provide backcountry experiences for hunters and anglers. It provides habitat for Roosevelt elk and black-tailed deer, as well as spawning grounds for native fish species including salmon, steelhead, coastal cutthroat trout and bull trout. Permanently safeguarding these areas in Washington would enhance hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation activities on public lands in addition to helping restore thriving wild salmon and steelhead habitat.

The Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, led by Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA), would achieve these safeguards by designating more than 126,000 acres of the Olympic National Forest as wilderness while maintaining access by not closing existing roads. The bill would also designate 464 miles of waterways as part of the Wild and Scenic River System. This legislation was reported out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee with a vote in December of 2023.

Join BHA in supporting this legislation that would strengthen the conservation of fish and wildlife habitat in Washington by reaching out to your member of Congress today!

Fight Attacks on LWCF and Our Public Lands and Waters

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT

Four bills introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives take aim at the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and enacted legislation that ensures its continued funding. Hunters and anglers, including BHA members and supporters, played a key role in sustaining LWCF, America’s most popular and successful conservation and access program, and achieving a hard-won victory in 2020 with passage of the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA). GAOA secured full, permanent funding for LWCF at $900 million annually, guaranteeing the program’s continued ability to secure important habitat and recreational lands and waters all across America.

When Congress passed GAOA just three years ago, the legislation had strong, bipartisan support led by both Republicans and Democrats, receiving support from three quarters of members of Congress and signed into law by President Trump as one of his administration's priorities. If allowed to advance, these four bills will compromise LWCF by eroding nearly 60 years of bipartisan conservation investments that hunters and anglers have been relying on for public access and enhancing important fish and wildlife habitat. The benefits LWCF brings to all Americans in every state are innumerable and critical to the future of our outdoor traditions.

Prohibiting these agencies from using all of LWCF’s tools will lead to management inefficiencies and preclude critical investments that expand public access. BHA opposes these bills and any attempt to undermine one of the nation’s most important conservation and access programs.

H.R. 2207 would defund the U.S. Forest Service’s ability to acquire public land

H.R. 2158 would defund the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s ability to acquire public land

H.R. 2169 would defund the National Park Service’s ability to acquire public land

H.R. 2153 would severely limit the Bureau of Land Management from acquiring public land

Join BHA in opposing this attack on LWCF and our efforts as hunters and anglers to expand access to and conservation of our public lands and waters!

Advisement on Non-Lead Ammunition Ban Legislation: (S4976A Harckham / A2084A Glick)

Mon, 24 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT

Assembly Bill A2084A (active currently for the 2023-2024 legislative session) prevents the use of lead ammunition in the taking of wildlife on state-owned lands and on lands contributing surface water to the New York City water supply. This bill has recently been amended to include updating the annual syllabus (NYDEC hunting regulations book) to include language of this bill. As similar bill (S4976A) has been in introduced the NY Senate and has been recognized as the same bill. Now is the time to speak up and urge your State legislators to prevent this well-intentioned, but misguided bill from reaching the Governor's desk.

Join OH BHA in Opposing HSB 33 - Help Stop Proposed Conservation Budget Cuts

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT

The Ohio Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is urging members and supporters to join us in expressing strong opposition to an Ohio appropriations bill (HSB 33) which includes a number of problematic provisions which could have lasting negative impacts on our outdoor heritage and traditions if passed. Please join us in sending a letter to your legislator below expressing your your strong opposition to the following, included within HSB 33:

The proposed elimination of $2.5M in Conservation and Habitat Protection included in HSB 33 would unnecessarily hurt the users of our outdoor spaces by eliminating opportunities for recreation and harming our robust outdoor economy. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, Ohio's outdoor economy accounts for nearly 138,000 jobs(increase of 12% since 2020), attributing $6.5 Billion in compensation, and has a value of $12.8 Billion (increase of 23.3% since 2020). Eliminating this funding not only hurts the traditional user (ie hunters, anglers, and trappers), but it hurts good business and economics within our state.
The reduction of $2M for Project Wild-based education to an insulting $125k would strip outdoor education opportunities for the next generation of conservationists. Project Wild is a proven education platform, that not only supports fulfillment of State Science standards, but its also a proven avenue to connect youth with our outdoor spaces. We live in an ever closing world of screen time and being indoors, it begs the question as why on earth we would want to cut funding that reconnects kids with the outdoors. This funding reduction not only hurts our Division of Wildlife's education mechanism, but it hurts our kid's futures.
The proposed reduction in the authority currently provided the Division of Wildlife and its Officers that negatively impacts their ability to protect our game species and our sporting heritage. The proposed changes within this bill would directly, and negatively, impede our Wildlife Officers from effectively being able to perform their duties. Wildlife is held in the public trust and our Officers need the ability to protect the resource, without being burdened by the restrictions of a warrant.
Changing the opening day of deer firearm season to the Friday after Thanksgiving, from the traditional Monday after Thanksgiving is problematic. A 2020 Ohio hunting survey finds shows strong public support for the traditional date, as the proposed new date would likely interfere with holiday gatherings and family events. Outside of that Backcountry Hunters and Anglers are strong supporters of sound science based wildlife management. Season dates and bag limits are modeled to reflect changes in species ecology and yearly cycle. We support the current date of proposed season and bag limits presented by the Division of Wildlife, and approved by the wildlife council. We oppose seasons set based on legislation. This change in season dates is unlikely to increase revenue as some have argued, and would serve no foundation for these changes.

Please join Ohio BHA in helping to make each of these points to your legislator by sending a letter below.

Help Support Needed Investments in Dam Maitenance in Michigan - HB 4380

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT

As outlined in this recent Michigan BHA blog post and this recent news article, quality public hunting and fishing access to sites like Cornwall Creek Dam could be lost if needed maintenance funding is not secured soon. Thankfully, there's a solution on the table right now through HB 4380. Introduced by Rep. Cavitt, this bill would dedicate the needed $1.5 million dam maintenance funding needed to keep of the Cornwall Creek Dam and recreation site functional. While in many cases dam decommissioning or removal is the best step for conservation, in this particular case maintaining the dam is crucial for preserving access to public land and water opportunities.

The Michigan Chapter of BHA is calling on our members and supporters to join us in urging your legislator to support this needed investment in one of the state's great public waters. Ask your legislator to support HB 4380 by sending a letter below.

Advocate for Permanent Protection of the Boundary Waters

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is one of the United States’ most highly prized wilderness ecosystems and a place that has provided the formative outdoor experience for sportsmen and women across the country. For decades the threat of a sulfide-ore mining operation in the Superior National Forest upstream of this wilderness area has persisted. However, in January of 2023 the United States Forest Service announced their decision to implement a 20-year withdrawal of mineral leasing from 225,000 acres following the determination of the threat to the watershed. This action was applauded by hunters and anglers, though only Congress can permanently protect the region.

It is critical that Congress now pass the Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution Prevention Act led by Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN). This legislation would permanently withdraw 234,328 acres of public lands in the watershed surrounding the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness from copper-nickel mining development and mineral leasing while still allowing for historic iron taconite mining. Doing so would guarantee the pristine ecological quality and unparalleled hunting and fishing opportunities of the Boundary Waters watershed are maintained.

Take a stand for the Boundary Waters and ask your members of Congress to support legislation that would permanently keep this watershed clean, healthy and full of quality hunting and fishing!

Urge Congress to Pass Recovering America's Wildlife Act

Fri, 31 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT

In partnership with a coalition of organizations, businesses and fish and wildlife management agencies that make up the Alliance for America’s Fish & Wildlife, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is working to advance legislation that would dedicate nearly $1.4 billion annually to help state and tribal fish and wildlife agencies proactively manage at-risk species and prevent them from being added to the federal list of threatened and endangered species.

Led by Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA) is the bipartisan product of decades of hard work by those who share an interest in securing funds needed for state fish and wildlife agencies and Tribes to reverse population declines for at-risk species. While not all at-risk species are game species, they do share the same habitat with critical game animals like mallards, mule deer, pronghorn and wild trout. Improving habitat for one species benefits all of them, including wild game.

Last Congress a companion led by Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) in the House of Representatives passed with a bipartisan vote. RAWA was also reported by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee with a bipartisan vote.

Join BHA in urging your member of Congress to support this monumental legislation that would dedicate funding for the conservation of fish and wildlife!

Take Action - 2023 House Judiciary Hearing on Shoreline Access

Sat, 25 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT

H5174, which is currently before the RI House of Representatives, would not only protect public access by clarifying the boundary between public and private property but would also restore historical access to RI’s shores. Take Action to protect and restore access along Rhode Island’s shoreline by sending a letter using this Action Alert

Protect the Gila River

Fri, 24 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT

The Gila River watershed provides integral fish and wildlife habitat for the world’s first designated wilderness area of the same name found in southwestern New Mexico. Despite being one of the last free-flowing river systems in this region of the United States the Gila remains at threat of diversion and dam proposals. Its watershed sustains critical habitat for the Gila trout, one of New Mexico’s two revered native trout species. These native trout are threatened and rely on cold and clean mountain streams for their recovery and survival.

The M.H. Dutch Salmon Greater Gila Wild and Scenic River Act led by Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-NM) in the House of Representatives for the first time, would permanently conserve approximately 446 miles of waterways by establishing them as wild and scenic. Doing so would enhance hunting, angling and other outdoor activities by safeguarding pristine waters in the region. This legislation was reported out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee with a bipartisan vote in May of 2023.

Join BHA in supporting this legislation that would strengthen the conservation of wild rivers in New Mexico by reaching out to your member of Congress today!

Expand Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument

Sat, 11 Mar 2023 05:00:00 GMT

The Berryessa Snow Mountain region is the crown jewel of northern California’s wild Inner Coast Range. Stretching nearly 100 miles from the shores of Lake Berryessa to the flanks of Snow Mountain in the Mendocino National Forest, these public lands and waters provide important fish and wildlife habitat. Black-tailed deer, wild turkey, black bears, mountain lions and herds of wild tule elk call the region home. Waters of the region include the trophy trout fisheries of Putah Creek and the headwaters of the Eel River. The Middle Fork of Stony Creek in the Snow Mountain Wilderness is now state-designated wild trout water, and so is Putah Creek between Solano Lake and Monticello dam. Clear Lake and Lake Berryessa offer world-class bass fishing.

BHA supports the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act led by Sens. Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Reps. John Garamendi (D-CA) and Mike Thompson (D-CA), which would transfer approximately 4,000 acres administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to the monument. The legislation also would direct the BLM and Forest Service to finalize a management plan for the monument, which has languished since its designation was supported by BHA in 2015. This legislation was reported out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee by voice vote in May of 2023.

Join BHA in supporting this important legislation that would conserve California public lands by reaching out to your member of Congress today!

Protect Nevada's Ruby Mountains

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 05:00:00 GMT

The Ruby Mountains in northeastern Nevada are a premiere destination for sportsmen and women. They are immensely valuable to hunters by providing a critical migratory corridor for the largest mule deer herd in the state and habitat for the imperiled Greater sage-grouse. Anglers can pursue the highly sought after Lahontan cutthroat trout in these waters, Nevada’s state fish.

Speculative oil and gas leasing and associated development have long threatened the region. The Ruby Mountains Protection Act led by Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) would prohibit oil and gas leasing on approximately 309,000 acres of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and 39,000 acres of the Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Doing so would stop the threat of habitat fragmentation while still managing the landscape for multiple use. This legislation was reported out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee with a bipartisan vote in May of 2023.

BHA is also encouraging the Department of Interior and U.S. Forest Service to initiate a 20-year mineral withdrawal of the Ruby Mountains under their authority.

Join BHA in asking your member of Congress to support this legislation that would conserve habitat in Nevada and ensure healthy wildlife for future generations of sportsmen and women!

Support H5864 & S607 - Prohibit Captive Hunting in RI

Tue, 07 Mar 2023 05:00:00 GMT

The New England Chapter of BHA has introduced legislation in the RI General Assembly that if passed would protect Rhode Island’s wildlife, and in particular our wild deer. H5864, introduced by Rep. Scott Slater (D – District 10) and S607, introduced by Sen. Matt LaMountain (D – District 31) are a continuation of our efforts during prior legislative sessions to prevent the establishment of big game captive hunting facilities in our Rhode Island. These bills seeks to prohibit importing native and non-native big game animals to conduct captive hunts within private facilities, and are a direct response to bills from the prior legislative session that would have paved the way to establish a new captive hunting industry in Rhode Island (H8090 & S2929A). These bills made it to the House and Senate floor and were postponed at the last minute due to public opposition. Since 2018 over a dozen bills have been introduced in the RI General Assembly with the intention of prohibiting captive big game hunting, but the legislature has yet to take action on the issue.

This Thursday, March 9th, the RI House Environment and Natural Resources Committee will hold a public hearing on H5864 at the Rise of the House (the hearing will start around 4:30PM). All members of the public are encouraged to participate, and can share verbal testimony in person at the hearing or submit written testimony.

Support Legislation to Conserve Oregon Public Lands and Waters

Mon, 06 Mar 2023 05:00:00 GMT

Oregon's public lands and waters provide remarkable opportunities for sportsmen and women to enjoy the pursuit of fish and game. BHA is advocating for legislation that would permanently protect important places including the Smith River watershed, Wild Rogue Wilderness and Kalmiopsis Wilderness, as well as create three new federal recreation areas to enhance and manage public access to the outdoors.

The Smith River National Recreation Area Expansion Act led by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) would expand the existing Smith River National Recreation Area by 58,000 acres in addition to designating 74 miles of waterways as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

The Oregon Recreation Enhancement Act led by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) would expand the Wild Rogue Wilderness by nearly 60,000 acres. It also would solidify the conservation of more than 100,000 acres of public lands near Kalmiopsis Wilderness Area from mining by permanently extending current protections granted under the 20-year Southwestern Oregon Mineral Withdrawal. Additionally, it would establish two new recreation areas, the Rogue Canyon Recreation Area and the Molalla Recreation Area, conserving more than 128,000 acres of public lands and waters.

Both of these bills were reported out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee with a bipartisan vote in May of 2023.

The Southwestern Oregon Watershed and Salmon Protection Act, introduced in July of 2023 by Reps. Val Hoyle (D-OR) and Jared Huffman (D-CA), would also permanently protect the more than 100,000 acres currently included in the Southwestern Oregon Mineral Withdrawal. In December of 2023, the Smith River National Recreation Area Expansion Act was also introduced by those two members of the House of Representatives.

Join BHA in supporting these important bills that would benefit fish and wildlife habitat in Oregon by reaching out to your member of Congress today!

Support New Mexico Wilderness

Thu, 02 Mar 2023 05:00:00 GMT

Established in 2013, the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument in northern New Mexico provides habitat ranging from high altitude sagebrush plains to some of the first segments of the Wild and Scenic River System designated in the nation. In 2019, the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act designated both the Cerro del Yuta Wilderness and the Rio San Antonio Wilderness within the monument.

Now, the Cerro de la Olla Wilderness Establishment Act led by Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM) would designate 13,000 new acres of wilderness in the monument, further solidifying protections for the landscape while maintaining current routes. This region is an important migratory corridor for elk and provides habitat for other game species including mule deer, black bears, and mountain lions. This legislation was reported out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee by voice vote in May of 2023.

Join BHA in supporting this legislation that would strengthen the conservation of fish and wildlife habitat in New Mexico by reaching out to your member of Congress today!

Expand Public Access to Illinois Waterways

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT

Illinois Backcountry Hunters and Anglers believes that the navigable waters of Illinois should be accessible for recreational use to all citizens, and we support the introduction of a very pivotal bill into the Illinois General Assembly that would expand navigable water access throughout the state.

HB 1568 amends the Rivers, Lakes, and Streams Act and provides that the public right to access and use navigable waters includes all rights recognized by State or federal law, including the rights set forth in the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 and the federal navigational servitude, and all rights arising under the public trust doctrine, which shall be understood and applied in a manner consistent with the spirit of the Act to maximize the full and free enjoyment of State waters by the public. Provides that any segment of a lake, river, or stream that is capable of supporting use by commercial or recreational watercraft for a substantial part of the year, or that is actually so used, shall be deemed navigable, and shall be open to public access and use, unless the contrary is proven in litigation by a preponderance of the evidence. Provides that no action or inaction by the Department of Natural Resources shall create a presumption, in any civil or criminal litigation, against the navigability of any waterway segment. Provides that the public right to access and use navigable waters shall be subject to specified protections and limitations, and a violation shall be punished as otherwise provided by law and, if likely to continue, enjoined by a court of competent jurisdiction. Provides that nothing in the Act shall limit the right of any person to challenge the legality of alleged interference with the public right to access or use navigable waters in any appropriate civil or criminal litigation.

Please join BHA in urging our state legislators to join us in supporting HB 1568 to increase access on Illinois Public Waterways.

Please Help Ensure Public Recreational Access on Illinois Waters

Thu, 28 Jul 2022 04:00:00 GMT

For the past couple of years, the Illinois chapter of BHA has been actively working to fight for public access to your public waters across Illinois. Illinois has just over 87,000 miles of rivers and streams within its borders with just over 1,000 miles designated as public for use by everyone. The majority of water moving through Illinois is owned by landowners on the banks. As this water flows through the state, it touches the lands of many, solidifying the need for it to belong to many, all of us. Demands for public access to the outdoors continue to grow and disputes between public recreational users and private landowners on Illinois waterways like the DuPage and Mazon Rivers have gained a good deal of attention.

Disputes over who is allowed to utilize waterways in Illinois for recreational purposes recently escalated all the way up to the Illinois Supreme Court in Adam Holm et al. v. Peter Kodat et al. Holm, a public water user, unsuccessfully argued that permission was not required to access non-navigable waterways in the state. However, in the resulting Jun. 2022 Supreme Court decision, the court acknowledged that the common law, which states public users are not legally allowed to access waterways that touch private property, no longer reflects the growing public interest and need for public recreational access on Illinois waters. The court called on the legislature to take action: “I concur in the result reached in today’s opinion, but I encourage the legislature to promulgate legislation so that the state’s nonnavigable lakes, rivers, and streams are not limited to use by riparian landowners but are available to the public for recreational use.”

Hunters, anglers and other recreators treasure the rich opportunities to wade, float and enjoy waterways in Illinois. It is imperative that our public waters remain open and accessible to all and that opportunity for a sunset paddle, a cast to a surfacing bass or decoy a cupped-up mallard with friends and family is available to every Illinoisan, regardless of how much land they own or how much money they have in their bank account. A change to water public access means the responsibility falls on all hand instead of just a few.

Illinois BHA is committed to working toward a solution that will ensure you have the right to hunt, fish and recreate on the state’s waterways. Please join us by becoming a BHA member here and by asking your legislator to advance a legislative solution for public water access in the state.

Preserve hunting opportunity in New Jersey: Vote NO on Assembly Bill 3732

Fri, 24 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT

The New Jersey Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is in staunch opposition to Assembly Bill 3732, proposed by Assemblywoman Shama A. Haider. The measure would change the perimeter for bow and arrow hunting around occupied buildings and require property owners to provide notice and obtain receipt from owners of adjacent properties prior to any hunting activity. Such rules would preclude hunters from pursing game on many properties and would be detrimental to the state’s ability to manage wild deer populations.

Please join BHA in urging our state legislators to vote NO on Assembly Bill 3732.

Take Action - Protect and Restore Access to the Rhode Island Shoreline

Mon, 04 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT

2022 - H8055, which is currently before the RI House of Representatives, would not only protect public access by clarifying the boundary between public and private property but would also restore historical access based on the best available science. Take Action to protect and restore access along Rhode Island’s shoreline by sending a letter using this Action Alert

Protect Steelhead: Tell your Elected Officials to Support Snake River Dam Removals

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMT

Salmon and steelhead are iconic species in the Columbia and Snake Rivers. Huge runs of large, strong fish historically made the journey from the Pacific Ocean up these rivers and the vast array of tributaries in Oregon, Washington and Idaho to spawn. These migratory fish are indicator species that speak to the health of a watershed and are revered for sustenance and sport by anglers. The loss of these salmon and steelhead populations, all federally listed as endangered or threatened, creates severe ecological, cultural and economic impacts to communities in Idaho, Washington and Oregon.

Many factors, including over-harvest, dams, degraded habitat and predation, among others, are responsible for the continued decline of returning anadromous fish. Recent seasons have been catastrophic, with near record low returns of steelhead, chinook and sockeye salmon. Thankfully, Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID) has released a plan to remove the four lower Snake River dams in order to save this population of salmon and steelhead. Further more, a recent study conducted by Gov. Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) concluded the feasibility for the removal of all four dams. We need residents of Idaho, Washington and Oregon to contact their elected officials in support of the removal of the lower four Snake River Dams.

Billions of dollars have been spent on failed recovery efforts. At the risk of extinction, Snake River salmon and steelhead need our help. Immediate action is needed by our elected leaders. We need to use a science-based approach, engage stakeholders and find solutions for the recovery and benefit of the species and the health of our river communities.

Take action today! Please make sure to customize your message and subject heading for the greatest effect.

Tell Congress: Stand Up for Our Public Lands

Tue, 07 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT

Every American citizen is an equal owner of our public lands. Yet that birthright, so unique to our country, is threatened by misguided individuals and legislative attacks that seek to seize, transfer or otherwise dispose of our public lands by promoting state ownership or, worse, selling our children’s inheritance to the highest bidder for private financial gain.