News Chapter News Federal Issues The Tongass Forest Plan Revision: A Critical Opportunity for the Nation’s Largest National Forest and Wildly Productive Public Lands 4/6/2026 The Tongass National Forest is entering a new phase of long-term planning that will shape management direction for decades. The U.S. Forest Service is currently engaging Southeast Alaska... Tags: Alaska Chapter, Tongass National Forest
News Chapter News Illinois BHA Chapter Recognized as 2025 Outdoor Volunteer Organization of the Year 3/23/2026 Tags: Illinois Chapter, Chapter News
News 2025 Public Lands and Waters Photo Contest Winners 3/12/2026 Hunters and anglers capture some of their most meaningful moments on our public lands and waters. From designated wilderness and Bureau of Land Management tracts to Forest Service parcels and the... Tags:
Media News Press Releases Federal Issues Senate Committee Advances BLM Director Nomination; Full Senate Vote Next 3/4/2026 Tags: Policy, Fish & Wildlife Management, North American News, Federal Issues
Media News North American News Press Releases Public Lands Community Signals it Will Be Watching BLM Director Confirmation 2/24/2026 Tags: Access & Opportunity, Public Lands & Waters, Fish & Wildlife Management, Federal Issues
News Chapter News Federal Issues The Tongass: A Truly Wild Place I Call Home 2/16/2026 The Tongass: A Truly Wild Place I Call Home The Tongass National Forest is the largest National Forest in the United States, possessing some of the most unique backcountry opportunities in the... Tags: Alaska Chapter, Tongass National Forest
Media News Chapter News From the Fly Tying Vise to the Halls of Congress: What We Heard at the Virginia Fly Fishing and Wine Festival 2/4/2026 Tags: Mid-Atlantic Chapter
News Chapter News Public Land Owners Brave the Cold for the 4th Annual North Country Icebreaker 1/27/2026 Tags: Minnesota Chapter
Media News North American News Press Releases OpEd: A Test of Leadership for America’s Public Lands 1/18/2026 Editor's Note: This commentary was originally published by the Billings Gazette on January 18, 2026. The version shown here is abbreviated as a courtesy to BHA members and supporters. BHA... Tags: Public Lands Access, Public Waters Access, Public Lands & Waters, Fish & Wildlife Management
News Chapter News Federal Issues State Issues Eastern Waters Could Soon See Dedicated Federal Investment 11/25/2025 Tags: Kentucky Chapter, Illinois Chapter, Indiana Chapter, Ohio Chapter, Tennessee Chapter, Public Waters Access, Mid-Atlantic Chapter, North Carolina Chapter, West Virginia Chapter, Southeast Chapter, Public Lands & Waters, Georgia Chapter, Pennsylvania Chapter
Media News North American News Press Releases BHA Applauds Bipartisan Caucus Support for Public Lands in Public Hands Act 11/21/2025 Tags: Public Lands Access, Public Waters Access, Public Lands & Waters
Media News North American News Issues Federal Issues Federal Policy Roundup: November 2025 11/4/2025 Tags: Policy, Public Lands Access, Public Lands & Waters, Fish & Wildlife Management
Media News North American News Press Releases Ryan “Cal” Callaghan of MeatEater Named Incoming President and CEO of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers 10/31/2025 Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) is proud to announce that Ryan “Cal” Callaghan—longtime BHA supporter, former chair of BHA’s North American Board, and current vice... Tags: Press Releases, Public Lands Access
Media News North American News Issues Supreme Court Declines to Hear Corner-Crossing Case, Protecting Millions of Acres of Public Lands 10/20/2025 Tags: Press Releases, Public Lands Access
News Chapter News Alaska BHA Board Retreat: Dogs, Wild Game, and Big Ideas in the Heart of the Denali Highway 10/15/2025 Alaska BHA Board Retreat: Dogs, Wild Game, and Big Ideas in the Heart of the Denali Highway by Rory O'Hanranhan - Events & Outreach Assistant Chair Tags: Alaska Chapter
News North American News Congressional Review Act Sets Dangerous Precedent for Public Lands 10/8/2025 Tags: Policy, Press Releases, Public Lands & Waters
Media News North American News Federal Issues Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: Federal Shutdown Compounds Threats to Public Lands 10/1/2025 Tags: Press Releases
Media News North American News Backcountry Journal 2025 Public Lands and Waters Photo Contest 9/26/2025 Taking pictures of our backcountry experiences is just one way hunters and anglers capture their most beloved memories in designated wilderness, on Bureau of Land Management tracts, Forest Service... Tags:
Media News North American News Press Releases BHA Applauds Expansion of Voluntary Lead-Free Ammunition Incentive Program 9/22/2025 Tags: Press Releases, Access & Opportunity, North American News
News Chapter News Federal Issues State Issues Missouri Four File Opposition Brief to Supreme Court 9/19/2025 Tags: Access & Opportunity, North American News
Media News North American News Press Releases Virtual Rally to Celebrate National Public Lands Day 9/18/2025 Tags: Press Releases, North American News
News Chapter News Issues State Issues Atlantic Striped Bass Draft Addendum III 9/16/2025 The Atlantic striped bass was declared overfished in 2019, prompting the implementation of a rebuilding plan aimed at restoring the stock to its target spawning stock biomass by 2029. Tags: New Jersey Chapter, New York Chapter, Mid-Atlantic Chapter, New England Chapter, North Carolina Chapter, Pennsylvania Chapter
Media News Chapter News Public Lands Pale Ale 2025 9/15/2025 Tags: Kentucky Chapter, Michigan Chapter, Tennessee Chapter, New York Chapter, Arkansas Chapter, Washington Chapter, New England Chapter, West Virginia Chapter, Georgia Chapter, Colorado Chapter, Wyoming Chapter, Idaho Chapter, Pennsylvania Chapter, Alaska Chapter
News Chapter News Stewardship News BHA and Idaho Trails Association Partnership 9/15/2025 Tags: Idaho Chapter
News Chapter News Stewardship News Maine BHA Assists MDIFW in Opening New Land to Hunting and Trapping 9/10/2025 Volunteers with Maine BHA joined Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife staff to remove POSTED signs, install WMA boundary markers, and clean roadside trash. Tags: Habitat Stewardship, New England Chapter, Access & Opportunity
Media News North American News Press Releases BHA Calls For Reversal of Attack on Land and Water Conservation Fund 9/4/2025 Tags: Press Releases, Access & Opportunity, North American News
Media News Chapter News Stewardship News Improved Habitat Connectivity on 22,000 Acres of Public Land 9/3/2025 Tags: Habitat Stewardship, New Mexico Chapter
Media News Chapter News Stewardship News Rally for the Rio Grande del Norte: Music, Stewardship and Public Lands 9/3/2025 Tags: Habitat Stewardship, New Mexico Chapter
News Chapter News Investigating Environmental Influences on NC Flounder Fisheries 8/28/2025 Blog written by Charles Veith. This research was partially funded by a grant from the North Carolina Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. Research like this should be... Tags: North Carolina Chapter
Media News North American News Press Releases Federal Issues Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Readies Grassroots Network for Roadless Rule Comment Period 8/27/2025 Tags: Press Releases, Public Lands & Waters, North American News
News Chapter News From Nebraska: Kester Receives Public Lands Hero Award 8/20/2025 Tags: Nebraska Chapter
News Chapter News VT Bustin’ Clays with BHA — Event Recap 8/17/2025 A bluebird day, good shooting, and even better company. On August 16, the Vermont Team of BHA’s New England Chapter gathered at the Northeast Kingdom Skeet & Sporting... Tags: New England Chapter
Media News Chapter News Stewardship News Big Gumbo Fence Removal - Part 2 7/14/2025 June 21st, 2025 - Volunteers from the Montana and North Dakota chapters gathered in the "Big Gumbo" area just south of Marmarth, ND for part 2 of an ongoing stewardship effort in North... Tags: North Dakota Chapter, Habitat Stewardship
Media News Chapter News These Lands Remain Not for Sale: A Story of Grassroots Power—and Why the Work Continues 5/28/2025 Last week, a pivotal moment unfolded in Washington, D.C.—one that showcased the strength of a united outdoor community. Deep within the text of a must-pass budget reconciliation bill lurked... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative
Media News Chapter News These Woods Saved Me. Now I’m Fighting to Save Them for My Sons 5/20/2025 By Hunter Owen I’ve spent most of my adult life in uniform. As a dad I’ve done my best to balance fatherhood and life in uniform. But the truth is, I’ve been in and out of... Tags: media, Armed Forces Initiative
Media News North American News Chapter News A Salute to Service: Honoring Dalton Wayne Hoover’s Impact on AFI 5/6/2025 At the heart of the Armed Forces Initiative (AFI) is the belief that service doesn’t stop when the uniform comes off—it simply evolves. Our mission to help veterans and active-duty... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative
News Press Releases Administration to Rescind Public Lands Rule, Potentially Shirking Public Engagement 4/16/2025 Tags:
News Press Releases BHA Commends Bipartisan Stand Against Public Land Sales as Senate Amendment Falls Short 4/7/2025 Tags:
Media News Chapter News AFI Wyoming Priority Landscape Event 3/6/2025 The word "community" is often used, whether it refers to where you live, or a cheesy line often used by employers to describe their workplace environment. The community within the Armed... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative
Media News Chapter News The Ongoing Fight for Our Wild Places: A Veteran's Perspective 1/23/2025 As a veteran who served in the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT), I understand that success often hinges on the small victories. During the GWOT, capturing high-value targets did not just weaken... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative
Media News Chapter News Veterans Against the Ambler Road: A Call for Responsible Stewardship of Public Lands 11/13/2024 As a veteran who has dedicated my life to serving this country, I am deeply troubled by an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would revive the Ambler Road project.... Tags: Policy, media, Armed Forces Initiative, Alaska Chapter
Media News Chapter News SD BHA Celebrates 560-acre Addition to Game Production Area 10/11/2024 Last month, SD BHA celebrated the dedication of “The Stengle Tract,” a 560-acre addition to the Frozen Man Creek Game Production Area in Stanley County, South Dakota which... Tags: South Dakota Chapter
Media News North American News Chapter News Warriors with a New Mission in Conservation 9/27/2024 The Armed Forces Initiative is more than just a community; just like the flag we salute, it's a tapestry woven with the threads of diverse backgrounds and experiences. Within our ranks, you... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative
Media News Chapter News SD BHA Leaders Clean Up Thompson Lake 9/20/2024 In recognition of Public Lands Month, SD BHA leaders earned their conservation karma last weekend packing out trash at Thompson Lake as a part of South Dakota Game, Fish, and Park's... Tags: South Dakota Chapter, Habitat Stewardship
Media News Chapter News AFI Event Review (St Croix River) 8/28/2024 St Croix River Fly Fishing for Smallmouth and Musky "I had a great time at the St Croix River Dual Skills Camp this past weekend. I had no idea this super floatable river and this level of fly... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative
Media News Chapter News AFI Event Review (North Carolina Upland Hunting Class) 8/14/2024 2021 North Carolina Upland 101 Dual Skills Camp AFI Leader Marty Bartram: “This event was a challenge as we were trying to teach Upland fundamentals in a part of the country with a real niche... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative
Media News North American News Press Releases Public Hunting and Fishing Access Expanded on National Wildlife Refuges 8/2/2024 For Immediate Release Aug. 1, 2024 Contact: Thomas Plank, 303-720-0111 plank@backcountryhunters.org Public Hunting and Fishing Access Expanded on National Wildlife... Tags: Policy, media, Press Releases, North American News
Media News Chapter News AFI Event Review (Great Lakes Salmon 2021) 7/31/2024 Great Lakes Salmon 2021 Before this event I was at a heavily regulated army training event that lasted for months in a very intense field environment. The culmination of this training means that... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative
Media News Chapter News AFI Event Review (Alaska Caribou 2023) 7/24/2024 Learn to hunt Caribou event Alaska, 2023. When you get stationed in Alaska, it's easy to think that your world of leaving the base is over. What you imagine is this snowy hellscape because... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative
Media News Chapter News AFI Event Review (Arkansas Snow Goose 2023) 7/17/2024 AFI Event Review AR Snow Goose Feb 2023 Thank you so much for inviting me on the recent learn to snow goose hunt event. I've never been much of a hunter, but I've always been curious, and to be... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative
Media News Chapter News AFI Event Review (Montana Fly Fishing) 7/10/2024 Event Review 2021 Fly Fishing Dual Skills Camp I had never heard of BHA before this event, and now I visit your website every day for more information and more stories of how I can get involved... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative
Media News Chapter News South Dakota BHA 2024 Summer Newsletter 7/8/2024 Summer is officially here! Besides camping, fishing, and soaking up all the time outdoors that we can - here's what we've been up to the past three months at the South Dakota chapter of... Tags: South Dakota Chapter
Media News Chapter News AFI Event Review (Turkey Camp 2021) 6/26/2024 Event Review Turkey Dual Skills Camp 2021 Thank you so much for hosting this turkey event. I was able to harvest my first turkey with a shotgun but that's not why this event was important. This... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative
Media News Chapter News AFI Event Review (New England Waterfowl 2023) 6/19/2024 Event Review 2023 New England Waterfowl "I work in emergency services. Throughout my military career and the past six months at work, I have been involved in a series of traumatic events that... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative
Media News Chapter News AFI Event Review (Alaska Ice Fishing 2023) 6/12/2024 Alaska Ice Fishing Event Dec 2022 I need to tell you about your Alaska AFI leader, David May. I cannot thank him enough, and he needs some sort of award or recognition. David May saved my life.... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative
Media News Chapter News AFI event Review (Oklahoma Waterfowl 2024) 6/5/2024 Event review from Oklahoma Waterfowl Dual Skills Camp 2024. "Wow is all I can say about this event. I went from thinking I would never harvest a duck to learning more than I ever thought there... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative
Media News Chapter News South Dakota BHA 2024 Spring Newsletter 4/1/2024 Happy Spring! Cabin fever is setting in and turkey season is right around the corner. The days are getting longer and we're starting to stir - here's what we've been up to: ... Tags: South Dakota Chapter
Media News Chapter News Field to Table Fish Tacos for a Special Occasion 3/29/2024 For the boatless angler, or even the boated angler for that matter, there is no better time to catch a meal of fresh fish than spring. Whether casting off rocky points for walleyes, probing back... Tags: Field to Table, South Dakota Chapter
Media News Chapter News AFI Q:1 Newsletter 3/12/2024 Good morning, Armed Forces Initiative members, supporters, and subscribers. This is your Q:1 AFI Newsletter here to keep you informed on all the latest happenings in the BHA and AFI... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative
Media News Chapter News AFI Alaska Caribou a Photo Essay 10/2/2023 What follows in an account of our Alaska Caribou Event in 2023 from a participant: Alaska Day 1: - view coming into Fairbanks woke up at 06, had coffee with the kids and finished packing. Sat... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative, Mentorship, Alaska Chapter
Media News Chapter News Washington AFI Converts a gear fisherman 10/2/2023 What follows is a review of the AFI Fly Fishing 101 course in Washington State Summer 2023: The goal of this workshop was to provide our Military community with hands on information for... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative, Fishing, Washington Chapter, Mentorship
Media News North American News Chapter News Armed Forces Initiative Yellowstone River Fly Fishing Camp 2023 7/25/2023 Fly fishing for Yellowstone cutthroat trout on the Yellowstone River or in the Lamar Valley of Yellowstone National Park is a bucket list adventure for many. This July, eight veterans who... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative, Mentorship
Media News Chapter News EVENT RECAP: South Dakota BHA Participates in the Pierre-Fort Pierre Missouri River Cleanup 7/17/2023 The South Dakota chapter of BHA partnered with the Izaak Walton League, SD Game, Fish and Parks, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Army Corps of Engineers, and the cities of Pierre and Fort... Tags: South Dakota Chapter, Habitat Stewardship
Media News North American News Chapter News North Carolina AFI Turkey Camp 5/17/2023 I recently had the pleasure in attending the 2023 North Carolina Armed Forces Initiative Turkey Camp as a mentor. There was a bit of trepidation on my part about being a mentor as I do not... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative, North Carolina Chapter
Media News Chapter News South Dakota BHA Joins Missouri River Cleanup at Yankton 5/15/2023 South Dakota BHA leaders and members joined the National Park Service for its 17th Missouri River Cleanup on May 6 in Yankton. Over 60 volunteers removed 1,560 pounds of litter and trash from... Tags: South Dakota Chapter, Habitat Stewardship
Media News Chapter News Fathers and Hunting 5/4/2023 My father has been a lifelong hunter, fisherman, and general outdoorsman. One of my favorite parts about him, though, is that he has just never been very good at hunting or fishing, at least in... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative
Media News Chapter News CO BHA Oak Ridge SWA Fence Removal Project 9/8/2022 Project Description The Northwest is home to the largest elk, mule deer, and prong horn populations in the state of Colorado. The Oak Ridge State Wildlife Area alone will carry up to 3,000 head of... Tags: Habitat Stewardship, Colorado Chapter