This is your November edition of BHA's State Policy Spotter - a high-level scan of state policy and legislation impacting our wild public lands, waters and wildlife across North America.

Note - this is not a comprehensive list of legislation or issues that chapters are working on, but rather a spotlight in the moment of what is moving. There are many more bills and issues BHA's chapters are grappling with so be sure to check out individual chapter pages for more news and updates.

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November 2025

Massachusetts: Hunting, Public Lands, and Nonresident Hunting Bills. News

Over the past few weeks, the New England Chapter’s Massachusetts State Leadership has been hard at work, testifying at three critical public hearings on key hunting-related bills. Among their priorities are efforts to expand hunting access, including proposals to allow Sunday hunting, reduce archery hunting setbacks from occupied dwellings, and repeal the ban on semiautomatic shotguns for nonresident hunters.  The chapter has also drawn significant attention for its opposition to a concerning bill that would transfer at least 30% of Wildlife Management Areas to a special interest commission, creating forest reserves where essential habitat management would be prohibited. For a deeper dive into this issue, check out the chapter’s detailed social media post. 

 

Wisconsin. Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program Renewal. Take Action

The Wisconsin Chapter is calling all Wisconsinite hunters and anglers to urge their representatives to support the renewal of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program. For over 30 years, the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program has shaped Wisconsin’s outdoor spaces by funding boat launches, public lands, habitat improvements, trails, and more. With 10,000+ projects statewide and $1.3 billion invested, it ensures access to nature for hunters, anglers, and all who love the outdoors. But without reauthorization, this critical program ends in 2026. There are two bills in the house, which aims to reauthorize the program. To learn more and take action. 

Delaware: Update - ASMFC Striped Bass Board Meeting & Addendum III. News

Despite overwhelming advocacy from conservation-minded anglers along the striper coast, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Striped Bass Board chose to maintain the status quo, rejecting a proposed 12% reduction in commercial and recreational harvests under Addendum III. The Board justified its decision by citing economic concerns, lower-than-expected 2024 fishing mortality, and declining catch data in 2025. However, the Board acknowledged serious risks to the fishery’s future, particularly seven consecutive years of weak striped bass recruitment in the Chesapeake Bay—a trend that threatens to destabilize spawning stocks after 2029. In response, the Board formed a Work Group to address long-term management challenges, with specifics to be determined in upcoming meetings.  The BHA chapters involved in the Addendum III process remain committed to ensuring the ASMFC upholds its obligation to rebuild the striped bass population by 2029. For updates on BHA’s ongoing efforts to protect this vital fishery, visit our website.  
 

Colorado: Stream Access Fight Ramps up with Film Tour Launch. News 

The statewide tour of Common Waters, a new film highlighting Colorado’s stream access challenges, kicked off to a packed house at the University of Colorado Law School. Supported and branded by BHA, the film effectively conveys the complexity of Colorado’s restrictive stream access laws and the need for broader recreational access for anglers, boaters, and waders alike. The Colorado Stream Access Coalition is using the tour to raise public awareness and build momentum for reform, with upcoming screenings in Grand Junction on November 6, which is nearly sold out, and Denver on November 19.
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Texas: Department Considers New State Park and Key Expansions for Public Access. Take Action 

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is considering several new land acquisitions and expansions that could enhance public access for hunting and fishing across the state. Proposals include the creation of a new 54,000-acre state park in Kinney and Edwards counties near Del Rio, where BHA will encourage hunting opportunities alongside fishing access. Additional expansions include 1,120 acres at Caprock Canyons State Park, home to Texas’s state bison herd, and 200 acres at Lockhart State Park, which could nearly double the park’s size. Take action in support of these additions and encourage new or expanded lands be opened to public hunting where appropriate.
TAKE ACTION

 

Wyoming: Wyoming’s Wildlife Is Not for Sale. Take Action

Wyoming BHA continues to lead efforts opposing proposals that would allow certain landowners to “transfer” their hunting tags — effectively putting a price tag on publicly owned wildlife. Ahead of the Joint Interim Agriculture Committee meeting on October 29, BHA launched an action alert mobilizing hunters and anglers statewide to contact their legislators and stand up for the public trust. Earlier this year, the chapter helped kill a similar bill, and is encouraging members to remain vigilant to ensure Wyoming’s wildlife is not for sale, not now, not ever.

TAKE ACTION

 

West-Wide: Supreme Court Declines to Hear Corner-Crossing Case, Protecting Access to Millions of Acres of Public Lands. News

BHA applauds the decision by the Supreme Court to decline review of the case Iron Bar Holdings, LLC v. Cape, which leaves intact the ruling from the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals affirming that CORNER CROSSING IS NOT A CRIME. That decision defends access to more than 3.5 million acres of public lands in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Kansas and Oklahoma, with broader implications for up to an estimated 8.3 million acres across the West. While this is a significant win for sportsmen and women who value hunting and fishing on public lands, BHA emphasizes that the work is far from done, especially in states within the 9th circuit. Landowners, special-interest groups and policy makers may launch new efforts to restrict access in different ways, meaning sustained advocacy and coalition building remain critical. Stay tuned for action alerts and opportunities to engage in defending our wild public lands and the rights of all Americans to access them.

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