Nearly 50 years ago, while most of America was focused on the growing conflict in Viet Nam, some forward-thinking individuals were considering the needs of the nation at home.  The growing social and environmental movement gave rise to a number of new laws that provided protection for clean water, clean air, and human rights as part of LBJ’s vision for America that he termed “The Great Society.”   Among the pieces of historic legislation passed in that era were the Wilderness Act in 1964 and ...

DENVER, CO - Four sportsmen from across the West were presented with awards at the Backcountry Hunters & Anglers’ Annual National Rendezvous in Denver, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to protecting backcountry habitat and promoting conservation efforts Jim Posewitz of Helena, Montana; Bob Mirasole of Chattaroy, Washington; Oscar Simpson of Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Scott Willoughby of Eagle, Colorado were the recipients of this year’s awards. “The awardees truly embody ...

New Mexico sportsmen are optimistic that President Obama will do the same for New Mexico that he did today in California – use his authority to designate a new national monument.At a White House ceremony today, the president made good on his State of the Union vow to protect more public land by designating Point Arena-Stornetta National Monument. The new monument includes 1,600 acres on the northern California coastline, including important habitat for salmon, migratory waterfowl and other ...

March 25, 2014   Dear Representative:   Backcountry Hunters & Anglers has members in all 50 states and is committed to protecting wild public lands, water and wildlife. Stripping the Antiquities Act of its historical authority to safeguard special public lands, means less opportunity for hunters and anglers. BHA supports boots-on-the-ground knowledge of local places, conservation of critical wildlife habitat and the ability of citizens to educate our elected officials on the importance of ...

New Mexico BHA Chair, Oscar Simpson speaks-up in support of the president's proposed conservation funding priorities.  A live video interviewwith Oscar that acompanied this release can also be found here.ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE)- Outdoor enthusiasts are optimistic President Obama’s new budget proposal will open up public land and, in turn, help to boost New Mexico’s economy.Some outdoor recreationists say they’ve been battling the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service for 30 years when ...

This is meeting season—the time of year when people are scrambling around making plans for the coming year, working on budgets, politicking and strategizing. In Utah, this is the most meeting-intensive time of year, when the Utah legislature is in session.Generally speaking, most people don’t enjoy attending meetings very much. Scott Adams, the creative genius behind the comic strip, “Dilbert,” regularly lampoons the most dreaded of meetings—staff meetings--apparently having sat in on more ...

The following is a letter submitted by members of NM BHA to the Cibola National regarding a proposal to permit intensive military operations in otherwise relatively undisturbed backcountry habitat.  To help NM BHA February 5, 2014Ms. Cheryl PrewittCibola National ForestU.S. Forest Service2113 Osuna Rd., NE, Ste. AAlbuquerque, NM 87113Re: Military Training Exercises Project – Comments submitted by E-mailDear Ms. Prewitt:I am submitting my comments in response to the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and ...

  Several months ago it came to light that traditional bow hunters are the fastest growing segment of BHA’s membership.  My own interest in shooting my long-neglected recurve bow had been re-kindled a couple of years ago (independently of the popular movies featuring attractive young women shooting recurve bows, I might add!), so I was pleased to learn that other traditional archers are discovering that the BHA philosophy fits nicely with their chosen pursuit.  The challenges and limitations ...

Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (BHA) is proud to announce the formation of a new chapter in Arizona. The official BHA roster lists only 20 members for Arizona. Twelve of these members unanimously voted to form a BHA chapter during a meeting at the Sportsman’s Warehouse in Tucson on August 10, 2013. The members also elected four individuals to board positions: Co-Chairs – Kurt Bahti and Ross McCollum Treasurer – Jim Littlejohn Secretary – John Windes The chapter organization, in ...

The Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA) announced today it would give a three-year reprieve to a controversial lease it planned to issue in the Book Cliffs. An agreement reached by Governor Gary Herbert, SITLA, Congressman Rob Bishop and Anadarko will delay development on the roadless or Little Creek Area of the Book Cliffs, a region coveted by hunters and anglers for its remote character and pristine habitat. This delay came at the request of sportsmen, many of ...