January 4, 2023   Deschutes County Commission PO Box 6005 117 NW Lafayette Ave. Bend, OR 97708   RE: Wildlife Inventory Update—Mule Deer Winter Range Inventory Maps   Dear Commissioners, Adair, Chang, and DeBone, For the record, my name is Karl J. Findling. I’m a thirty-three-year Deschutes County resident, living in Tumalo. Today, I speak on behalf of the Oregon Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. The purpose of this testimony to provide comments and express concerns relating to the ...

2022 was a busy year for the Rhode Island BHA team, and we were able to build momentum on several key policy issues and achieve a couple wins too. Below you’ll find updates on our work at the Rhode Island General Assembly and other state agencies from 2022   Issue: Shoreline Access By the beginning of the 2022 Legislative Session the House Legislative Study Commission on Shoreline Access, which was created during the prior year’s session, was in the process of wrapping up its activities and ...

It’s been an incredible year for the Armed Forces Initiative. I cannot thank all our volunteer leaders both new and seasoned for everything they have done in 2022 for the military community and for conservation. There’s much yet to do together and 2023 planning is looking like it’s going to be a great year, but right now I want to focus on all the great events, camps, cleanups and policy initiatives the Armed Forces Initiative took on in 2022. Commander's Intent: Instill within the military ...

Hunters agree on the need for things like quality habitat, large landscape conservation, and scientific management of our wildlife. But things get fiery when you start asking sportsmen about who gets to hunt, when, where, what, and how.  For example, the question of quality opportunity vs. quantity of opportunities came up during December’s Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting. Vice Chair Pat Tabor brought a proposal to move a currently limited, quality bull elk hunting opportunity to ...

As the year comes to a close, I’d like to reflect on some of our 2022 accomplishments in Pennsylvania.   We welcomed four new Board Members: Ross Miller, Steve Mohr, Nick Scalo and Mike Strollo. We look forward to seeing what they accomplish in 2023.   Bob Smith again led the fourth annual Pennsylvania Trail Challenge. Each year he cooks up an adventurous trek. This year covered 30.5 miles along Pine Creek Gorge. Be sure to look for next year’s event.   Our Take 2 mentoring program ...