Utah’s public lands attract residents and visitors from all over the world to explore our state’s many wonders and enjoy a variety of recreational activities. For newcomers, these landscapes may have been an important factor in their decision to move here. For the rest of us who value the outdoors, it’s probably why we’ve never thought of leaving. For most of us, access to public lands and waters is non-negotiable.  I serve on the board of the Utah chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, ...

Hope can be a double-edged sword that cuts deep, for better or worse. During my over twenty years working as a federal financial institution regulator, I’ve been in a few shops experiencing severe, if not fatal, difficulties. In some cases, I had to remind officials that, “Hope is not a strategy.” However, when combined with imagination and pragmatism, hope is potent and vital motivator—as long as it doesn’t blind us to the reality of the obstacles in our way. As World War II General George ...

  Join Hal, David Quammen and Betsy Gaines Quammen for a bonus episode of the BHA Podcast & Blast. As we enter the season of giving thanks, of family in a time of social distancing, of reading good books by the fire, we hope you enjoy this wide ranging conversation, a love letter to writing and partnerships and the West. Afterwards, if you haven’t already, listen to Hal’s interviews with David Quammen (episode 91) and Betsy Gaines Quammen (episode ...

Troy Shenk and son with a dandy Colorado timber buck In late October, Colorado BHA member Troy Shenk took his 15-year-old son out for mule deer in the mountains outside Paonia. En route, Shenk witnessed two other hunters operating ATVs on a route closed to motorized use, in clear violation of posted signs. With his knowledge of the regulations and the impacts of illegal OHV use on habitat, big game populations and the experiences of other hunters, Shenk chose to report this illegal activity ...

This fall we're collaborating with several photographers in our hunting, fishing and outdoor community to bring you their insights for taking better images in the field. Taking photos that capture the spirit of our public lands and waters - and the experiences we have on them - is essential in communicating the value of our wild landscapes and the richness of our outdoor pursuits to the greater public. Whether you choose to publish your images in your own channels or support BHA's mission by ...