On behalf of the New Mexico chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, the voice for our wild public lands, waters and wildlife, we thank you for introducing the M.H. Dutch Salmon Greater Gila Wild and Scenic River Act (S. 3670). We encourage you to work with Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Ranking Member Joe Manchin (D-WV) on advancing the legislation to the Senate floor. The Gila National Forest encompasses the Aldo Leopold Wilderness, Blue ...

"Make no mistake, you cannot do nothing. Hunting participation rates are falling, and hunters are a long way from representing the changing demographics of the U.S. population." The southern Wisconsin air was bitter and cold. Turkey season began, but winter refused to end. As I sat perched on the ground, shotgun in one hand and hot black coffee in the other, my turkey hunting instructor and I could hear gobbles as the turkeys left their roost before sunrise. We set up in tall grass on the ...

I can still remember the first time I tried to understand the process of applying for deer tags in California’s Big Game Drawing. Not coming from a hunting family I had no idea what preference points were, and realizing that California has a “modified” preference point system only confused me further. I had to read the California Big Game Hunting Digest three times before it began to crystalize into something resembling the English language. So if you’re unfamiliar with the system and find ...

The Idaho Chapter recently sent a letter (included below) to the US Fish and Wildlife Service applauding the expansion of access to wildlife refuges in Idaho as per Secretarial Order 3347 and the 2019 John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act. This April, Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt proposed the largest expansion in history of hunting and fishing access on national wildlife refuge lands across 2.3 million acres at 97 national wildlife refuges and 9 ...

Believe it or not, two years later, I still have caribou meat leftover from my first backpack hunt. Down to the last few packages of grind, and a craving for healthy comfort food (is there such a thing?), I created an easy pizza pocket recipe. The McCain pizza pockets were a childhood favorite of mine. I have fond memories of my father slightly burning them in the oven and having to remake a second batch. Thinking back on things, I think he purposely burnt them so he could have the extra ...