The Colorado chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) appointed John Young to serve as an Assistant Regional Director for the Central West Slope region. John grew up fishing across New England, mostly flat water and fly fishing bigger rivers. He’s  an Operations Director for the Telluride Ski Resort, has served on the Telluride Ecology Commission, and studied forestry and ag science at the University of Vermont. “Growing up in New England, vast public land and water access was always ...

Michigan Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Raises Concerns About Sea Lamprey Control Staff Cuts The recent firing of 12 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) employees responsible for sea lamprey control in the Great Lakes is a serious concern for Michigan’s fisheries. These staff members played a critical role in managing invasive sea lampreys, and their absence puts Michigan’s aquatic ecosystems at risk. Michigan’s Fisheries at Risk Michigan’s lakes and rivers are vital to both the ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  March 12, 2025  Contact:  Kaden McArthur, Director of Policy & Government Relations, mcarthur@backcountryhunters.org    New Legislation Would Safeguard 58,000 Acres, 74 Miles of Public Lands and Waters in Oregon   Landscapes included in newly-reintroduced Smith River National Recreation Area Expansion Act provide habitat for salmon, trout, deer, elk, and bear, among other wildlife    Washington, D.C. – A vast expanse of national forest lands, free-flowing rivers, ...

GOOD NEWS:   BHA’s Two Top Priority Bills Are Moving Forward!    The Montana Chapter of BHA is promoting two key pieces of legislation this session and both are meeting with success:    HB 283: Revise laws for hunting licenses lotteries, sponsored by Rep. Tyson Running Wolf (D - Browning)  Under current law, conservation groups can raffle or auction off mule deer, elk or goat tags and retain up to 10% of the proceeds with the remaining 90% going to the state for the management of these ...

The provisions outlined in North Carolina senate bill SB220, Section 4, specifically the new Section 14-280.4, pose significant restrictions on public access to our waterways by making it a criminal offense for individuals to launch motorized or unmotorized watercraft from the right-of-way of a public highway or street, unless they are in designated public boating access areas. This measure effectively limits the ability of the public to access bodies of water that are often adjacent to ...