The Bootheel region of New Mexico is normally viewed from inside a car speeding down I-10.  From the interstate it appears desolate and dry.  Large wide expanses of creosote bush and mesquite fade off into distant rocky peaks.  If you have ever hunted or hiked in this landscape, you know that it is full of life to be discovered.   Javelina scattered along the hillsides searching for barrel cactus fruit, mule deer browsing the mesquite bushes, Gambel's quail in the washes, pronghorn in the ...

Protect the Nolichucky River: Stop CSX’s Destructive Construction Activities In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene’s devastating floods and landslides across Southern Appalachia, a Herculean effort is needed to restore vital infrastructure. However, we cannot let these recovery efforts come at the cost of our cherished public lands and waters. The Nolichucky River, a vital natural treasure flowing from Western North Carolina into Tennessee, has become the site of egregious environmental ...

Last summer, a private property owners association in Western North Carolina filed a contested case against the NC Wildlife Resources Commission to block public recreation on sections of two navigable waterways; the Watauga River and Boone Fork of the Watauga. NCBHA has been tracking the case since the beginning — here’s a recap and the latest update. In September 2024, NCBHA reported that the Twin Rivers Property Owners’ Association had secured a court order prohibiting wade-fishing on two ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Jan. 23, 2025 Contact:  Kaden McArthur, Government Relations Manager, mcarthur@backcountryhunters.org   Bipartisan Legislation Aims to Block Public Lands Privatization, Continuing Hunting and Fishing Access  BHA applauds the reintroduction of Public Lands in Public Hands Act    Washington, D.C.—Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA), the leading voice for North America’s public lands, waters, and wildlife, enthusiastically supports the Public Lands in Public Hands Act, ...

The Mid-Atlantic Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) is thrilled to share exciting news for Maryland and the greater Chesapeake Bay watershed. On December 13, 2024, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams joined partners and community members to celebrate the establishment of the Southern Maryland Woodlands National Wildlife Refuge (SMW NWR) as the 573rd unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System. When complete, the ...