“I am haunted by waters,” Norman Maclean wrote in A River Runs Through It. Although humans are a creative, forward-looking species we rely heavily on past experiences, whether on the water or in the woods (or elsewhere), to help guide us through the challenges of an uncertain future. Hence, we are all haunted by waters, woods, or other memories of significant life experiences. Some of my most enduring (and haunting) memories revolve around the outdoors and hunting. November encompasses both ...

To: The Office of Governor Jay Inslee Cc: Ruth Musgrave, Senior Policy Advisor for Natural Resources Subject: Fish and Wildlife Commission Reappointment- Molly Linville Dear Governor Inslee, On behalf of the Washington Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, an organization representing thousands of dedicated members and supporters across the state, we write to express our strong support for the reappointment of Commissioner Molly Linville to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission. ...

  Trapping Heritage and Education with Alaska BHA Board Member, Ryan Bandy  Greetings from the Interior, BHA members! As we arrive in December, trapping along the Yukon and Koyukuk Rivers is in full swing. Most species such as Marten and Lynx opened November 1st around the Interior of Alaska. With a couple recent cold snaps of -30 and below, many of the creeks and rivers are finally starting to freeze and animals are traveling more and further, looking for a food source or bait pile to ...

There is a new threat to Alaska's Brooks Range.  Veterans Against the Ambler Road: A Call for Responsible Stewardship of Public Lands "As a veteran who has dedicated my life to serving this country, I am deeply troubled by an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would revive the Ambler Road project. This proposal, which seeks to expedite the construction of a private 211-mile road in Alaska for mining purposes, raises serious ethical and conservation ...

As populations and outdoor recreation grows in the west it’s imperative that trail planning and management consider the effects of roads, trails, and recreation activities on big game high priority (and other) habitats. Although the detrimental impacts of motorized/mechanized roads and trails on big game have been extensively studied and well documented since the 1970s, during recent years some elk herds in Colorado, for example, are dying off as a result. Multiple studies have clearly ...