Now that the occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge has ended, volunteers are lining up to show their support for public lands. Oregon chapter members met in Bend in February to discuss possible projects. Among the ideas floated were boots-on-the-ground habitat related projects, rehabilitation of the occupation site and a fundraiser for the refuge. Oregon BHA will continue to be engaged as information becomes available. Public lands transfers continue to be a pressing issue for ...

Board member Matt McKenzie of Connecticut submitted a letter on behalf of the chapter in support of the proposed Great Thicket National Wildlife Refuge in New England. The plan would protect habitat for the threatened New England cottontail and manage for important young forest habitat, which is becoming increasingly rare in coastal and southern New England. The USFWS proposes to acquire lands from willing sellers in southern Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut and on Cape Cod. ...

Minnesota BHA was recognized as BHA’s Chapter of the Month for November 2015 and has built on that momentum going into 2016. We started the year by submitting comments on the Department of Natural Resources’ draft strategic management plan for elk in Minnesota (2016-2020). Erik Jensen, Mark Norquist and Spencer Shaver tabled at the sportsmen’s show in St. Paul for Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters. More than 500 sportsmen and women signed a petition to protect the Boundary Waters Canoe Area ...

Colorado BHA wrapped up a series of four Hunter Happy Hours (aka “Beers for the Backcountry”) in December. Thanks to all those who helped organize these events, Bob Shettel and Kevin Alexander in particular. Craig Grother joined the chapter’s regional director ranks, becoming our Central West Slope RD. He also was appointed by Interior Secretary Sally Jewell to the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area Advisory Council. Tony Prendergast and Kevin Alexander were appointed by Gunnison ...

The BC Chapter had a busy winter. We hosted the Hunting Film Tour at Cranbrook’s Key City Theatre on Feb. 27. This is our chapter’s annual fundraiser and membership drive event and an opportunity to promote BHA values to hunters in our area. Thank you to Committee Chair Alan Duffy and his committee members for another outstanding BC BHA event. We doubled our attendance from last year with a crowd of 280 people, including many young hunters. Our fundraising swag included 2 rifle packages, a ...