The Maine Legislature's Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee is accepting comments on two bills that bills would send a new bond for funding for the Land for Maine's Future Program to the voters next November. The two bonds differ in their details--the amount of money and the number of years funded--but either would rejuvenate the LMF program.  What’s most important is for you to testify in support of new funding for the LMF program, to protect public lands for hunting, fishing, ...

Action Alert – Protect Shoreline Rights in Rhode Island Last week the Rhode Island team posted about our work to protect shoreline access in Rhode Island by supporting ongoing legislation in H5469 and S0521, which will clarify where our Constitutional Rights to fish, forage and pass along Rhode Island’s shoreline can be practiced by establishing an easily identifiable boundary that is tied to the most recent high tide line. The lack of a clear boundary in Rhode Island law has led to ...

Rhode Island’s Constitution, Article 1 Section 17 states: “The People shall continue to enjoy and freely exercise all rights of fishery, and the privileges of the shore, to which they have been heretofore entitled under the charter and usage of this state, including but not limited to fishing from the shore, the gathering of seaweed, leaving the shore to swim in the sea and passage along the shore” This language was approved by over 2/3 of Rhode Island voters in a ballot initiative following ...

The New England Chapter of BHA recently introduced language in the Rhode Island General Assembly to prohibit captive hunting in Rhode Island. Introduced by Rep. Scott Slater (D – District 10), H5329 is a continuation of our efforts during last year’s legislative session, which was cut short by the onset of COVID-19. Currently, captive hunting for big game animals is neither allowed nor prohibited. Importantly, there are no active captive hunting operations in Rhode Island – and we intend ...

While the pandemic is currently occupying many people's minds, including BHA members, New England BHA and its conservation partners are keeping the focus on land conservation opportunities that would protect and expand public access.   The Bangor Daily News recently published an Op-Ed  by Rob Bryan of Harpswell, a board member of New England Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and Jeff McEvoy, owner of Weatherby’s Lodge in Grand Lake Stream and a Master Maine Guide, in support of a new Land for ...