Look Near Before You Look Far One of the lessons I have learned over and over while elk hunting is ‘look near before you look far.’ In other words, make sure there are no animals right in front of you before you step out into the open to glass the faraway ridges and slopes. I have found both looking near and far are both effective and important strategies in elk hunting. This past month I had the opportunity to ‘work both far and near’ in my role on the ID BHA boards. First, I was invited to ...

Sage Advice Washington AFI Volunteers Build a Team   Under clear blue skies, eight volunteers from across the Evergreen State exit their vehicles on the border between ranch and public lands. The low winter sun paints highlights in the sage and snow-covered steppe. While the weather may not be ideal for all forms of hunting, it is almost perfect for spotting grouse. Shawn McCarthy, the state’s outgoing AFI Liaison and organization’s oncoming National Chair, calls the group of strangers ...

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will be voting to change waterfowl hunting regulations for the restricted portion of the Upper Mississippi Conservation Area (UMCA) starting in the 2026 hunting season.  Previously, waterfowl hunting sites were awarded every two years in the UMCA through a random electronic drawing. Winners drawn could construct permanent blinds in "their spot" and hold that location as their own. If winners were not hunting those locations on a given day, the ...

For Immediate Release                                                                                     May 9, 2024 Contact: Thomas Plank, 303-720-0111 plank@backcountryhunters.org Reauthorization of ACE Act Will Keep Important Conservation Programs Funded Until 2030 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Backcountry Hunters & Anglers applauds the passage of the America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Reauthorization Act, legislation that will keep key federal conservation programs running through the 2030 ...

Forging New Traditions Through Unified Hunting Legacies   Who will safeguard our public lands, waters, and wildlife if they remain unknown? The Minnesota Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (BHA MN) is dedicated to educating Minnesota residents about our public lands and conservation efforts. One of the ways we can engage new audiences is through what is commonly referred to as R3 (Recruit, Retain, Reactivate) work. The chapter partnered with The Trust for Public Land (TPL) to host a ...