The bitter tide of privatizing public lands and waters is rising fast across America. Only the actions of quietly heroic citizens can stop it. Nobody who hunted and fished the Cutoff wanted to tell the world about it. The Cutoff is also known as Creslenn Lake, a twelve-mile stretch of what used to be the Trinity River (it was “cut off” by a long-ago flood control project) between Navarro and Henderson Counties about an hour and half south of Dallas, Texas. The Cutoff has been a locals’ top ...

At Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, our mission is to protect our public lands, waters, and wildlife and the ability to continue hunting and fishing on those lands and waters. To that end, we support the designation of the Dolores Canyon National Monument as part of the Sportsmen for the Dolores alongside conservation partner Trout Unlimited, local stakeholders, and our membership nationwide.  On July 5, both of Colorado's senators released a statement regarding the proposed Dolores Canyon ...

Whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni) often get a bad rap among Western anglers, but the native salmonid deserves our respect as both worthy quarry and delicious table fare. Related species dominate deli cases in Manhattan and potlucks throughout the Midwest, and the Mountain Whitefish—with its wide distribution throughout the Pacific Northwest—should be no exception. Their mild, firm flesh is ideal for smoking and incorporation in salads and spreads, and this recipe highlights the simplicity of ...

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) was recently happy to celebrate the courage and commitment of a local Gunnison hunter (name withheld at his request) who played a crucial role in combating illegal motorized use on Colorado’s public lands. The reporting hunter’s actions not only led to a significant enforcement action but also underscored the vital role of public involvement in conservation efforts. On April 27, 2024, a local hunter observed an individual operate a yellow motorcycle off ...

Draining the east slope of the Umcompahgre Plateau, Spring creek cuts an impressive gorge on its descent to the broad farming valley around Montrose Colorado. Livestock grazing has a long history on Forest Service (FS) lands along Spring Creek. With the grazing comes the fences and inevitable conflict with wildlife. So, on June 15th BHA habitat stewardship staff and volunteer leaders joined FS field staff to remove a section of fence on Spring Creek Rim.   The forest around Dave Wood Road ...