Last week, a pivotal moment unfolded in Washington, D.C.—one that showcased the strength of a united outdoor community. Deep within the text of a must-pass budget reconciliation bill lurked a late-night amendment threatening nearly half a million acres of America’s public lands. Held in trust by the federal government for all citizens, these lands—from forested ridges to river canyons—faced the prospect of being sold off under the guise of one-time budget relief. For many, the fight began at ...

There are a few things that I know to be absolutes in my realm of existence: government is and should be by the people for the people, that efficiency and effectiveness are two indispensable characteristics of any organization, that conservation action isn’t cut and dry but exceptionally complex and often complicated, and that the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is the crown jewel of wildlife and habitat management organizations in these beautiful United States of America. As of ...

Trek for Trout: A cooperative effort to help brook trout in New York On Saturday, May 17, 2025, members of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers from NY, Vermont, and New Hampshire joined a one-day conservation effort to protect native brook trout habitat across the Adirondacks. Trek for Trout was a collaborative initiative between BHA and partners including the New York State DEC, Trout Unlimited, Trout Power, Native Fish Coalition, Paul Smith’s College, and SUNY ESF. Volunteers posted signage at ...

The Iowa chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is proud to offer a highly-coveted Statewide Special Non-Resident Deer Tag! This will be the second year in a row that the Iowa BHA chapter has been awarded this tag as a fundraising opportunity for BHA. The winner of this special auction will be awarded one tag for a whitetail of any sex plus one antlerless tag. Iowa consistently ranks in the Top 5 states for trophy whitetails, but being drawn for a tag as a nonresident can often take ...