2021 Senate Bill 166 and 2021 Assembly Bill 151 is currently in front of the Wisconsin State Senate’s Natural Resources and Energy Committee. This bill mandates the Department of Natural Resources to provide up to $200,000 in grants in the 2021-23 fiscal biennium for the creation of new sites for the disposal of deer carcasses. DNR must prioritize the development of sites in underserved areas that are affected by chronic wasting disease and ensure the greatest geographic distribution of ...

By Aaron Towns I waited a very long time for a chance at a mountain lion. From first hearing about a hunt like this and then learning about it and planning and saving and gearing up for it, years went by. Early this January, after already so much effort, my chance finally came.  Some of you know exactly what these pictures represent; how special they are. For others, perhaps they are surprising or difficult to understand. Either way, my tale of this hunting adventure is below. If you read ...

Volunteers from the California Chapter of BHA recently showed up to support the Society for the Conservation of Bighorn Sheep on a guzzler repair project in Southern California. They believe a big ram punched a hole in one of the old brittle guzzlers and the volunteer team showed up to replace both old tanks and more. The project was located in the Orocopia mountains, a remote desert portion of Riverside County managed by the Bureau of Land Management, and it involved heavy lifting, steep ...

NY BHA advocates for continuation of goals and objectives, with swifter management action by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC)   By Charles Witek  Striped bass are one of the most important recreational fisheries along the east coast, including New York. The ASMFC, which manages the Atlantic striped bass stock, is in the process of amending its management plan.  The amendment offers both promise and concern - it could restore the currently overfished striped bass stock ...

The California Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers was amped to see the House pass a massive public lands package last month, H.R. 803, Protecting America’s Wilderness and Public Lands.   H.R. 803 consists of nine bills designating roughly 1.49 million acres of public lands as wilderness, incorporating more than 1,000 river miles as part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System and ensuring that wildlife habitat across approximately 1.3 million acres of public land will remain ...

It was a tough year in the Legislature this session for public land sportsmen and women, but one bill alone accounted for most of the setbacks. NMBHA strongly supported Senate Bill 312, which had four major goals and would have accomplished substantial benefits for resident hunters, in particular, but it also presented a huge target that brought out a wide array of opponents. In the end, SB312 proved to be too much The most important aspect of the bill to NMBHA was to eliminate the 10 ...

If you’re a hunter in Utah, you have likely heard of HB0295: Wildlife Modifications. The legislation, introduced by House Representative Casey Snider, ignited a wave of emotions and debate amongst hunters during its first two weeks in the Legislature. The final bill, which prohibits baiting for ungulate big game (not predators) and instructs the Division of Wildlife Resources’ (DWR) Wildlife Board to make rules and regulations for trail camera use, has been signed into law by Governor ...

In the spring of 2018, the Pennsylvania Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers joined a number of other groups to oppose a planned resort development at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ­– managed Raystown Lake in Huntingdon County, Pa. In the final master plan revision released March 18, 2021, the Army Corps classified the Hawn’s Bridge / Hawn's Peninsula area proposed for development as an Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA), negating the planned resort or any other development. The ...

By Aaron Hepler When it comes to fishing, opinions and styles differ. Some want catch and release fishing only. Some would like to keep every little minnow. Styles vary widely. Wilderness fishing, fly fishing, spin fishing, bait lures, dry flies, nymphs - take your pick. It can be competitive, and occasionally can become a source of tension amount anglers. Laying out a plan for when and where to fish will help you uncover a place to accomplish your fishing goals. Whether it’s a summertime ...

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 ...