MISSOULA, Mont. – Backcountry Hunters & Anglers’ 2017 North American Rendezvous showcased the growing grassroots presence that is BHA and public lands sportsmen and women, drawing unprecedented numbers of attendees, shattering fundraising records and confirming that the young sportsmen’s group is literally changing the landscape of conservation in the United States and Canada. More than 6,000 hunters, anglers, locavores, conservationists and outdoor recreationists came with their families to ...

PORTLAND, Ore. – A bill that would conserve more than 100,000 acres in Douglas County, Oregon, took another step forward today as it passed out of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The Frank and Jeanne Moore Wild Steelhead Special Management Area Act would permanently safeguard parts of the Steamboat Creek basin, which contains some of the best wild steelhead spawning areas in the Pacific Northwest. The bill is named in honor of Frank Moore, a World War II veteran, ...

WASHINGTON – Following a hearing today by the Senate Agriculture Committee to advance the nomination of former Georgia governor Sonny Perdue as Agriculture secretary, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers President and CEO Land Tawney emphasized the USDA’s role in facilitating public access to privately owned lands and managing America’s national forests and grasslands: “Only a sportsman can fully grasp the fundamental importance of the Agriculture Department to our nation’s proud traditions of ...

SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is commending a decision by the Oregon state legislature to consider a bill that could keep the Elliott State Forest under state ownership, averting the need to sell the 82,500-acre Elliott and securing the valuable fish and wildlife habitat and outdoor opportunities found in Oregon’s oldest state forest. Senate Bill 847 would provide the state of Oregon the mechanism to transfer ownership of the Elliott State Forest from the ...

TODAY: BHA President and CEO to answer questions from media, grassroots on budget proposal, negative repercussions for wildlife, public lands, hunting and fishing MISSOULA, Mont. – Following the release by President Trump of a budget proposal that sharply reduces key agency funding, eliminates important staff positions and cuts programs important to public lands and sportsmen, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers strongly criticized the proposal and called on members of Congress to undertake swift, ...

MISSOULA, Mont. – As the days lengthen and temperatures warm in western Montana, sportsmen from across the continent will be traveling to Missoula in support of our public lands and the outdoor opportunities they represent to attend Backcountry Hunters & Anglers' 6th annual North American Rendezvous, April 7-9. “Backcountry Storytelling” is the theme for the 2017 BHA Rendezvous, with this year’s event featuring a slate of speakers, seminars and hands-on skills sessions that go to the heart ...

  Pictured: Pronghorn at rest, Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge. Tom Koerner, USFWS MISSOULA, Mont. – America’s national wildlife refuges have provided generations of sportsmen with equal opportunity, easy access, public lands hunting and fishing, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers stated today, the 114th anniversary of the National Wildlife Refuge System. “Hunters and anglers are at the heart of our nation’s wildlife refuge system,” said BHA President and CEO Land Tawney. “One of our greatest ...

WASHINGTON – Following today’s vote by the U.S. Senate to withdraw Planning 2.0, updated Bureau of Land Management planning policies affecting 245 million acres of public lands, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers President and CEO Land Tawney offered the following response:   “For years BHA has worked with other sportsmen’s groups to improve planning policies for lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management,” said Tawney. “Planning 2.0 revises outdated regulations, in part by giving ...

WASHINGTON – Following Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s signing late yesterday of a secretarial order expanding public access and hunting and fishing opportunities on U.S. public lands, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers President and CEO Land Tawney offered the following response:   “On his first day as Interior secretary, Mr. Zinke undertook quick action on behalf of our nation’s public lands, the outdoor opportunities they offer and the economic security they provide,” said Tawney. ...

BOISE, Idaho – Sportsmen and other public landowners in Idaho are uniting in support of public lands, joining together to rally at the Idaho Capitol this Saturday and send a clear message about the importance of our shared lands and waters. The rally comes as the Idaho legislature is considering a bill (S. 1065) that would egregiously and unnecessarily limit acquisition by the state of any new public lands, cap private lands donations to a state agency at 320 acres and instruct state ...