MISSOULA, Mont. - The sportsmen's group Backcountry Hunters & Anglers urged cool, patient heads to prevail in the extremists' occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, valuable public lands fish and wildlife habitat located in Oregon. "National wildlife refuges like Malheur are a treasure shared by all Americans," stated BHA President and CEO Land Tawney. "The actions being perpetrated by extremists in Oregon are the misguided actions of a fringe element - and should be condemned ...

BHA rejects proposal from congressional fringe that would gut 50-year-old conservation, access program WASHINGTON - Legislation introduced this morning would dismantle the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a keystone federal program that has enabled conservation and enhanced public access to millions of acres over its 50-year history, drawing heavy criticism from Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, which dismissed the proposal as a nonstarter. The bill, introduced by Rep. Rob Bishop from Utah, ...

SALEM, Ore. – Proponents of fair chase hunting are celebrating a success in the Beaver State as the Oregon Senate advances legislation that would ban the use of drones for hunting and scouting. “The sportsman’s voice is ringing loud and clear in the Oregon legislature,” said Ed Putnam, co-chair of the Oregon chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. “This bill speaks to the core of who we are as sportsmen, and we commend the legislature’s willingness to consider it.” BHA’s Oregon chapter ...

Wyoming Game & Fish Department considering new rule to prohibit both manned and unmanned aircraft for scouting and hunting A sportsmen-led campaign to uphold fair chase hunting in Wyoming is gaining momentum with the Wyoming Game & Fish Department’s recent decision to consider a new rule outlawing the use of drones or aircraft for hunting or scouting. Backcountry Hunters & Anglers’ Wyoming chapter initiated the effort in the wake of numerous reports of aircraft, as well as a growing number ...

by Bob Marshall      The Senate this month has been considering the Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act of 2015.  So sportsmen have cause to wonder which of these two clichés will apply: A) The third time’s the charm. B) Familiarity breeds contempt. At this point there’s a 50/50 chance for either, which is why individual sportsmen need to get involved.Some history: This is the third consecutive year such legislation has been introduced. Each edition has been packed with important – even critical – ...

February 15, 2014 Dear Governor Sandoval, I am writing on behalf of the Nevada Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (BHA) concerning a current ethics issue related to the OHV Commission grant process. BHA was a participant of the many long years in the struggle to pass an OHV registration bill. Finally, when we came together as a disparate group of "stakeholders" to craft a bill we could all live with and accomplish goals we had in common, we were able to get a bill passed. Our BHA ...