The Utah Legislative Session commenced on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, and will extend through Friday, March 1, 2024. During this time, members of the Utah State Legislature convene to revise old or consider new state laws. The volunteer chapter leaders of Utah Backcountry Hunters & Anglers actively engage in the legislative session by monitoring emerging bills on the Utah Legislature’s website relevant to BHA’s mission, meeting with representatives to discuss sponsored bills, and attending ...

February 6, 2024   Representative Ron Mendive Chair, House Resources & Conservation Committee P.O. Box 83720 Boise, ID 83720-0038   Chairman Mendive:   The Idaho Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (“ID BHA”) respectfully opposes House Bill No. 469, which would prohibit the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (“IDFG”) from making or enforcing regulations that would not permit the use of 209 primers, pelletized powder, or sabots within muzzleloader-only hunting seasons in Idaho. While ...

House Passes WILD Act The House of Representatives voted to pass the WILD Act (H.R. 5900), led by Reps. David Joyce (R-OH) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI) on Monday under Suspension of the Rules. Supported by BHA, this legislation would reauthorize the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program through the 2028 Fiscal Year. In the last three decades, more than 6 million acres of private lands have been voluntarily conserved through the Partners for Fish and Wildlife ...

  Call of the Wild - Alaska BHA Volunteers Answer by Barry Whitehill “The Call” for volunteers to help at the start of the 2024 Yukon Quest by former Alaska BHA Board member Travis Booms saw hardy Interior members answer. Despite temperatures approaching -50 below, I recognised at least four other Alaska BHA members bundled in furs and ice fog. In those temperatures the spectator turn-out was much diminished but it did allow for more in-depth conversations with hardy participants and ...

The following letter was submitted on behalf of the Oregon Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers on February 6th, 2024 ahead of the House Committee on Natural Resources hearing in support of HB 4148. February 6, 2024 House Committee of Natural Resources Dear Chair, Vice Chairs, and Committee Members, The Oregon Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers prides ourselves on being the voice for our public lands, waters and wildlife. Representing approximately 1000 dues paying members and ...

Senator Doug OkuniewiczChair, Senate Transportation Committee P.O. Box 83720Boise, ID 83720-0081 Tuesday, February 6th, 2024 Chairman Okuniewicz: The Idaho Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (“ID BHA”) supports Senate Bill 1258, which would promote public access in Idaho by requiring that when counties decommission any highway or public right of way that has been fairly adjudicated to provide public access to federal or state public lands or waters, an equivalent access route must ...

Learn more about what goes on in the halls of Congress as Hal sits down with BHA Government Relations Manager Kaden McArthur to discuss the 2023 wins BHA played a role in achieving for the conservation of our public lands and waters. 

On Tuesday February 6th RI’s House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources will meet at the Rise of the House to hold public hearings on several bills, including two wildlife bills that the New England Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers is supporting during the 2024 legislative session.   Prohibiting Captive Hunting & Wildlife Importation H7294, introduced by Rep. Scott Slater, seeks to define and prohibit captive hunting for big game animals, and the importation of wildlife ...

The Iowa Chapter of Backcountry Hunter & Anglers is happy to report that HF 2104 died in subcommittee today. As a result of an outpouring of support by Iowa’s hunters, anglers, trappers, and public land advocates, the members of the subcommittee voted unanimously in opposition. HF 2104 would have removed the ability of the Iowa DNR to purchase public land at auction or acquire it from non-profit organizations who acquired it in a competitive manner. During the casting of the votes, the ...

TAKE ACTION- Indiana wetlands continue to be in the crosshairs during the 2024 session with HB 1383. Backed by the Indiana Builders Association, state officials are once again reworking classifications of wetlands reducing many of our highly protected Class III wetlands down to just Class I and II.  Wednesday, HB 1383 passed out of the Senate Environmental Affairs Committee by a 7-2 vote despite the majority of the 20 testimonies being in opposition. The bill now goes to the senate floor ...