This is your October edition of BHA's State Policy Spotter - a high-level scan of state policy and legislation impacting our wild public lands, waters and wildlife across North America.

Note - this is not a comprehensive list of legislation or issues that chapters are working on, but rather a spotlight in the moment of what is moving. There are many more bills and issues BHA's chapters are grappling with so be sure to check out individual chapter pages for more news and updates.

This November, Floridians heading to the ballot box will have the opportunity to vote on Amendment 2, Florida’s Right to Fish and Hunt bill. This bill would protect Florida’s rich outdoor heritage from efforts to limit or outright ban fishing and hunting in the state of Florida. There are currently a total of 23 states that constitutionally protect hunting and fishing including all of Florida’s neighboring states. Introduced last year by Representative Lauren Melo, Florida’s Right to Fish ...

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to expand public hunting and fishing opportunities within the National Wildlife Refuge System within the Southeast. We encourage hunters and anglers to join us in commenting on this proposed expansion. Nationally, the increases would enhance public access to 2.1 million acres, encompassing 90 national wildlife refuges and one national fish hatchery – the largest expansion of opportunities to date. This is great news for hunters and anglers and ...

On Saturday, January 18th over thirty sportsmen and women gathered at the Seminole Forest Wildlife Management Area for a small game hunt in celebration of public land and public water.  Participants gathered at the check station in the pre-dawn darkness for a breakfast of coffee and fried honey buns prepared by BHA member Tom Brown followed by a prayer by new BHA member Joshua Locke. Several attendees were first time hunters who paired with veteran sportsmen for conversations about basic ...