WVBHA 2024 State Legislature Update   The 2024 West Virginia state legislative session is about two-thirds done. Your local chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers has been monitoring the session for issues that impact our public lands, waters, and wildlife. After a quiet start, there are a few bills to watch. Legislative action will accelerate as the session winds down, so stay tuned to this blog for more updates.  CLICK HERE TO TAKE ACTION NOW! We can start with the good news! Senate Bill ...

  When the New River Gorge National Park & Preserve redesignation went into effect hunters were left holding the short straw as we were now permanently excluded from 4,385 acres of what was once public hunting access. “We had public hearings and we heard everybody and the hunting community came out forcefully, especially those who hunted portions of the area,” said Senator Capito.   Both Senators Manchin and Capito recognized this issue and have been working with other parties to add land ...

    2022 was a good year for the West Virginia BHA Chapter. Policy and legislative issues were the primary focus rolling into the year and the chapter did an excellent job keeping members privy to possible bills that could impact hunting, fishing, and public lands. Many of these legislative proposals aim to turn our public hunting lands into recreational OHV areas.  While we are not opposed to the state and private motorized recreation groups procuring new public lands or access agreements ...

  West Virginia is beginning to feel the effects of the Great American Outdoors act with $6Million dollars going to help with deferred maintenance at the Monongahela National Forest! The money will be used to improve recreation opportunities, access, and safety to all visitors. Once complete, it will assist with over $7 million dollars in improvements. This is all part of the $503 million of GAOA funding across nationally managed lands. They are addressing deferred maintenance, dilapidated ...