In April, Minnesota BHA was well represented at BHA’s 5th Annual North American Rendezvous, with 10 members making the drive out to Missoula. Members attending included Lukas Leaf, who showed his culinary mastery at the Field-To-Table Dinner, along with Jamie Carlson and Mark Norquist, who took 2nd place in the BHA Camp Chef Cook-off, making a knockout Canadian goose pastrami sandwich and smoked whitefish salad, blowing away a panel of celebrity judges.
Back in Minnesota our number one issue is protecting the Boundary Waters watershed from proposed sulfide-ore copper/nickel mining. Public comments on withdrawing public lands surrounding the Boundary Waters from such mining are being accepted by the U.S. Forest Service until August 11. We also expect there will be at least two additional public hearings—one in northeastern Minnesotan and another in the Twin Cities. More information to follow.
With the help of Minnesota BHA and other conservation organizations, HF 143, or the "no net gain" of state lands bill, was defeated 6-4 in the Minnesota House. We are also proud to announce the no other anti-public lands bills or egregiously detrimental fish and game bills were passed during this session, even though many were introduced.
MN BHA has also created three committees and appointed chairs, who will focus member efforts on chapter priority issues: 1) Ben Peña-Hunting/Fishing mentorship committee 2.) Ashley Peters-Legislative committee 3.) Brian Hallberg-Boundary Waters committee. In addition, the chapter hosted a Pint Night at Gluek’s bar/restaurant in Minneapolis on June 7, and we will be teaming up with Wisconsin BHA to host a Midwest Backcountry Brewfest on July 29 at Lakefront Park in Hudson, WI.
The fifth annual Minnesota Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Rendezvous is scheduled for August 4–6, 2017. We’ll be setting up camp at a Group campsite in Wild River State Park on the St. Croix River.
For additional information on the issues addressed above see:
-Modern Carnivore: Goose Pastrami Sandwich Recipe (won second place at BHA’s 2017 Camp Chef Cook-off in Missoula, Montana)
-Modern Carnivore: The 2017 Camp Chef Cook-Off
-Outdoor Life story by MN BHA member Jamie Carlson (with Mark Norquist): “Made in Minnesota: Smoked Whitefish Salad and Goose Pastrami Recipes” (“Team Minnesota tackles the Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Cook-off”)
-Minnesota Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Report: 100-Plus Reasons To Protect Northern Minnesota’s Waterways, Watersheds and Wildlife From Proposed Sulfide-Ore Mining
-“Sportsman’s View: Don’t trust industry on proposed copper mining.” Duluth News Tribune: 5/5/17.
-Minnesota BHA letter on HF 143 & SF 372 (counties no net gain of state lands policy authorization)
About Minnesota BHA Chapter
Minnesota BHA seeks to ensure our North American heritage of hunting and fishing in a natural setting on wild, public lands and waters through education, advocacy, and boots on the ground work.