It's the best time of the year! Take a look at what we’ve been up to the last three months at the Montana Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers:

Montana BHA and their conservation partners celebrated a major legal victory when a District Court judge sided with the public and Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP) in a lawsuit attempting to upend Montana game management. This case reinforces public trust in wildlife management in Montana. 

We also released a series of videos with Hank Patterson who helped us shed light on the "Corner Crossing" issue. While the humor highlights some of the ridiculousness of the situation, the implications and threats to public access are serious. In case you missed it, you can watch it here.

We supported the Montana Department of Transportation’s grant funding application for the US-93 Darby, Montana to Idaho Wildlife Crossing Feasibility Study.

We also submitted comments to FWP on the Guiding Principles developed by the Mule Deer Advisory Committee to help shape the direction of a new mule deer statewide management plan.

In July we removed unnecessary fencing with the National Wildlife Federation on a 200-acre parcel of prime big game habitat recently acquired by the United States Forest Service in the Pioneer Mountains near Wise River, Montana.

We celebrated Public Lands Day on September 28th with a trash pack out on the Missouri River between Holter Dam and the town of Cascade.

Board members, Caleb Teigen and Micah Fields, represented us at the Stream Access Rally in Bozeman with our partners which saw over 300 people in attendance!

Upcoming Events

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We'll be joined again by MT FWP Wildlife biologists, Michael Yarnall (Livingston) and Julie Cunningham (Bozeman), who will talk about elk management and regulation changes in the area and will be available to answer questions. And no party is complete without a chance to win some new gear from Mystery Ranch, Aziak Equipment, Hardside Hydration, Gastrognome, and more!

If that wasn't enough, Bozeman Brewing will have cold brews for you, chef Jaime Teigen is back, serving mouth-watering appetizers for attendees, and Genuine Ice Cream is returning to satisfy your sweet tooth!

View all Montana events here.

Recipe from the Backcountry

Grouse Dumplings
From Montana BHA Stewardship Leader, Micah Fields

The arrival of fall means many things to a hunter. Here in Montana in September, I’m often conflicted by the dueling options of archery elk hunting and the upland bird season. Bow or shotgun? Bugling bulls or flushing grouse? Either adventure awaits a mere hour’s drive from my porch. An embarrassment of riches, sure, but still a tough choice. Sometimes I let my appetite decide, and last week I had a craving for one of my favorite comfort foods: grouse and dumplings. A play on the southern classic—chicken and dumplings—this hearty stew symbolizes a shift in seasons around my house, and it’s also a great way to make use of the whole bird. I used two ruffed grouse in this rendition, but feel free to use any combination of upland birds. This recipe borrows heavily from Hank Shaw’s Pheasant & Dumplings recipe, with a few adjustments to save time. Enjoy!

Get Micah’s Grouse Dumplings recipe on our Field to Table blog here.

Appreciation Fest

Celebrate 20 years of BHA with us by entering our first-ever Appreciation Fest Sweepstakes! From a Project M Topper to a weekly 🔫 giveaway, the prizes are epic, and they’re ONLY open to current and future BHA members. Whether renewing or joining, secure your chance to win today! Sweepstakes ends this Sunday, Oct. 6th.

Thank you for your continued support and we'll see you in the field!

Sincerely,

The Montana Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers

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