November 2026

 

Alaska: BHA Opposes Proposed Ambler Road Hunting and Trapping Closures. Take Action.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has submitted a proposal to the Alaska Board of Game that would close approximately 420 square miles of public land to hunting and trapping along the proposed 211-mile Ambler Road corridor in Game Management Units 23 and 24. The proposed restrictions would establish a one-mile buffer on either side of the road, despite the fact that the road has not been constructed. The Alaska Chapter of BHA opposes the closures, citing the lack of demonstrated biological or wildlife management need and the loss of established subsistence, recreational, and traditional hunting and trapping opportunities. The Board of Game will consider the proposal during a special web-conference meeting on November 20, 2026. Written public comments are due November 16 at 8:00 a.m. Alaska time. Alaskans are encouraged to weigh in and urge the Board to reject the proposed restrictions.

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Alaska: Senate Natural Resources Committee Questions Proposed Public Land Transfers to AIDEA. Take Action.

On October 26, the Alaska Senate Natural Resources Committee questioned the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Commissioner about proposed transfers of nearly 20,000 acres near Houston and more than 800 acres near Point MacKenzie to the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA). Committee members raised concerns about the use of the Public and Charitable Use provision to convey large parcels without competitive sales, the waiver of the state's reversionary rights, and the lack of defined development plans for the Houston property. During the hearing, the Commissioner acknowledged that AIDEA initiated discussions about the transfers and characterized the proposed projects as consistent with the Governor's broader development agenda. The Alaska Chapter of BHA continues to oppose the proposed Houston transfer, citing the loss of existing public hunting and recreational access in exchange for undefined, speculative development. BHA is also calling for greater transparency and accountability in decisions involving the transfer of state public lands.

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New Mexico: Attorney General Finds Outfitter Set-Aside Unconstitutional. Take Action.

A recent opinion from the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office (October 9, 2026) concludes that the state’s 10% outfitter set-aside for big game licenses in the public draw violates the New Mexico Constitution’s Anti-Donation Clause. The opinion finds that the state receives insufficient value in exchange for reserving a portion of publicly managed hunting licenses for hunters who book with licensed outfitters. While the opinion does not automatically change tag allocation, legislative action is needed to address the existing law. BHA’s New Mexico Chapter is urging hunters to contact their legislators ahead of the 2027 legislative session and advocate for a fairer, more transparent tag allocation system that prioritizes public access to wildlife resources.

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Montana: BHA Supports Wildlife Crossing Proposal on the Gallatin Highway. News. 

Montana BHA recently submitted a letter of support for MDOT's application to the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program for the US Highway 191 Gallatin Gateway Wildlife Crossings project. Developed in partnership with the Center for Large Landscape Conservation, this project will build Southwest Montana's first dedicated wildlife overpass and crossing system along a 4.1-mile stretch of US-191, about 10 miles southwest of Bozeman. US-191 is a vital artery connecting Bozeman, Big Sky, and Yellowstone National Park. It carries 10,000 to 16,000 vehicles a day, including the regular commute of more than 75 percent of Big Sky's workforce and nearly 45 percent of Yellowstone's 4.5 million annual visitors. That traffic comes at a real cost. Wildlife-vehicle crashes make up 24 percent of all crashes in the project area, more than double the Montana average and nearly five times the national average. Over a ten-year period, those crashes caused $6.1 million in property damage and personal injury, a figure that climbs to $8.5 million when the value of the wildlife lost is included. The proposed crossing is estimated to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions by 80%.

 

Washington: BHA Advocates for Clearer Public Shoreline Access and Management. News.

Washington’s Shoreline Management Act (SMA) is undergoing review, creating an opportunity to address longstanding challenges surrounding public access to coastal waters and tidelands. In Puget Sound, Hood Canal, and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, more than 60% of tidelands are privately owned, creating a complicated patchwork of public and private access rights. The Washington Chapter of BHA has been working with partners to improve access information and clarify where the public can legally fish, harvest shellfish, and recreate along the shoreline. BHA is advocating for more accurate public tideland mapping, clear signage, stronger enforcement of public access rights, and restoration of access areas lost through improper postings or other barriers. The Washington Department of Ecology is also adding up to 900 public access sites to its Coastal Atlas. Public comments on the SMA rulemaking process are due November 17, 2026. Hunters and anglers are encouraged to share their experiences and help shape the future of public shoreline access.

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