Update from Chapter Chair
Hey all, I hope all you turkey hunters have had some success chasing spring gobblers. If not, I hope you at least have enjoyed some time in nature! This month, I want to highlight a few important messages. First, as I am sure many of you know, our federal public lands are under attack, with not only a proposal to sell off 500,000 acres, but also proposals to fast track mining and drilling on such pristine places as the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. Now is the time to contact your representatives and tell them you are opposed to this! In more positive news, the NY BHA chapter has been hard at work over the past couple of months with conservation work across the state. From tree plantings to trash cleanups, the NY chapter has been a part of eight events happening all over NY state! Finally, I want to remind everyone of our upcoming Muster in the Mountains event happening Aug 1-3 in the Catskills. Not only is this a great opportunity to hang with your fellow BHA members, but we will also have a 3D Archery Challenge, thousands of dollars of outdoor items up for raffle, camping, seminars, and more! Make sure to hurry up and get your tickets asap! As always, I want to encourage you all to please tag and follow us on social media, join us at Pint Nights and conservation stewardship events, let your legislators hear from you about proposed bills impacting hunters and anglers, and make sure your BHA membership is current! Get out there and enjoy your NY public lands and waters!
Greg Whalin - NY BHA Chapter Chair
Upcoming Events
Skyline Drive State Forest Public Lands Packout sponsored by onX - Windsor NY, June 7 @ 9am
Please join the New York Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers on June 7 for a Public Land Packout at Skyline Drive State Forest. We will be cleaning up trash and bagging it up for removal. Coffee and bagels will be provided as well as bags and gloves for cleanup.After the event you may want to do some scouting of Skyline’s thriving deer population, or just enjoy the views or a walk along the stream (Trowbridge Creek) that crosses the property. More details and RSVP at link below.
Skyline Drive State Forest Public Lands Pack Out Sponsored by onX - RSVP Here
NY Huntstock - Vernon Center, July 11 - 13
NY BHA will be attending the second annual NY Huntstock event taking place this summer! This event is sure to be a blast, and we would love to see you swing by our table if you make it to the event! More details can be found at the Huntstock website below.
Muster in the Mountains - West Kill Brewing, August 1 - 3
Muster in the Mountains is coming back to West Kill, NY: August 1-3 2025. We will be at West Kill Brewing, surrounded by public lands, mountains and trout streams. Camping will be available on site. We will have seminars covering everything from fly casting to turkey calling. You will have the ability to win some amazing items and trips from our sponsors, including a custom BHA labeled Weatherby side by side shotgun (plus a lot more)! Make sure to get your tickets asap!
Muster in the Mountains 2025 - Get Your Tickets Here!
Muster in the Mountains 3D Archery Challenge - West Kill Brewing, August 2
For those attending Muster in the Mountains, you can also sign up to participate in a 3D Archery challenge. We will have a 12 target course with novelty shoots, mini fitness challenge, prizes and more!
Muster in the Mountains 3D Archery Challenge - Get Your Tickets Here!
Chapter News
Envirothon
On May 1st, NY BHA Volunteers helped proctor tests and run samples to administrators and judges of the Erie County Envirothon. Coordinated by the Erie County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Envirothon is an outdoor-oriented, hands-on, natural science competition for high school students. Students use teamwork to complete a series of challenges in the subjects of wildlife, forestry, aquatics, soils and a current issue topic. The 2025 Envirothon current issue topic is “Roots & Resiliency: Fostering Forest Stewardship in a Canopy of Change.”
NY Pre-Turkey Season Pint Night sponsored by onX
BHA members gathered at Common Roots Albany Outpost to hear from DEC upland game bird biologist Mike Muthersbaugh. Mike gave a presentation on the health of the turkey population in NY and answered questions from attendees. A turkey vest and some turkey calls were raffled off to lucky winners!
Public Land Packouts and Conservation Work - NY State
NY BHA members across the state participated in trash cleanups at Cranberry Mountain WMA, Three Rivers WMA, East Otto State Forest, and multiple boat launches and WMAs along Lake Champlain. NY BHA (along with Trout Unlimited and Hunters of Color) also helped to remove invasive species and plant over 200 trees along the Amawalk / Muscoot River.
Mentored Turkey Hunt - Columbia County
NY BHA in partnership with Hunters of Color, Columbia Land Conservancy and The Nature Conservancy participated in a mentored turkey hunt camp. Ten new hunters were paired with ten experienced mentors to hunt turkeys. Mentors and mentees camped out and hunted over two days with nearly every pair getting on gobbling birds and one pair actually punching tags! If you would like to be a future mentor, please email [email protected]
Trek for Trout
NY BHA partnered with NYSDEC, Trout Unlimited, Trout Power, Native Fish Coalition, SUNY ESF, and Paul Smith's College to place nearly 150 signs with QR codes near known brook trout ponds in the Adirondacks. Of those, almost 3 dozen were bushwhacks or canoe/kayak access only! These QR codes will help DEC by having anglers easily report data about the fish and pond. We ended the day with a Pint Night at Rivertrail Beer works in Saranac Lake.
Legislative / Policy Update
Legislative Updates
Public Lands Sale Proposed by Congress
The priority for all BHA members right now is to take action to stop the federal public lands selloff attempt by the current congress. Take action here and aso call your legislators and tell them you are opposed to this sale!
DEC Updates
Unit/Recreation Management Plans and Proposals - DEC regularly seeks public input as they work to manage our public lands. While they will regularly receive input from other groups, often hunters and anglers are fairly silent. It directly benefits the hunting and angling communities for you to take a look at these plans and voice your feedback directly to DEC. They do listen to your input, and in the past, our voices have resulted in wins for hunters and anglers. Current plans open for feedback include:
Region 8
- Great Divide Unit Management Plan (formerly Erwin UMP and Great Divide UMP) - comments open until further notice
Thank our NY Chapter Sponsors!
We want to call out a huge thanks to our NY Chapter Sponsors! They have generously donated funds or items to the chapter to help us achieve our membership and fundraising goals. Please consider booking a trip, shopping with, or spending your money with our sponsors!!
They include:
- Adirondack Mountain & Stream Guide Service
- Dette Flies
- Grasse River Adventures
- Long Island Fishing Charters
- Rupp Pfalzgraf LLC
- Wild Foods & Wilderness
NY BHA Call for Volunteers
We need your help! We are looking for volunteers to help with the following efforts.
- Regional Event Coordinators - Want to help us plan gatherings for your fellow NY BHA members? We need help with local Pint Nights and conservation events!
- Policy and Legislative work - Our Policy team and newly forming Legislative team needs passionate folks to jump in and help us do the important work to protect our public lands and access for hunters and anglers!
- Mentorship work - We want to build a list of folks in the state who are open to being mentors for new hunters and anglers. We have opportunities and need for folks who can give a little all the way up to folks who want to really invest a lot. Everything from answering questions to being a one on one coach to participating on our larger weekend long hunt camps for new hunters.
- Conservation work - We are working with DEC to have more opportunities for events to do quality habitat work on our public lands. Want to roll your sleeves up and help, we would love to have you!
If you are interested in volunteering a bit of your time and talents, please let us know by filling out and submitting this form.
How to Connect with Us
Here are a few ways you can keep in touch with the New York BHA chapter:
Stay up to date with events and blogs from New York on our BHA web page at New York Backcountry Hunters & Anglers.
Join our Facebook group at New York BHA on Facebook.
Follow us on Instagram New York BHA (@newyorkbha).
Contact the Chapter Board by email: [email protected]
Thank our sponsors: New York BHA Corporate Sponsors
Join us at an upcoming event: BHA Events
Signup to be a volunteer: NY BHA Volunteer
Last but not least, make sure your BHA membership is current and give the gift of BHA to a friend or family member!