Politics has a negative connotation that makes most folks recoil at the thought of spending their free time engaged in it. Yet as hunters and anglers who care about conservation it is our duty to improve our effectiveness at standing up for public lands and wildlife.
Our chapter was formed in the middle of a fight to protect public hunting lands in WV and at that time our only tactic on a state level was to yell about the issue. While we took a couple small wins from that battle, we lost over 4,000 acres of public hunting land. We took our lumps, became better organized and learned how to use local media to yell louder about issues.
Then we had a lobbyist from Charleston, WV as a guest speaker for a virtual pint night who convinced us that to be truly effective on a state level we needed more political tools than yelling.
Two years later the WV Chapter pulled together a dozen other conservation groups to create the first annual Sportsmen’s Capitol Conservation Day.
Through this event we now have a network of conservation groups that can speak for hunters and anglers on issues that concern us all at a state level and it also allows us to develop better relationships with our lawmakers at the Capitol. We can still yell when needed, but we’re actively working to add new tools to our political toolbox.
Our goal is for this to be an annual event with increased participation from even more conservation groups and lawmakers alike.
About West Virginia BHA
Our chapter is dedicated to serving the interests of conservation and access to clean public lands and waters. Through planning, collaboration, and dedication, we will make a difference.