Backcountry Hunters & Anglers
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Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) is a non-profit sportsmen's organization that is based in Montana.[1][2] The group looks to preserve North America's outdoor heritage of hunting and fishing through public education and advocacy.[1] Backcountry Hunters & Anglers works to prevent the development of wild land in North America[3] and follows the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation as a basis for its positions.
The organization was "born around an Oregon campfire in 2004"[4] and has chapters in 22 states and Canada.[5] The group claims close to 10,000 members nationwide.[6]
Land Tawney is the group's President/CEO.[4]
Issues
Backcountry Hunters & Anglers main issues are:[2]
- Preventing excessive off-road vehicle traffic on wild land.
- Educating the public on hunting and fishing
- Preserving natural forests and public lands from development[2]
The group supports federal ownership of federal public lands and is opposed to legislation that would transfer ownership of these lands to states or private interests.[7] Executive Director Land Tawney has stated, "We see states trying to take over national forests and BLM areas as a threat to public lands that could lead to privatization and loss of habitat and access."[5]
The organization supports legislation to ban the use of drones while hunting, calling the technique unethical.[8][9]
The group hosts an annual "Rendezvous" event where members can come together in support of the BHA mission and objectives.[5]
In the early days of the Trump administration in 2017, Utah Congressman Jason Chaffetz proposed a bill, H.R. 621, to sell off public lands, a proposal that he makes annually and generally is ignored. However, with other uncertainties in the new Trump administration, conservationists, people who hunt or play on public lands, and members of the outdoors industry, as well as organizations like BHA, lobbied and protested against the bill, and a week later Chaffetz withdrew it.[10]
Criticism
According to the Billings Gazette, a watchdog group has alleged that Backcountry Hunters & Anglers incorporates itself within the sportsmen community in an effort to coneal its environmental agenda.[5]
References
- ^ a b "BHA Information and Office". Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. Archived from the original on 15 March 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ a b c "Our Purpose". Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. Archived from the original on 14 March 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Xu, Daniel. "Leaders of Conservation: BHA Executive Director Land Tawney". Outdoor Hub. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
- ^ a b "Tawney to Direct Backcountry Hunters & Anglers". Traditional Bowhunter. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
- ^ a b c d Landers, Rich (March 3, 2015). "Backcountry Hunters & Anglers rendezvous in Spokane". Retrieved 10 March 2015.
- ^ Anderson, Taylor (April 30, 2013). "Missoula-bound Backcountry Hunters and Anglers gets new director". The Missoulian. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
- ^ Bridge, Thom. "Rally in the rain: Hunters and anglers protest public land transfer". Helen Air. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
- ^ "Wildlife Officials Take On Drone Hunting Controversy". CBS News. January 9, 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
- ^ Anderson, Taylor. "Oregon bill would ban drones for hunting and fishing". Bend Bulletin. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
- ^ "Rep. Chaffetz withdrawal of federal land transfer bill marks victory for outdoor industry, conservationists, public lands advocates who vow to continue fight". Retrieved 2017-02-07.