Update on BCBHA
MISSION:Backcountry Hunters & Anglers seeks to ensure North America's outdoor heritage of hunting and fishing in a natural setting, through education and work on behalf of our wild public lands, waters and wildlife.
The British Columbia Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BCBHA) is the first international chapter of BHA and was established in the spring of 2014. BCBHA has full autonomy over our issues and finances and every dollar raised in BC stays in BC to be spent on BC issues. Like most US based conservation organizations like Ducks Unlimited, Trout, Pheasants, Turkey, SCI, WSF, etc. that have affiliations, chapters and associations in Canada, the vision is continental but the focus is local. All supporting the North American Conservation Model which has no boundary. Members in BC embraced the values and message of BHA and felt it would be a good fit to compliment the hard work of the existing legacy organizations in BC. BCBHA looks to collaborate with groups on common initiatives, even though we might not agree 100% on everything they do, and vis-a-versa, we can work together on our common interests, like wildlife and habitat. The same applies for working with the BCWF, WSSBC, or Y2Y. We have made it clear to Y2Y that BCBHA will not support any initiative which alienates land from hunting and have yet to work with Y2Y on any issues in BC to date. A prime example of BCBHA’s leadership and collaboration was the successful Wildlife Management Roundtable held in Cranbrook in March of 2017.
The Alberta Chapter which launched in the spring of 2017 continues to do good work supporting hunters and anglers and is keeping hunting in the forefront of the debate on the Bighorn Wildland land-use process currently underway in Alberta.
BHA is the fastest growing conservation organization in North America with chapters in 29 States and 2 provinces with 11 more chapters in the works including Yukon. BHA's membership just surpassed 30,000 members. This is incredible growth for an organization which has been able to double its membership every year for the past 4 years. The values of BHA definitely resonates with hunters and anglers across North America as the quality of wildlife and habitat and associated experiences continues to degrade. The growth of the BC chapter has mirrored the growth of the organization. Any organization that stands up for wild public lands has a target on it's back and attracts attention. Highly organized smear campaigns and rhetoric have done nothing to detract from BHA's values nor have they affected BHA's growth. They are obviously not having an effect on BHA's progress.
BCBHA began its operation in the East Kootenay and now has committees in the West Kootenay, a very active and growing committee in the Lower Mainland, a committee in central BC and is gaining traction in the North East. We are looking for regional representation in every region of the province to represent local issues. We held a series of pint nights in 2018 to grow our influence and are looking for interested members to step up and get involved in their area. Stay tuned to our channels for upcoming events and activities as we grow.
BCBHA supports sound, science based wildlife and habitat management and opposed in writing the ban on the grizzly hunt. We support responsible OHV use where it is appropriate. We are engaged in the provincial Improving Wildlife Management and Habitat Conservation initiative and our position submitted during the public engagement portion of this process is on the public record through the Engage BC website. BCBHA is represented on the stakeholder committee and will be attending the upcoming January workshops in Vancouver.
We are not going to engage in any of the typical rumours around BCBHA or BHA in general, because if you want to get involved and learn more about the good work we are doing, please reach out. If you enjoy hunting and angling in a natural setting, on public land, then BHA is the organization for you. Please pm me if you would like more information on how to get involved or follow us on social media to stay in touch.
Thank you to everyone who keeps up the good fight for our wild backcountry in BC, despite our differences.
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To connect with BC BHA on social media: [/B]
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Elkhound