BHA seems “all-in” with Biden

[greywacke]

I would rather light $30.00 on fire than give it to BHA.

It all boils down to predator management for me.

Do you have any of your papers in the literature? Because, you know, seems like every former tenderfoot Scout at the crossfit vegan gym considers himself an expert in public land game management these days...

 

[orionthehunter1]

Just looked because this thread got me curious. So unless I’m missing something basically almost all their revenue goes towards employees and very little directly towards “mission”.

https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/backcountryhunters/pages/5229/attachments/original/1605914247/2019-12-31_990_BH_A_-_PUBLIC.pdf?1605914247

No you didn't miss anything they spend all their money on expenses and salaries and very little on the actual mission. But guys keep blindly looking the other way and keep giving them money.

 

[orionthehunter1]

Sorry. I wasn't implying anyone had called me names. Poorly worded on my part. Was just predicting responses. No I've never looked at their financials. But to be honest, I've never looked at anyone's financials other than my own. Feel free to educate me.

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Here you go:
https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.n...7/2019-12-31_990_BH_A_-_PUBLIC.pdf?1605914247

 

[greywacke]

Just looked because this thread got me curious. So unless I’m missing something basically almost all their revenue goes towards employees and very little directly towards “mission”.

You are missing something: They're not a charity established to direct funds to landowners.

Those employees do the lobbying and other work that accomplishes the mission, probably cheaper than they could pay you to misinterpret their charter in the interests of bad faith.

 

[ODB]

I'm about finished with this topic, but it is interesting to read in their own words their primary interests:



OUR WORK FOCUSES ON THREE KEY AREAS:
- DEFENDING ACCESS TO PUBLIC WATERS
- ADVOCATING FOR THE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND
- DEFENDING AND ENHANCING ACCESS TO PUBLIC LAND

MAINTAIN OUR LONGSTANDING SPORTING TRADITIONS THROUGH HARD WORK AND A FOCUS ON THE FOLLOWING:
- ENHANCING HABITAT CONSERVATION
- CONSERVING PRIORITY LANDSCAPES
- PROMOTING RESPONSIBLE OHV USE AND MANAGEMENT
- DEFENDING OUR PUBLIC LANDS LEGACY


Understand - I'm for all of these... but I am also for an organization that has defending the rights of hunters and anglers as its primary focus too.... "Maintaining sporting traditions" requires more than the four items they list.

I also find it interesting that the donors are redacted. They were not in early returns.

 

[greywacke]

I'm about finished with this topic, but it is interesting to read in their own words their primary interests:



OUR WORK FOCUSES ON THREE KEY AREAS:
- DEFENDING ACCESS TO PUBLIC WATERS
- ADVOCATING FOR THE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND
- DEFENDING AND ENHANCING ACCESS TO PUBLIC LAND

MAINTAIN OUR LONGSTANDING SPORTING TRADITIONS THROUGH HARD WORK AND A FOCUS ON THE FOLLOWING:
- ENHANCING HABITAT CONSERVATION
- CONSERVING PRIORITY LANDSCAPES
- PROMOTING RESPONSIBLE OHV USE AND MANAGEMENT
- DEFENDING OUR PUBLIC LANDS LEGACY


Understand - I'm for all of these... but I am also for an organization that has defending the rights of hunters and anglers as its primary focus too.... "Maintaining sporting traditions" requires more than the four items they list.

I also find it interesting that the donors are redacted. They were not in early returns.

Evidently, your $30 just won't buy everything you want from them?

Man if I were you, I'd dig up their tax returns then go on the internet and shit all over them because Trump lost.

 

[Middleofnowhere]

I’m really not understanding why people are so impassioned about hating on BHA. If you don’t like it, don’t join it. Hell go start your own organization! But no one will do that.

Believe it or not it’s ok to not align with them 100% and still see the good in it.... this is just the new school version of rod snd gun clubs that don’t exist anymore. Believe it or not, it’s actually pretty ok to get together with like minded folks over a beer. From the sounds of some of the bitter folks here, you could probably afford to do it more yourselves....

I have a bunch of “life” memberships to non-profit conservation orgs. I actively participate with three orgs and am an elected director on one. It’s like a second career to me and much more than just a membership fee.

I love public lands, I and my family spend a lot of my time on BLM, USFS and NPS land. The concept of BHA is great. The political hypocrisy and activism since 2016 have just soured me to the organization. I don’t think the leadership is doing what is right for our public lands and future use.

I don’t want my membership to give them clout and I definitely don’t want to feed the beast any more with my hard earned $$.

As I said in original post, I have made friends through BHA, so I am not happy about leaving.

 

[def90]

No you didn't miss anything they spend all their money on expenses and salaries and very little on the actual mission. But guys keep blindly looking the other way and keep giving them money.

Here is the catch though.. they don’t spend money on leases or land for access or conservation easements or any material possession so in reality they are just a lobbying group. As a lobbying group all of their money is spent on salaries so that they are able to perform their lobbying function which is to promote and get their positions in front of politicians.

Groups like the Nature Conservancy, RMEF, or a multitude of other conservation organizations actually use funds to pay for conservation and access easements as well as straight up purchase land to turn over to public entities.

BHA and the concept of creating access to public lands has nothing of material asset to actually spend money on, there is the occasional thing that if you look on their site they gave $250 to a local chapter in Colorado to spruce up a trailhead or something.

 

[HoneyDew]

You are missing something: They're not a charity established to direct funds to landowners.

Those employees do the lobbying and other work that accomplishes the mission, probably cheaper than they could pay you to misinterpret their charter in the interests of bad faith.

Enhance your calm. I’m a BHA member. I understand they are an advocacy organization. They also say as part of their mission statement that actual conservation and access projects are a priority too. Except financially this part is almost exclusively the burden of local chapters. Not against what they do but would like to see a better balance of words AND action.

 

[greywacke]

I love public lands, I and my family spend a lot of my time on BLM, USFS and NPS land. The concept of BHA is great. The political hypocrisy and activism since 2016 have just soured me to the organization. I don’t think the leadership is doing what is right for our public lands and future use.

I think if you provided concrete examples of their moral treachery, you wouldn't have to rely on casting aspersions and nebulous character assassination.
BTW, what group are you Director of?

 

[ODB]

Evidently, your $30 just won't buy everything you want from them?

Man if I were you, I'd dig up their tax returns then go on the internet and shit all over them because Trump lost.

I'll give you another chance to say something intelligible - but just one more chance.

 

[sneaky]

Makes sense to me that they would be ready for a new administration after the last ones attitude towards public land. I joined yesterday for a year because they have a local chapter I can check out and see if it’s a group I can meet some folks interested in the outdoors and do some local conservation projects with. Republicans want to take your lands Democrats want to take your guns. An over simplification by far but you can still go hunt with a bow but you can’t hunt without land. No one is ever going to find a party that perfectly matches their views. Seems like an advocacy group for public land is pretty much something we can all be on board with even if there are groups that we think do better. From the few interviews I’ve listened to with/about the group they seem legit.

Man, you're in for a shock. They should be called Backcountry Anglers and Frat Parties

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[Olympics777]

This is the most toxic thread I’ve read on here yet.

 

[Anello]

Interesting read. I do not care whose politics are what as I respect any American's right to dissent ... a concept that is thwarted by only one party these days. Additionally, there is only one party that truly supports hunting and fishing, as the other major one does not. So, I vote one way.

I joined BHA on the premise that they support hunting and fishing opportunities for sportsman. The first issue of the magazine I received read like a hiking, fly fishing and fund raising advertisement. None of the following issues changed my initial perspective. When my membership came up for renewal I received countless reminders to renew, which I found objectionable. I wrote them an email detailing why I was not going to renew and asked them to focus on fishing and hunting, fishing and hunting opportunities, and not and not beer tavern meetings, or constant reminders to donate more. I never received a response, which I anticipated, and I never renewed. They are simply not the organization I thought that they were, and I felt duped at the end of the day.

There are several notable instances of BHA either failing to support hunting opportunities or actually opposing hunting opportunities. So, my dollars go elsewhere now. I have no doubt that there are some outstanding BHA members (maybe a few on this thread) whose interests are aligned with my own, but I just won't ever support the BHA organization again due to my experience.

Rokslide is a fantastic community with a lot of great folks. Let's not forget that in debating the benefits or deficiencies of a conservation org that may or may not be performing per our expectations.

 

[greywacke]

Enhance your calm. I’m a BHA member. I understand they are an advocacy organization. They also say as part of their mission statement that actual conservation and access projects are a priority too. Except financially this part is almost exclusively the burden of local chapters. Not against what they do but would like to see a better balance of words AND action.

Wouldn't we all? Don't know if digging up their tax returns and decrying they're spending on things other than "mission" is the best way to go about that, though.

I'll give you another chance to say something intelligible - but just one more chance.

You're the one here to take part in a thinly sourced internet character assassination of a beneficial hunter & fisherman's org, so perhaps you'll forgive me if I skip the benefit of your third act altogether? I'm frankly well aware of what making perfect the enemy of good looks like, and don't think driving wedges among hunter/fisher access groups is really where it's at, at all. TIA

 

[sneaky]

The exact same thing can be said of any church in Colorado. Are you butthurt about them too? Have you posted it on the internet?

Shouldn't you be on 24hrcampfire?I think you're on the wrong forum

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[KurtR]

You can lead a horse to water.......

 

[RyanT26]

Well it’s BHA so I don’t really know anyone surprised.

There are a lot of good organizations to give to bha is not one of them.
I’d start with RMEF, SCI, pheasants/quail forever, ducks Unlimited, and MDF. If you have money left over I’ll give you my address and you can send it to me. You would still be able to get a better return on it then sending it to bha.

 

[SirChooCH]

Remember that time BHA called out people for hunting private ranches in texas as "not real deer" and "not real hunting" and then 2 months later hosted a bird hunt of pen raised birds on a private ranch? They don't stand behind their own words, they are just set up to take your money and attention away from other orgs that actually help hunting.

 

[KurtR]

That’s something land tawney has been at for years. He was trying to get rid of people raising elk in North Dakota over 10 years ago. He partnered with hsus to try and pass that ballot measure.