Paul A. Smith

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

GERMANTOWN - They gathered Monday night out of a mutual interest in land and water issues.

But a glance at the members of the crowd crowd revealed this wasn't a typical Wisconsin conservation meeting.

There was markedly little gray hair on the heads of attendees. It's location, Bub's Irish Pub, was unusual, too. And the most common wardrobe selection by a long shot was a hoody or t-shirt emblazoned with "Public Land Owner."

The event was a "Pint Night" organized by the Wisconsin chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers.

"Public lands and waters are big unifiers," said Land Tawney, president and CEO of BHA, referencing the organization's key slogan. "They're issues we really care about and people are responding to our work."

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Tawney, 43, of Missoula, Montana, was in Wisconsin this week to meet with state BHA members and attract new ones.

The group held a pair of evening events in the Badger State. (Tuesday's was in Fitchburg.) In addition, Tawney worked in a visit Monday to Goose Lake State Wildlife Area near Marshall and a rabbit hunt Tuesday on public land in Dane County.

The organization, headquartered in Missoula, is on a roll in Wisconsin and across the nation. Its membership in Wisconsin has increased from 50 in 2015 to about 1,000 this year. Nationally, BHA has more than doubled its rolls in two years and stands at about 30,000.

History shows many of the most successful American conservation and environmental programs and laws emerged out of times of crisis.

A significant decline in wildlife in the early 20th century led to the prohibition of market hunting. A need for additional, dedicated wildlife funding helped produce the Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937. Worsening pollution in the 1960s galvanized support for the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act in the 1970s.

No conservation battle is ever completely won.

But among contemporary threats, efforts to sell or develop public lands are near the top of the list. Time will tell if they are judged a "crisis."

This much is clear: the public has taken notice.

Awareness of the need to protect public lands and waters has no doubt added wind to the sails of BHA, Tawney said.

"Americans have shown time and again they will respond to protect things they value," Tawney said.

A course correction occurred last year when, following public outcry and demonstrations, Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) withdrew legislation to transfer 3 million acres of land from federal to state ownership.

BHA members were part of rallies held last year in Montana and New Mexico.

The issues aren't restricted to western states.

In Wisconsin, for example, a railroad crossing law passed in 2005 prevents hunters and anglers from crossing rail lines to access public property.

The Wisconsin Legislature in 2015 directed the Department of Natural Resources to sell 10,000 acres of public land. And the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund, the state's principal land acquisition program, is up for renewal.

BHA is getting involved in all of these issues.

Its members have also adopted the Goose Lake State Wildlife Area to assist the DNR in management and maintenance at the public site. And in 2018, it prepared a candidate questionnaire on leading conservation issues.

It's clear the BHA message is resonating with the public. The group has full-time staff in Missoula as well as Washington. It has chapters in 40 states or provinces in North America.

Notably, its membership is relatively young and politically diverse.

According to a 2018 survey of its membership, 68 percent are age 45 or younger.

Thirty-three percent identified as Independent, 23 percent as Republican, 20 percent as Democrat and the balance either “none of the above” or didn't answer the question.

Fifty-seven percent identified as both a hunter and angler, with 35 percent as hunters, 6 percent as anglers and 2 percent as “others."

Nearly three-quarters of BHA members’ time afield is spent on public lands and waters.

Tawney said when the group was formed, the founders knew conservation organizations such as the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Pheasants Forever and Ducks Unlimited were doing "amazing habitat work, mostly on private lands."

BHA opted to take a different tack.

"We want to protect public lands and waters," Tawney said. "And make sure these public areas have good access and high quality fish and wildlife habitat, too."

The mix of BHA events includes Pint Nights, Brewfests and Story Nights. Its members also meet for work outings on public lands.

Tawney, who grew up hunting and fishing in Montana and previously worked for the National Wildlife Federation and Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, acknowledged challenges but is bullish on the future.

"There's always going to be threats, right," Tawney said. "And I think it's important to not be complacent. But we're seeing a growing number of people engaged in conservation issues and that's making a difference."

Tawney rated outgoing Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke a "disappointment" and noted Congress' failure to reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

He predicted the split Congress beginning in January would allow more progress on some issues, perhaps including the Recovering America's Wildlife Act, which BHA supports.

Elected representatives have a multitude of good reasons to protect public lands and waters, integral parts of the nation's $412 billion outdoor recreation economy.

The nation's public land legacy, started by Theodore Roosevelt, allows Americans to "live like kings," Tawney said.

"It's unique in all the world," Tawney said. "And it's only about 120 years old."

Tawney said the "Public Land Owner" t-shirts give members an opportunity to spread the word and advance the conversation.

"People see it and say, that's awesome," Tawney said. "A light bulb goes off in people's head that, yes, they do own the lands and waters."

Tawney urged the people gathered at Monday's meeting to use their voices by speaking out on issues and contacting their elected representatives.

"Our public lands and waters didn't happen by accident," Tawney said. "Now, it's up to us to advance it to the next generation."