Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters

08/26/2026

Join us Sunday, August 30 in Ely, MN, for Aquatic Invasive Species Awareness Day! 🌲💧

From 12–5 PM at Fall Lake Boat Launch, learn how to clean your watercraft and help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. Bring your boat, and we’ll clean it for you!

Then, join us from 6–8 PM at Redfeather Outdoors in Ely for food, refreshments, speakers, door prizes and more AIS education.

Come learn something. Lend a hand. Bring a friend. Let’s protect the places that give us so much.

Presented in partnership with Bronco Wild Fund, the Aquatic Invasive Species Boundary Waters Coalition and Redfeather Outdoors.

08/23/2026

Less than a week until Paddlin’ for the Boundary Waters! 🌲🍻

Join us Saturday, August 29, from 2–9 PM at Bent Paddle Brewing Co. in Duluth for an afternoon and evening celebrating the Boundary Waters with live music, great beer, food, conservation conversations, outdoor vendors, raffles, lawn games, and more.

🎶 Nate Weiler & Friends — Kicking things off on stage
🎶 Dave Simonett & Friends
🍺 Frothy Moose release — The Official Beer of the Boundary Waters
🍔 Food Trucks — Bowlz N’ Thangz & Burger Joint
🎨 Jake Keeler Art — New print benefiting SFBW
🔥 Wildfire Relief Silent Auction
🎟️ Outdoor gear raffle + more

A suggested $20 donation to Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters is encouraged, with every dollar supporting the fight to protect the BWCA for generations to come.

Presented by onX Fish & onX Hunt.

Come celebrate the Boundary Waters with us! See you at Paddlin’. 🌲🤙

08/21/2026

Some may say the perfect summer night doesn’t exist—but we beg to differ. 🍻🌲

For years, Paddlin’ for the Boundary Waters at Bent Paddle Brewing Co. in Duluth has been a summer highlight, bringing together live music, great food and beer, raffles, guest speakers, yard games, and the outdoor community—all in support of protecting the Boundary Waters.

Whether you’ve joined us before or this is your first Paddlin’, everyone is welcome at this year’s event, presented by onX Fish and onX Hunt.

📅 August 29
⏰ 2–9 PM
📍 | Duluth, MN

And we’ve got a few new additions that make this year’s event even better:

🎨 Jake Keeler Art will release a new print at the event, with 100% of proceeds benefiting SFBW.

🎶 Nate Weiler & Friends will kick things off with live music before Dave Simonett & Friends take the stage.

🔥 We’ll also host a wildfire relief silent auction, with proceeds going toward communities impacted by recent wildfires.

It’s shaping up to be our biggest Paddlin’ yet, and we can’t wait to spend another summer night with the Boundary Waters community.

See you there!

08/20/2026

Congratulations to the winner of our 2026 Ultimate Canoe Package Sweepstakes, Matt L. from Lakewood, CO! We can’t wait to see photos of your brand-new canoe setup in action. 🛶🎣🏕️🎉

A huge thank-you to our incredible partners at Redfeather Outdoors and Frost River for supporting this sweepstakes with their amazing handcrafted gear. We’re so grateful for your generosity and partnership!

And to everyone who donated for entries —thank you! Your participation helps support SFBW and our mission to protect the world-class fishing, hunting, and paddling opportunities in and around the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Every dollar raised through the sweepstakes goes directly toward supporting this important work.

08/19/2026

So, what does Governor Tim Walz's new executive order mean for the Boundary Waters?

We’re breaking it all down in our latest blog, including what the executive order does, how we got to this point, and what happens next in the fight to protect the Boundary Waters.

Visit the link below to read the full breakdown.

https://sportsmenbwca.org/so-what-does-the-executive-order-from-gov-walz-mean-for-the-boundary-waters/

And while you’re there, take a moment to thank Governor Walz for standing up for the Boundary Waters. Our Thank You action lets you send a message directly to the Governor—and every message also provides SFBW with another data point to share with legislators and decision-makers as we continue fighting for permanent protection of the BWCA.

You can find the Thank You action form here: https://sportsmenbwca.org/thank-gov-walz/

On August 18th, MN Governor Tim Walz issued an Executive Order adding critical protections for the Rainy River Headwaters Watershed—the network of rivers and lakes that flows through and feeds the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The order effectively closes the door on new sulfide-ore copp

08/18/2026

Today, August 18, Governor Tim Walz issued an Executive Order adding critical protections for the Rainy River Headwaters Watershed—the network of rivers and lakes that flows through and feeds the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

The order effectively closes the door on new sulfide-ore copper mining in the watershed using the tools currently available to the state, while creating a path toward making these protections permanent.

The Executive Order:
• Prohibits new state mineral leases
• Prohibits new surface leases for tailings and mine waste
• Prevents the DNR from participating in certain federal environmental reviews
• Directs the DNR to draft legislation permanently prohibiting sulfide-ore copper mining in the watershed

This action comes after Congress voted in April to roll back federal protections for the watershed, reopening the door to advance plans for a copper-nickel mine within the Boundary Waters watershed.

“This announcement is a huge step towards permanently protecting the Boundary Waters from copper-nickel mining at the state level. Despite the actions of the current administration, Gov. Walz stepped up and acted on behalf of hundreds of thousands across the country who have made it clear that our public lands and waters are worth protecting. Minnesota knows the value of our precious wild places, and we're going to keep fighting tooth and nail to keep them.”

— Lukas Leaf, Executive Director, Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters

On behalf of sportsmen and women across the country, we thank Gov. Walz for standing up for the Boundary Waters.

But the fight isn't over. We expect pushback, and we'll continue working toward permanent protection for the Boundary Waters watershed.

SFBW will keep you updated as this fight continues.

08/11/2026

The Ultimate Canoe Package Sweepstakes ends on Thursday at 10 PM CT, which means there are only TWO days left to get entries!

One lucky winner will experience the Boundary Waters like never before with this Custom SFBW x Redfeather Outdoors Ursa Minor Canoe Package, which features:

- Custom SFBW x Redfeather Ursa Minor Canoe
- Two Redfeather Outdoors Paddles
- Frost River Old No. 7 Canoe Pack
- Frost River Seat Pad Bag
- Frost River Thwart Bag

All proceeds from the sweepstakes will go directly to SFBW and our continued mission of protecting the world-class fishing, hunting, and paddling opportunities in and around the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness of Northeast Minnesota.

bit.ly/canoesweepstakes

*Must be 18 or older to enter. By participating in the Sweepstakes, you agree to the Official Rules, the website Terms of Use, and to all decisions by the Sponsor of the Sweepstakes. No Purchase, Donation, or Payment of any kind is necessary to enter to win.

Join me in supporting Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters: https://give.sportsmenbwcafundraising.org/canoesweepstakes

08/09/2026

Summer isn't over yet! 🌲🍻🎶

One of Duluth's favorite summer traditions is back, and this year's Paddlin' for the Boundary Waters is shaping up to be our biggest celebration yet.

Join us on Saturday, August 29th at Bent Paddle Brewing Co., for an afternoon and evening dedicated to the Boundary Waters and the people who love it. Whether you're a paddler, angler, hunter, hiker, or simply someone who cares about protecting wild places, this is an event you won't want to miss.

Presented by onX Hunt and onX Fish, event highlights include:

🗓 Saturday, August 29
⏰ 2:00–9:00 PM (Live music from 6:00–9:00 PM)
🎸 Dave Simonett & Friends
🍺 Exclusive release of Frothy Moose, the Official Beer of the Boundary Waters
🎟 Incredible raffle packages featuring premium outdoor gear and prizes from our amazing partners
🍔 Food from Bowlz N' Thangz and Burger Joint
🌲 Outdoor brands, local vendors, conservation organizations, lawn games, family-friendly activities, and more

Every dollar raised helps support the mission of Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters and the ongoing protection of America's most iconic canoe wilderness.

Bring your friends, grab a pint, enjoy some incredible music, and help us celebrate—and protect—the Boundary Waters. We'll see you there!

See full event details and RSVP here: https://bit.ly/Paddlin4TheBW26

08/07/2026

08/06/2026

There is just one week left in our Ultimate Canoe Package Sweepstakes!

Handcrafted in La Crosse, WI by Redfeather Outdoors, the Ursa Minor is a 16’6” performance canoe engineered for both tandem and solo paddling. At just 43 pounds, built in Redfeather's carbon layup with matching black skid plates, this canoe features carbon air tanks with the SFBW logo and the classic moose and lake trout icon infused into the bottom.

From Frost River, completing this ultimate canoe package, the canoe comes decked out with an Old No. 7 Canoe Pack, Thwart Bag, and Seat Pad Cover.

Experience the Boundary Waters like never before with this Custom SFBW x Redfeather Ursa Minor Canoe Package! Visit the link below to get your entries before it's too late.

bit.ly/canoesweepstakes

*Must be 18 or older to enter. By participating in the Sweepstakes, you agree to the Official Rules, the website Terms of Use, and to all decisions by the Sponsor of the Sweepstakes. No Purchase, Donation, or Payment of any kind is necessary to enter to win.