<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000950117-03-004924
<TYPE>5
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030930
<FILING-DATE>20031118
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>FREELAND ROBERT D
<CIK>0001220462
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>5
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-15045
<FILM-NUMBER>031009659
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>7219 EAST 17TH STREET
<CITY>KANSAS CITY
<STATE>KS
<ZIP>64126
<PHONE>8162315724
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>BHA GROUP INC
<CIK>0000801128
<ASSIGNED-SIC>3564
<IRS-NUMBER>431416730
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0930
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>8800 E 63RD ST
<CITY>KANSAS CITY
<STATE>MO
<ZIP>64133
<PHONE>8163568400
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>8800 E 63RD STREET
<CITY>KANSAS CITY
<STATE>MO
<ZIP>64133
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rsr_10322.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 5
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-09-30</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000801128</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BHA GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BHAG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001220462</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FREELAND ROBERT D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3500 LEAWOOD COURT</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LEE''S SUMMIT</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>64064</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
        <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
        <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
        <isOther>0</isOther>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
    <nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-09-30</value>
        </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>1228</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionPricePerShare>
                <value>20.97</value>
            </transactionPricePerShare>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>18299</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>
    <derivativeTable>
    <derivativeHolding>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>16</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2002-06-17</value>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2008-06-17</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>3960</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>3960</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeHolding>

    <derivativeHolding>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>16.61</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2003-09-17</value>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2012-09-17</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common  Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>1250</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>1250</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeHolding>

    <derivativeHolding>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>16.86</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2004-02-18</value>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2013-02-18</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>1750</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>1750</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeHolding>

    </derivativeTable>
    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Common Stock issued represent compensation for board of director fees at an average share price of $20.97.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert D. Freeland</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-11-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
