Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) mission is to ensure North America’s outdoor heritage of hunting and fishing in a natural setting, through education and work on behalf of wild public lands, waters, and wildlife. Although our organization is formed around hunting and fishing, our members are also avid hikers, backpackers, trail runners, mountain bikers, off-roaders, and so-on. Most importantly we seek to conserve our natural resources so that all pursuits can be enjoyed responsibly for many generations.[1]
“If your passion is hunting and fishing film festivals, creating opportunities to grow youth involvement in hunting, teaching others to tie flies at a craft brewery, or in this case, stomp around in the sage pulling out old fencing, BHA wants to support your advocacy and will allow you to get out there and make a difference.” -John Chandler, Savage Arms Blog[2]
-“Stalking Wildness: BHA’s Wilderness Warriors.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 2/13/24.
-“Public Lands (& Freedom) Unite Our Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Tribe.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 1/5/24.
-Travis Bradford. “2023 BHA Membership Survey Results.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 9/29/23.
-“Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: Mission, Issues & Actions (Triads).” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 8/17/23.
-Ben Long’s Hunter & Angler Field Guide to Raising Hell: https://www.scottpublishingcompany.com/fieldguide
-BHA Podcast & Blast, Ep. 162. “Ben Long, The Hunter & Angler Guide to Raising Hell.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 8/15/23.
-“A Hunter-Angler (Hell-Raisin’ & Habitat Savin’) Guide To Winning: Colorado BHA Examples (Browns Canyon & Camp Hale).” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 10/23/23.
-“For those who answer the call to speak for those who cannot, this book is for you! Wild public lands, waters and wildlife need your voice and this book, this grassroots bible, will help you engage.” -Land Tawney, BHA President and CEO (4/3/23)
BHA Issues Triad (PAF)[3]
- Public Lands & Waters (Public Lands = Freedom). Our public lands make each of us land-rich. Protecting and perpetuating public lands and waters is paramount. “Public lands personify this idea we call America—which is freedom. The human animal—the human spirit—is not intended to be confined to a cage.”[4] We are, “The voice for our wild public lands, waters and wildlife.” BHA Armed Forces Initiative (AFI) Coordinator Trevor Hubbs adds, “The BHA mission is all of ours.”[5] And as explained by BHA Podcast & Blast host Hal Herring, “The future of the American public lands is as important to our nation as the Bill of Rights or the Constitution itself.”[6]
- Access & Opportunity. We are intent on keeping public lands in public hands.[7] “Working every day to make sure you have access to public lands and waters and the quality fish and wildlife habitat when you get there.”[8] Access has emerged as a priority issue for North American hunters and anglers, and lack of access is cited by sportsmen and women as the No. 1 reason why we stop pursuing our passions. Access to the more than 600 million acres of public land is part of being American. However, opportunity is diminished when “access becomes excess.”[9]
- Fair Chase & Restraint. “We must ensure that the ethical pursuit of fish and game is upheld as dearly as our own obligation to morality and citizenship,” BHA explains in its fair chase statement.[10] As Jim Posewitz wrote in Beyond Fair Chase, “The ethics of hunting deteriorate as machinery and modern technology are substituted for hunter stamina, skill, knowledge, and patience.”[11] Conservation derives from the Latin conservare, meaning “to keep guard.”[12] As America’s first conservationists, hunters have a century-old tradition of protecting habitat and policing our own ranks.[13]
Top Chapter Highlights (Q1)
-Legislative Liaison Ivan James was appointed to the Colorado Wildlife Habitat Stamp Committee by Gov. Jared Polis.
-Steve Witte was appointed to serve as our Indemnity Land Liaison.
-Our 2nd Annual Colorado Public Lands Day Bash will be held in Gunnison during May 17-18.
-Our 15th Annual Colorado BHA Rendezvous will be held June 21-23 at the Soap Creek Corral Dispersed Camping Area (the same locale as last year) west of Gunnison.
“Our most important asset is our volunteers.”
Chapter News
What Has BHA/CO BHA Done For Me?
-“CO BHA Winter Newsletter.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 12/21/23.
-“CO Chapter Newsletter Fall 2023.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 10/9/23.
-“Colorado Chapter Newsletter Summer 2023.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 7/8/23.
-“Spring 2023 CO BHA Newsletter.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 4/10/23.
-“Colorado BHA Q4 2023 Update.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 10/27/23.
-“Colorado BHA Q3 2023 Update.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 8/3/23.
“Colorado BHA Q2 2023 Update.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 4/24/23.
-“Colorado BHA Q1 2023 Update.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 2/1/23.
-Wintering Wildlife Conservation Initiative (WWCI) link shared by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW): https://www.winteringwildlife.org/
-BHA Stewardship: https://www.backcountryhunters.org/stewardship
-BHA Top 10 Wins (2023). “Being Good Stewards of Our Public Lands, Waters, and Wildlife.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 12/5/23.
-Kaden McArthur. “Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Federal Policy Roundup 2023.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: December 2023.
-Zack Williams. “BHA Podcast & Blast, Ep. 173: BHA 2023 Policy Roundup with BHA Government Relations Manager Kaden McArthur.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 2/6/24.
-Kaden McArthur. “BHA’s 2024 Policy Priorities.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 1/24/24 (See p.19 for Colorado Priority Landscapes). https://www.backcountryhunters.org/bha_s_2024_policy_priorities
Chapter Leadership Team & Habitat Watch Volunteer Updates
(42 Chapter Leadership Team Members/40-plus Habitat Watch Volunteers)
We currently have eleven (11) Colorado BHA Groups (not all necessarily currently active): Northern Colorado, Boulder County, Denver Metro Area, Southeast Colorado, Central Rockies, Roaring Fork/Eagle Valleys, Routt County, Gunnison Valley/County, Southwest Colorado, Central West Slope, Grand Valley/Mesa County. For additional information see: https://www.backcountryhunters.org/group_leaders
We have Habitat Watch Volunteers (HWVs) who serve as our “eyes and ears” in all eleven Colorado national forests. Contact HWV Program Coordinator/Co-Chair Don Holmstrom ([email protected]) for additional information. Also see the following link for more information: Colorado BHA Habitat Watch Volunteer (HWV) program information.
BHA/CO BHA Staff/Leaders
-Thomas Plank. “BHA Announces Patrick Berry as New CEO.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 12/6/23.
-Staff Report. “Former Vermont Fish and Wildlife commissioner, Patrick Berry, to lead Backcountry Hunters & Anglers.” Outdoor News: 12/6/23.
-BHA staffers based in Colorado include: Britt Parker (BHA Habitat Stewardship Coordinator); Bryan Jones (BHA Colorado/Wyoming Chapters Coordinator); and Briant Wiles (Colorado Habitat Stewardship Coordinator).
-“Brittany Parker has been named [BHA] Habitat Stewardship Manager. In her new role, she will work across the U.S. with BHA field staff, volunteers, state and federal land management agencies and other partners to advance meaningful land stewardship and restoration, and fish and wildlife habitat conservation on public lands and waters.”[14]
-“Parker, of Eagle, Colorado, first served BHA as a volunteer Chapter Leader. She then joined the staff as Habitat Stewardship Coordinator for Colorado.”[15]
-Thomas Plank. “Three elevated to key front line roles at BHA.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 11/15/23.
-During November 2023 BHA Vice President of Policy and Government Relations John Gale transitioned to working for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), filling a senior post as liaison with local government leaders in the West and Alaska. John is a consummate bridge-builder, and his relationship-oriented approach appears to be paying dividends, as noted in this E&E News post.
-Michael Doyle, et al. “Interior’s people to watch in 2024.” E&E News: 1/10/24.
-“Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Policy & Government Relations VP John Gale Transitions To Bureau of Land Management.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 11/6/23.
David “Elkheart” Petersen (a former U.S. Marine Corps helicopter pilot) started the first BHA state chapter in Colorado: https://davidpetersenbooks.com/
-“You don’t inspire volunteers to action by decree from on high. Rather, you give them minimal direction and maximum freedom to do their own thing, within the realm of the group’s charter.” –David “Elkheart” Petersen, Colorado BHA founder
Chapter Communications Update-Derek Pankratz & Scott Heatwole
-Communications Co-Chair Derek Pankratz ([email protected]) is our primary contact for Colorado BHA Newsletter input/content.
-If you have an event you’d like to promote on social media/Instagram, reach out to Communications Co-Chair Scott Heatwole (a U.S. Air Force veteran: [email protected]) and include a caption and image so he can post.
Events-Colorado BHA/AFI
-Upcoming CO BHA Events: https://www.backcountryhunters.org/co_upcoming_events
-Upcoming BHA Armed Forces Initiative (AFI) Events: https://www.backcountryhunters.org/events_afi
-All Things Colorado BHA: https://www.backcountryhunters.org/colorado
BHA Collegiate Program-Colorado State University (CSU) Fort Collins
Colorado has a BHA Collegiate Club at CSU in Fort Collins. Contact CSU Club leaders at: [email protected]. For additional information on the BHA Collegiate Club Program visit the webpage or Instagram page.
Armed Forces Initiative (AFI)-Colorado
Colorado BHA Armed Forces Initiative Liaison: Matt Lee ([email protected]).
Colorado BHA Fort Carson AFI President: Jonathon Dotson ([email protected]).
-“The purpose of the Armed Forces Initiative is to create conservationists in the military community … awaken in them a passion for the freedom that public lands and waters can give to a person … we strive to give our participants a new mission of conservation.”[16]
-“… our small program has grown over the past three years from just 18 veterans in Montana to 14,000 members and clubs in 42 States and 26 Active-Duty instillations …”[17]
-Trevor Hubbs. “AFI Boundary Waters 2022: As seen in Oct-Dec issue of FlyFisherman Magazine.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 10/2/23.
-Hal Herring. “Wilderness Warriors: Tales of Backcountry Hunting and Veteran Camaraderie.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Podcast & Blast Ep. 172: 12/25/23.
-“The future of the American public lands is as important to our nation as the Bill of Rights or the Constitution itself.” –Hal Herring, Field & Stream contributing editor, host of BHA’s Podcast & Blast and recipient of BHA’s 2016 Ted Trueblood Award[18]
-“Giving Veterans a New Mission in Conservation”
-“Public lands = Freedom”
-Become An AFI Volunteer; Armed Forces Initiative Leadership.
-BHA’s Armed Forces Initiative. “Armed Forces Initiative-Get Involved.”
-Become An AFI Volunteer; Armed Forces Initiative Leadership.
(Updates Below Are Randomly Ordered)
North American Rendezvous/Colorado BHA Rendezvous
-The BHA (20th Anniversary) North American Rendezvous will be held (April 18-20) in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A roundtrip ticket (Denver-Minneapolis) on United Airlines was less than $200 recently. https://www.backcountryhunters.org/rendezvous_2024_rsvp; https://rendezvous.backcountryhunters.org/register
-We celebrated BHA’s 10th Anniversary at the 2014 North American Rendezvous in Denver: 2014 North American Rendezvous Rewind (video).
-During 2014 BHA Celebrated Our 10th Anniversary and the Wilderness Act’s 50th Anniversary (short/related video links below).
-Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (9/22/14). “BHA #1 Founder Mike Beagle: Bullish for the future.” “The #1 founder of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers reflects on the beginnings and growth of BHA in this special tenth anniversary video.”
-Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (9/11/14). “BHA: Celebrating 50 years of Wilderness.” “Backcountry Hunters & Anglers celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act and defends the importance of keeping federal public lands in public hands.”
-In addition, we have penciled in the weekend of June 21-23 for our 15th Annual Colorado BHA Rendezvous, at the Soap Creek Corral Dispersed Camping Area (the same locale as last year) west of Gunnison.
Bighorn Sheep
-Colorado BHA Executive Leadership Team (ELT)/Board member Dan Parkinson has been working in conjunction with other groups on this issue (links below) for a long time. All their hard work is paying dividends.
-Derek Pankratz. “Colorado BHA helps secure major win for bighorn sheep.” Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 12/21/23.
-Reuben M. Schafir. “Agreement ends domestic sheep grazing on 100,000 acres near Silverton: Bacteria carried by livestock pose serious threat to Colorado’s bighorn sheep population.” The Durang Herald: 11/10/23.
-Elise Schmelzer. “Domestic sheep will no longer graze swath of Colorado land to protect bighorns from ‘pernicious’ disease: Disease passed to wild species can wipe out large portions of herds and future generations.” The Denver Post: 11/9/23.
-Mountain Studies Institute (MSI). “San Juan Mountains Colorado Bighorn Sheep Monitoring.” MSI: http://www.mountainstudies.org/bighorn/
-A science-based policy statement on public lands grazing: https://www.greatoldbroads.org/threats-public-lands-livestock-grazing/
-Also see this 15-minute version of Transmission: https://f.io/TNQdNRLr. The video, produced by the Wild Sheep Society of BC and filmed in British Columbia, clearly identifies the disease threat to bighorns in North America.
-Bighorn Sheep Head Butting-Wild Nature Media (David Neils: 8/6/21).
-“2021 North American Policy Statement: Reducing Conflict Between Wild Seep And Domestic Sheep And Goats On Public Lands.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 2021.
Colorado Public Lands Day Bash (Stay Tuned for More Updates!)
-Mark your calendars: May 17-19! Get ready for our 2nd year of celebrating Colorado Public Lands Day by working on public lands stewardship projects, enjoying great live music, and of course comradery with other conservationists around the fire. More details coming soon.
-John Chandler. “Fence Removal: Beers, Bands, And Barbed Wire Strands.” Savage Arms Blog: 9/28/23.
-The short videos below (consider sharing via your social media channels) highlight Colorado BHA’s most successful event to date, our Colorado BHA Public Lands Day Bash (“Beers, Bands & Barbed Wire Strands”).
-Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (7/25/23). “Colorado Public Lands Day Recap With COBHA.”
-Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (7/26/23). “Barbed Wire Strands-Pullin' Fence in Gunnison Colorado.”
Indemnity Lands/Wildlife Crossings
-“Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Appoint Steve Witte To Indemnity Land Liaison Position.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 12/9/23.
-“Thanks to BHA member Steve Witte and his research and draft letter, the Colorado Chapter of BHA was able to lead the effort to encourage the State Land Board to provide CPW an exclusive initial opportunity to lease the 17,232 acres of indemnity lands under the Hunting and Fishing Access Program before offering these for private recreational leases or other uses that would preclude hunting and fishing.”[19]
-Bryan Jones. “CO BHA Leads the Effort on Public Hunting and Fishing Access to Indemnity Lands.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 11/27/23.
-“Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Appoint Jim McGannon To Colorado Wildlife & Transportation Alliance Liaison Position.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 10/20/23.
-Colorado Parks and Wildlife. “Wildlife & Transportation Summit highlights the successes of recent policies and projects.” CPW News: 10/18/23.
-The Wildlife and Transportation Alliance is a statewide partnership between the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), federal, tribal, academic, nonprofit, biologist, and engineering partners. Its vision is to fully integrate wildlife movements into Colorado’s transportation system. Colorado BHA brings an important voice for wildlife to this effort as it prioritizes projects.
-If you want to go deep on the complex relationship between roads and wildlife, check out Colorado author Ben Goldfarb’s latest book, Crossings: How Road Ecology is Shaping the Future of our Planet.
North American Model of Wildlife Management
-Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW). “Bobcats, Mountain Lions and Lynx: Frequently Asked Questions on the Management of Colorado’s Wild Feline Population.” CPW: January 2024. https://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/Education/LivingWithWildlife/Bobcat-Lion-Lynx-Management-FAQ.pdf
-Colorado Parks and Wildlife (1/25/24). “Colorado Parks and Wildlife | Mountain Lion Management Update.”
-Colorado BHA (1/26/24). “The @coparkswildlife Bobcats, Mountain Lions & Lynx FAQ has officially been released. As @backcountryhunters we firmly advocate for science-driven wildlife conservation in North America. Our focus is on making informed, unbiased decisions based on the rigorous research of wildlife biologists. This approach ensures our wildlife management practices are evidence-based, not politically driven, safeguarding our natural heritage.”
-“Bryan Jones with the 1,800-member of the Colorado chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers said his group is working with the Colorado Wildlife Conservation Project on a response to the proposed ballot initiative. The 30,000-member Backcountry Hunters and Anglers does not support any wildlife management policy through legislation or voter initiatives.”[20]
-“‘We support hunting and fishing and trapping as efficient wildlife management models in Colorado,’ Jones said. ‘We advance sound stewardship that is guided by science, not politics or emotion or any other conjecture.’”[21]
-Jason Blevins. “Ban on hunting mountain lions and bobcats in Colorado could land on 2024 ballot.” The Colorado Sun: 10/3/23.
-Rachelle Schrute. “2024 Ballot Initiative Seeks to Ban Colorado Mountain Lion Hunting.” GearJunkie: 10/3/23.
-BHA North American Policy Statement: Science-Based Fish And Wildlife Management (2014).
-National Deer Association (1/23/24). “WildTail Documentary–America’s Wildest Success Story.” A conservation history documentary narrated by Justin Lynch with input from MeatEater’s Steven Rinella and Clay Newcomb.
Trails vs. Elk
-Keep Routt Wild: The latest breaking news of the Mad Rabbit project. https://www.keeprouttwild.com/mad-rabbit-trails
-Bryan Jones. “Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) Joins Colorado Wildlife Conservation Project (CWCP) Objection to Proposed Mad Rabbit Trails Project.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 9/26/23.
-Keep Routt Wild: The latest breaking news of the Mad Rabbit project. https://www.keeprouttwild.com/mad-rabbit-trails
-“Proposed Jackson Mountain (CO) Mountain Bike Trail System Withdrawn.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 6/12/23.
-“Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Increase Reward For Illegal Trail Construction (Help Stop Trail Building ‘Free-For-All’).” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 4/10/23.
-“Trails vs. Elk: ‘They’re Just Dying Off.’” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 12/3/21.
-Sylvia Kantor. “Seeking Ground Less Traveled: Elk Responses to Recreation.” Science Findings #219 (U.S. Department of Agriculture-Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station): September 2019. https://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/sciencef/scifi219.pdf
-Colorado Parks and Wildlife. “Colorado’s 2021 Guide for Planning Trails with Wildlife in Mind.” Appendix A includes standard protocols for how and where the trails are developed (i.e., Avoid, Minimize, Mitigate). The Guide recommends limiting trail densities to less than 1 linear mile of trail per square mile in mapped bighorn sheep, elk, and mule deer winter concentration areas and production areas. A 300-foot buffer for wetlands is widely accepted.
-“… the vast majority of us aren’t advocating for our desire to hunt, we are advocating for the protection of wildlife and their habitat,” explained Colorado BHA Board member Kassi Smith. “How can we compromise those protections? If the question of conservation was put back on us in the form of, ‘well, in order to protect the longevity of this species, you must give up hunting them or accessing their habitat,’ the majority of us would make that decision without hesitation.”
Energy Development
-Devin O’Dea. “BHA Opposes Solar Development in Priority Habitat, Migration Corridors, and Popular Public Land Hunting Grounds.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 1/26/24.
-Sage Marshall. “BLM Plans to Open Millions of Acres for Solar Projects on Public Lands in the West: The Bureau of Land Management is considering a massive increase in solar development in 5 new Western States. How will it impact wildlife?” Field & Stream: 1/26/24.
-Chase Woodruff. “Draft federal decision would pause Thompson Divide oil and gas drilling for 20 years: Public comment invited on U.S. Forest Service plan.” Colorado Newsline: 1/2/24.
-Jason Blevins. “Forest Service, BLM offer plan to block mining, oil and gas drilling on 225,000 acres in Thompson Divide: The federal land managers said a majority of the 60,000 comments they have collected support the withdrawal of extractive leases from the Thompson Divide south of Glenwood Springs.” The Colorado Sun: 12/12/23.
-Adam Gall owns Timber to Table Guide Service based out of Hotchkiss. “A pivotal moment for BLM to champion big game.” Grand Junction (Colo.) Daily Sentinel: 12/10/23.
CO-OP Regional Partnerships
-Consider serving on one of the CO-OP Regional Partnerships (there are sixteen Partnerships throughout the state, as of 1/27/24): https://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/Regional-Partnerships-Initiative.aspx
--Map of Colorado Outdoor Regional Partnerships: https://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/PartnersInTheOutdoors/ColoradoOutdoorRegionalPartnerships_MAP.pdf
--Central West Slope Regional Director Craig Grother ([email protected]) and Assistant Regional Director (ARD) Lew French ([email protected]) serve on the Ouray Regional Recreation and Conservation Alliance (ORRCA) Regional Partnership (#7 on map).
--Central West Slope ARD Lew French, and former CLT member John Howard serve on the new West Slope Outdoors Alliance Regional Partnership (#16 on map).
--Southwest Colorado Assistant Regional Director Luke Kline ([email protected]) serves on the Southwest Colorado Conservation & Outdoor Recreation Roundtable Regional Partnership (#14 on map).
-Habitat Watch Volunteer Janet George ([email protected]) serves on the Outside 285 (#9 on map) and NoCo PLACES 2050 (#6 on map) Regional Partnerships.
Dolores River National Conservation Area (NCA)
-Kaden McArthur. “BHA’s 2024 Policy Priorities.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 1/24/24. See p.19 for Colorado Priority Landscapes, which include: 1.) Continental Divide, San Juan Mountains, Thompson Divide and Curecanti Designations; 2.) Dolores River.
-“Policy Updates.” Backcountry Beat: September 2023. “S. 636, Dolores River National Conservation Area and Special Management Area Act, led by Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO). Through establishing the Dolores River National Conservation Area and Dolores River Special Management Area the bill would conserve a total of 68,000 acres of public lands and waters. Management of these areas will be directed to conserve, protect, and enhance native fish, wildlife and recreational resources, among others.”
-Peter Arlein. “Permanent protection for the Dolores River is Biden’s opportunity to secure a conservation legacy: The river sustains communities and exemplifies the power of our natural places.” Colorado Newsline: 12/14/23.
-“CO BHA Legislative Statement: Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Support Colorado Outdoor Recreation & Economy (CORE) Act & Dolores River National Conservation Area And Special Management Area Act.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 7/12/23.
-There’s another/related effort to create a larger Dolores Canyons National Monument in Colorado’s Mesa and Montrose counties: https://www.protectthedolores.org/
-Ashleigh Tucker. “‘Protect entire Dolores River Canyon Country as national monument.’” The Durango Herald: 8/4/23.
National Monuments
-Katie McKalip. “Administration Designates Grand Canyon Monument.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 8/8/23.
-Nathan Rees. “A Grander Canyon: Newest national monument designated this week in Arizona.” Trout Unlimited: 8/10/23.
-Katie McKalip. “National Monuments, A Net Gain for Hunters and Anglers.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 7/27/23.
-Drew YoungeDyke. “A Monumental Win for Fishing and Hunting.” Trout Unlimited: 7/27/23.
-Noah Davis. “National Monuments, A Net Gain for Hunters and Anglers.” Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership: 7/27/23.
-Amber Kornak. “Hunt-Fish Community Outlines Principles And Priorities For National Monuments.” National Deer Association: 8/4/23.
-Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) Report. “Hunter & Angler Tenets for New Monuments.” BHA: 10/12/22.
-Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. “Hunting National Monuments.” BHA National Monument Hunting & Fishing Maps (for six Western national monuments): 2017.
-David A. Lien. “Antiquities Act protects hunting and angling on public lands.” Greeley Tribune: 4/26/17.
-“National Monuments Report.” Backcountry Hunters & Angers: 2/19/16.
-“Conserving large tracts of undeveloped public lands as national monuments is essential to America’s hunting and fishing traditions.” –John Gale, former BHA Conservation Director[22]
Corner Crossing
-Thomas Plank. “BHA Ramps up Defense of Public Access in ‘Corner Crossing’ Case.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 1/18/24.
-Thomas Plank. “Corner Crossing Lawsuit Update: The Brief Defending Access to Public Lands.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 1/11/24.
-Angus M. Thuermer Jr. “Coalition representing 4 million members backs corner-crossing hunters.” WyoFile: 1/17/24.
Public Lands/Bad Ideas
-Conservation Lands Foundation (CLF). “New attacks on public lands emerge in Congress.” CLF: 11/17/23.
-Kaden McArthur. “New HOUSES Act Still a Threat to Our Public Lands.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 10/30/23.
-Katie McKalip. “House Appropriations Makes Drastic, Reckless Funding Cuts to Public Lands Management.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 7/20/23.
-David A. Lien “Selling off our public lands is a bad idea that won’t die.” VailDaily: 1/29/23.
-For more about the ongoing efforts by some legislators in Congress (and others) to privatize our public lands estate see the “Bad Ideas” section (scroll to end) in: “A Hunter-Angler (Hell-Raisin’ & Habitat Savin’) Guide To Winning: Colorado BHA Examples (Browns Canyon & Camp Hale).” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 10/23/23.
Public Lands/BLM/Partnerships
-“On Dec. 14, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted to advance six pieces of legislation that would conserve landscapes Backcountry Hunters & Anglers considers high-priority because they hold valuable fish and wildlife habitat across the western United States. In total, the six bills supported by BHA would permanently conserve 2.5 million acres of public lands and protect more than 1,000 miles of wild and scenic rivers.”[23]
-Kaden McArthur. “Senate Committee Advances Legislation to Conserve Public Lands.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 12/15/23.
-BLM Colorado (8/24/23). “Big Game Habitat Conservation.”
-Liz Rose. “Hunters, Anglers, and Other Wildlife Conservationists Ready to Ensure Colorado Deer, Elk, Pronghorn, and Bighorn Sheep Habitats Are Conserved and Enhanced Statewide.” Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership: 11/9/23.
-Kate Mackay. “Big Game Migrations, Habitat May Benefit with Draft Colorado Plan.” The Wilderness Society: 11/9/23.
-Brittany Sprout. “BLM welcomes comments on draft plan for big game habitat conservation in Colorado.” Bureau of Land Management: 11/8/23.
-Conservation Lands Foundation (CLF). “New attacks on public lands emerge in Congress.” CLF: 11/17/23.
-Katie McKalip. “BHA Enters into New Partnership with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 9/20/23.
-Eric Galatas. “Hunters, Anglers Get $2.5 Million to Restore Migration Corridors.” Public News Service: 9/18/23.
-Helen Neville. “Biodiversity needs a chance to flourish on BLM Lands.” Trout: 9/13/23.
-Katie McKalip. “BHA Receives $2.5 Million from BLM to Fuel Habitat Stewardship Work.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 9/6/23.
Mining/Clean Water
-“Local View: Clean water, freedom ought to trump foreign-owned mines.” Duluth News Tribune: 1/11/24.
-“Local View: Greed never sleeps, so mining proposals persist near the Boundary Waters.” Duluth News Tribune: 12/2/23.
-“Saying no to sulfide mining a no-brainer for veterans.” Duluth News Tribune: 10/21/23.
-BHA Armed Forces Initiative (10/18/23). “Today we celebrate the 51st anniversary of the Clean Water Act, passed 18 October 1972. This monumental act has shaped our public waters for over half a century, ensuring we have rivers, lakes and activities for generations to come.”
-“Local View: Don't buy 'alternative facts' on mining near BWCAW.” Duluth News Tribune: 8/31/23.
-“Bad ideas, like selling ore to China, never die.” Duluth News Tribune: 7/29/23.
-Katie McKalip. “Supreme Court Rules Against Clean Water, Wetlands.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 5/26/23.
CPW Commission Engagement
-Commission meetings/information: https://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/pages/commission.aspx
-Sportsperson’s Roundtable and Caucuses: Attend a meeting near you! Regional Caucus meetings are open to all sportspersons and give an opportunity to meet with CPW staff and caucus delegates to discuss hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreation in Colorado. https://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/Roundtable.aspx
2024 Events (Upcoming)
-Upcoming CO BHA Events: https://www.backcountryhunters.org/co_upcoming_events
-Upcoming BHA Armed Forces Initiative (AFI) Events: https://www.backcountryhunters.org/events_afi
Other/Related Information
-Check out BHA’s North American Action Map, tracking/highlighting examples of our accomplishments as an organization across the continent.
-See our Take Action Center to stay engaged on legislation in your area.
-BHA Stewardship: https://www.backcountryhunters.org/stewardship
-Gift a BHA membership.
-BHA Membership Specials: https://www.backcountryhunters.org/free
-All Things Colorado BHA: https://www.backcountryhunters.org/colorado
-Upcoming CO BHA Events: https://www.backcountryhunters.org/co_upcoming_events
-Upcoming BHA Armed Forces Initiative (AFI) Events: https://www.backcountryhunters.org/events_afi
Related Information/Resources
-“Stalking Wildness: BHA’s Wilderness Warriors.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 2/13/24.
-“Public Lands (& Freedom) Unite Our Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Tribe.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 1/5/24.
-“A Hunter-Angler (Hell-Raisin’ & Habitat Savin’) Guide To Winning: Colorado BHA Examples (Browns Canyon & Camp Hale).” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 10/23/23.
-“Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: Mission, Issues & Actions (Triads).” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 8/17/23.
-“Minnesota BHA North Country Icebreaker (‘Stoke The Fire,’ But Don’t Burn Out!).” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 3/11/23.
-“Armed Forces Initiative Helps Veterans Hunt … And More.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 8/17/22.
-“It’s All About The Meat.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 2/17/22.
-“Conservation (& Conciliation).” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 9/15/21.
-“Colorado BHA State Chapter Leadership (Triad) Structure.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 7/26/21.
-“Hunting For Experience: At BHA’s North American Rendezvous.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 7/9/21.
-“BHA State Chapter Development (Recruiting/Retaining Leaders & Avoiding Burnout).” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 6/1/21.
-“The ABCs Of LTEs: Writing Letters To The Editor.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 2/5/21.
-“Empowering Leaders: It’s In BHA’s DNA.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 1/7/21.
-“A Letter from CO Co-Chair David Lien.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 12/18/20.
-“Where Hope Lives: A Brief BHA History.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 11/30/20.
-“Looking back, looking forward: A brief history of BHA.” https://www.backcountryhunters.org/about
2023 Events/Projects (Completed)
-Brien Webster. “Upslope Brewing Co & onX Present: Pints for Public Lands (1/26/23).” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 12/20/22.
-Join the Northern Colorado Chapter of BHA at Grimm Brothers Brewhouse on Feb. 2, 2023.
-Volunteer to Help Our Local Wildlife–Friday Feb 3, 2023. WSCC is partnering with Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Backcountry Hunters and Anglers to remove unneeded elk fencing throughout the Valley.
-“Conservation Roundtable and Community Update 2-3-23.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 1/20/23.
-“Conservation Roundtable and Community Update 3-2-23.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 1/20/23.
-“Conservation Roundtable and Community Update 4-6-23.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 1/20/23.
-Andrew Hahne. “Ramblebine Brewery Pint Night (2/16/23).” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 1/26/22.
-Upslope Brewing Company in Boulder (3/22/23 @ 6-9 p.m.): Fly Tying Food Drive. Join us for an evening of fly tying at Upslope Brewery.
-Chris Slaughter. “Ice Fishing on Lake Dillon (March 26).” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 3/1/23.
-“Colorado BHA Summit County Icefishing Event: ‘A great day on the water … even if it was frozen!’” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 3/31/23.
-“Join the Colorado Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers on April 20 at Bent Barley Brewing in Aurora, CO (Southlands Mall).
-“Join us April 22-23 for some fence pulling grouse viewing in Maybell, CO.
-Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (5/22/23). “Colorado BHA Chapter Fence Pull near Meeker and Maybell, CO (includes lek footage).”
-BHA is working with Denver Parks and Recreation to host a river cleanup event along the South Platte River Trail (on May 7).
-Join CO BHA’s Armed Forces Initiative for a pint night at Trinity Brewing Company in Colorado Springs on May 9.
-Colorado BHA Public Lands Day Bash (“Beers, Bands & Barbed Wire Strands”) in Gunnison photos (May 19-21, 2023).
-Join the Northern Colorado Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers at Grimm Brothers Brewhouse on June 1, 2023
-“You’re Invited to the 14th Annual Colorado BHA Rendezvous (June 9-11).” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 5/11/23.
-Join Colorado BHA’s Armed Forces Initiative for a pint night at 105 West Brewing Company in Castle Rock (June 12).
-Colorado BHA AFI (5/23/23). “Come join us on June 17 for an Archery Skills clinic at Skyline Hunting and Fishing club in Littleton, CO.
-“Bellyache Fence Removal: Eagle, CO (June 17).” Backcountry Hunters: 6/17/23.
-Katie DeLorenzo. “Fire Ring Dispersal Project (June 23-24).” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 5/10/23.
-Conservation Roundtable: Grimm Brothers Brewhouse (Loveland): 7/6/23.
-BHA Armed Forces Initiative. “Come learn the basics of Backcountry Horsemanship from AFI Board Member and owner of @ruggedmountainoutfitters Mitch Vazquez (on July 8).”
-Join BHA and Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) for a weekend of fence pulling, camping, community, and delicious food at the Cimarron State Wildlife Area July 8 & 9.
-“Northern CO Full Draw Film Tour (July 12).” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 6/21/23.
-“Thompson Divide Fence Removal with Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (July 15).” Glenwood Springs (Colo.) Post-Independent: June 2023.
-“3rd Annual Sportsman’s Volunteer Day (7/15/23).” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 6/9/23.
-Join us in building low tech ‘stick and stone’ structures for restoring a degraded riparian system (Gunnison: July 15, 2023).
-“Brush Creek Open Space Fence Pull Series (July 18).” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 1/26/23.
-“Trivia Night Presented By Harvesting Nature And Colorado BHA (July 21).”
-“Brush Creek Open Space Fence Pull Series: July 26 Eagle, CO.”
-Durango (7/6/23): https://www.mountainstudies.org/events/msi-bighorn-monitoring-program-2023-update-1
-“Colorado BHA AFI 3D Open (on 7/29/23).” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 6/8/23.
-Join us (July 29-30) in a collaborative effort with RMEF in removing fencing in important winter range for elk near the Pumphouse Recreation Area.
-Conservation Roundtable and Community Update (8/3/23): Loveland, Colorado.
-Brush Creek Open Space Fence Pull Series (8/1/23): Eagle, Colorado.
-Crested Butte Land Trust Fence Pull (8/1/23).
August 1-Brush Creek Open Space Fence Pull; August 3-Conservation Roundtable; August 12-Bellyache Fence Removal; August 12-Ft. Carson AFI Hunting 101; August 12-Poudre River Fest; August 13-AFI Archery Skills Clinic; August 19-Harrigan Creek Fence Pull; August 19-AFI South Park Fence Pull; August 20-Clear Creek River Cleanup; August 22-Grossen Bart Pint Night; August 27, 28-Sutey Ranch Fence Pull.
-October 21, 2023 - October 22, 2023: Stub Creek Cabin, Canyon Lakes Ranger District of Roosevelt National Forest in Laporte, CO.
-Colorado BHA (10/27/23). “The Bighorn Celebration event will be held in Durango, November 7th at the Doubletree Durango from 5:30 to 7:30pm. Come learn more about bighorns, the threats they face and a path forward.”
-Bryan Jones. “CO BHA MeatEater Trivia Pint Night (on Thursday, Nov. 30th) in Longmont, Presented by OnX.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 11/3/23.
-“Seek Outside/BHA Hunting Season Celebration (Dec. 15 in Grand Junction).” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers.
-Colorado BHA (10/23/23). “Members of our Colorado State University Collegiate Club recently went to the Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge to survey and inventory fence lines.”
Founded by Mike Beagle, a former U.S. Army field artillery officer, and formed around an Oregon campfire, in 2004, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is the voice for our nation’s wild public lands, waters and wildlife. With members spread out across all 50 states and 13 Canadian provinces and territories—including chapters in 48 states, two Canadian provinces and one territory, and Washington, D.C.—BHA brings an authentic, informed, boots-on-the-ground voice to the conservation of public lands. The Colorado BHA chapter was founded by David Petersen (a former U.S. Marine Corps helicopter pilot) in 2005 (the first official BHA chapter).
[1] Kris Hess. “CO BHA Publishes Memo on Illegal Trails.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 8/24/22.
[2] John Chandler. “Fence Removal: Beers, Bands, And Barbed Wire Strands.” Savage Arms Blog: 9/28/23. https://savagearms.com/blog?p=fence-removal-beers-bands-and-barbed-wire-strands
[3] https://www.backcountryhunters.org/our_issues
[4] Ron Spomer is a hunting writer, conservationist, and photographer.
[5] Trevor Hubbs, BHA Armed Forces Initiative (AFI) Coordinator. “Lethal Minds Journal Volume 13.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 8/17/23. https://www.backcountryhunters.org/lethal_minds_journal_volume_13
[6] Will Bostwick. “The New Documentary ‘Public Trust’ Is a Call to Action: By highlighting three potent public-lands battles, the film asks audiences to take a stand in a political moment that threatens the future of American conservation.” Outside: 2/19/20.
[7] David A. Lien. “Fighting to keep public lands in public hands.” Grand Junction (Colo.) Daily Sentinel: 1/26/23.
[8] Land Tawney, BHA President and CEO. “Thank You.” Backcountry Journal: Fall 2023, p. 3.
[9] David A. Lien. “Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Increase Reward For Illegal Trail Construction (Help Stop Trail Building ‘Free-For-All’).” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 4/10/23; Kris Hess/Brien Webster. “CO BHA Publishes Memo on Illegal Trails.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 8/24/22; David A. Lien. “More trails a slippery slope to less hunting.” Grand Junction (Colo.) Daily Sentinel: 12/9/21.
[10] https://www.backcountryhunters.org/fair_chase
[11] Jim Posewitz. Beyond Fair Chase. Helena, Montana: Falcon Publishing, Inc., 1994, p. 40.
[12] Douglas S. Barasch. “Saying the ‘C-Word’: Conservation, finally, comes into vogue.” Onearth: Spring 2006, p. 3.
[13] Colorado BHA Co-Chair David A. Lien quoted in/by: Dennis Anderson. “Opinions vary on using drones for hunting.” Minneapolis-St. Paul (Minn.) StarTribune: 3/17/14.
[14] Thomas Plank. “Three elevated to key front line roles at BHA.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 11/15/23.
[15] Thomas Plank. “Three elevated to key front line roles at BHA.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 11/15/23.
[16] Trevor Hubbs. “AFI Boundary Waters 2022: As seen in Oct-Dec issue of FlyFisherman Magazine.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 10/2/23. https://www.backcountryhunters.org/afi_boundary_waters_2022
[17] Trevor Hubbs. “AFI Boundary Waters 2022: As seen in Oct-Dec issue of FlyFisherman Magazine.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 10/2/23. https://www.backcountryhunters.org/afi_boundary_waters_2022
[18] Will Bostwick. “The New Documentary 'Public Trust' Is a Call to Action: By highlighting three potent public-lands battles, the film asks audiences to take a stand in a political moment that threatens the future of American conservation.” Outside: 2/19/20.
[19] Bryan Jones. “CO BHA Leads the Effort on Public Hunting and Fishing Access to Indemnity Lands.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 11/27/23.
[20] Jason Blevins. “Ban on hunting mountain lions and bobcats in Colorado could land on 2024 ballot.” The Colorado Sun: 10/3/23.
[21] Jason Blevins. “Ban on hunting mountain lions and bobcats in Colorado could land on 2024 ballot.” The Colorado Sun: 10/3/23.
[22] Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA). “BHA Maps Hunting Opportunity in At-Risk National Monuments.” AmmoLand.com: 11/17/17.
[23] Kaden McArthur. “Senate Committee Advances Legislation to Conserve Public Lands.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 12/15/23.
About David Lien