Austin Motte has been crushing it for the Michigan chapter in 2021. During a COVID-19 complicated year, Austin planned and executed multiple virtual events to bring Michigan BHA members together. As the summer continues, he's been at the forefront of planning for a big in-person event: bringing Ron Boehme of The Hunting Dog Podcast to a Pint Night on July 29.
Austin also volunteered on a work project on which the Michigan chapter partnered with the U.S. Forest Service to remove four miles of dilapidated barbed wire in the Huron-Manistee National Forests and making sure prescribed burns can help regenerate important game, raptor, insect and songbird habitat. Austin exemplifies the hard work BHA chapter leaders put in around the country!
“The Wilbur Creek Fence removal project, completed with the help of BHA, allows the Forest Service to safely plan and conduct prescribed burns in the area,” said Dana Meder, wildlife technician for Mio Ranger District of the Huron-Manistee National Forests. “Helping reduce fuel loads, regenerating the forest and maintaining openings is key to our land management plan.”
Prescribed burns are prime movers for the dense ground-level plant cover that ruffed grouse and American woodcock favor. The burns keep the forests healthy, which, in turn, helps wildlife populations throughout the area.
To learn more about the work BHA chapters are doing on the ground to improve habitat for fish and wildlife, including upland game populations, visit backcountryhunters.org/chapters.