Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) Vice President of Policy & Government Relations John Gale transitioned to a Senior Executive Service position with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on November 3^rd, 2023. In his new role, John serves as a liaison between the BLM, other federal agencies, and western state and local governments at the Western Headquarters office in Grand Junction, Colorado.[1]

Prior to working for BHA, John worked for both Trout Unlimited and the National Wildlife Federation. In addition, he held several volunteer positions in the Colorado BHA chapter. These included Habitat Watch Volunteer (HWV) for the Roosevelt National Forest, chapter vice chair, and chapter co-chair. John took on the co-chair position after Colorado BHA founder David “Elkheart” Petersen transitioned out of his chapter leadership role.[2]

Later John served on the BHA North American Board before accepting a staff position as Conservation Director (now Vice President of Policy & Government Relations) in 2015, where he (for starters) guided establishing and executing the BHA Policy & Government Relations Strategy. Most recently, during much of 2023, John served as BHA’s Interim CEO.[3]

“It’s been the greatest of honors working beside you all these years and there is a handful of original chapter leaders that even predate my time with BHA (David Lien and Karen Boeger I know you’re reading this!),” John said in an update to BHA staff and volunteers on October 23. “Working for BHA has been an incredibly meaningful part of my career and I have the utmost confidence in our senior staff to continue guiding the organization to new heights.”[4]

“Your leadership, the passionate advocacy of our diverse membership, and our unique boots on the ground approach have contributed to some of the most consequential conservation achievements we have seen in decades,” John added. “I will miss being in the trenches with you all, but I’m proud of all that we’ve accomplished together – and how it was always done with integrity, honor, and even a little fun. I’ll see you around the next campfire.”[5]

Camp Hale

One recent example of those accomplishments here in Colorado was the designation of Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument by President Joe Biden on October 22, 2022.[6] John was there to represent BHA at the announcement. Camp Hale is located in central Colorado between Red Cliff and Leadville in the Eagle River Valley at an elevation of 9,238 feet.[7]

From November 1942 through June 1944 Camp Hale housed 14,000 troops—along with 4,000 mules and 250 sled dogs—of the 10th Mountain Division, who learned to rock climb, perform military maneuvers on skis, and endure a brutal climate in preparation for mountain warfare. Over 18 grueling months soldiers trained to fight at high altitudes.[8]

“Hunters and anglers in Colorado have been working with local communities for more than a decade to permanently conserve these public lands and waters and important fish and wildlife habitat,” John said at the time. “We’re pleased with the administration’s decision to heed the call of millions of citizens and undertake foresighted action in support of these irreplaceable landscapes.”[9]

“The Antiquities Act is a crucial tool to conserve large landscapes, secure important fish and wildlife habitat and uphold hunting and angling opportunities,” John added. “Since it was signed into law by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906, it’s been used by 17 presidents, both Republicans and Democrats, to ensure the long-term conservation of places important to hunters and anglers.”[10]

Enduring Memories

“During February 2019 I was in Washington, D.C. and attended the ‘Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Welcomes the 116th Congress’ reception at the Hart Senate Building (on February 13th),” Colorado BHA Co-Chair David Lien said. “There was an excellent crowd, with a dozen or so U.S. Senators and Representatives in attendance, including (for starters): Lisa Murkowski (AK-R), Martin Heinrich (NM-D), Jon Tester (MT-D), Angus King (Maine-I), Joe Manchin (WV-D), Mike Braun (IN-R) and others.”[11]

“In all, over 300 people gathered in the spirit of bipartisanship to celebrate public lands and waters and, if they didn’t already know us, learn about BHA and its mission,” the BHA Capital Chapter March 2019 Update stated.[12] “One of my enduring memories of John is watching him in action, hosting this event alongside then BHA President and CEO Land Tawney,” David added.

“John effortlessly and expertly mingled and chatted with Senators, Representatives, and their staff as each legislator took the podium to speak to the assembled crowd,” David explained. “He knows how to meld politics and conservation as well as anyone and, as a result, BHA was much more effective at influencing and moving legislation at both the national and state/provincial levels.”

Hunting, angling, conservation, and politics is in John’s blood. He’s a 5th generation Idahoan who grew up hunting and fishing the backcountry with his family. Engaged in politics at a young age, John finished high school early to work in the Idaho State Senate where he became passionate about policy and law. Putting himself through college as a ranger and whitewater river guide, John received his B.S. from the University of Idaho’s College of Natural Resources.[13]

After a two-year stint in Morocco managing land conservation efforts, biodiversity initiatives, and water projects as a Peace Corps Volunteer, John found a niche for his angling habits in Washington, D.C. directing a variety of grassroots conservation programs for Trout Unlimited. Eventually succumbing to the calls of Western topography, he returned to the Rocky Mountains directing strategic partnerships and public lands policy for the National Wildlife Federation.[14]

After joining BHA’s staff as Conservation Director, John directed policy and government relations work across North America, focused on defending our wild public lands, waters and wildlife for future generations. In his personal time, John prefers the solitude of lonely backcountry mountains where the elk bugle and cold streams run with wild trout.[15]

“I think it’s great that John is moving on to this job. While we will dearly miss him, he will take the ethos of BHA on to future conservation work at a higher level,” Colorado BHA Vice Chair-Legislative Liaison Ivan James said. “One of the wonderful things about BHA is that we start training future conservation leaders when they are generally young, thus giving the conservation movement a long window of their productivity. We also seem to attract exceptional new talent … Congratulations John!”

“At the end of the day, retaining high-quality BHA staff for so long is a testament to (first) the quality, dedication and commitment of our members and volunteer leaders (i.e., ‘quality over quantity’) combined with (second) the engaging nature of our public lands-oriented mission,” Colorado BHA Co-Chair Don Holmstrom added.

“Thank you, John, for your dedication, selflessness, guidance and wise counsel to both Colorado BHA leaders and chapters/clubs across North America,” David Lien said. “We hate to see you go, but your excellent conservation work on behalf of our wild public lands, waters, and wildlife will continue with the BLM. Wildlands and wildlife need many more like you brother!”

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers are by design (and default) some of the most knowledgeable, dedicated hunter-angler-conservationists on the continent. We have hard-earned, boots-on-the-ground public lands hunting, angling, and conservation credentials and, hence, credibility. There is no one better suited than BHA members/leaders to work on behalf of “our wild public lands, waters, and wildlife” in public lands agencies. We’ll give John the last word. “I’m grateful for your friendship, mentorship, and advice over the years and look forward to doing more together down the trail,” he added.

Additional/Related Information

-Thomas Plank. “Longtime Policy Expert John Gale to Leave Backcountry Hunters & Anglers for Senior Position with the Bureau of Land Management.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 10/23/23.

-Bureau of Land Management (BLM). “John Gale Selected as Program Executive for Intergovernmental and External Affairs for the BLM Western Headquarters Office: New Senior Executive to provide executive direction, oversight and Evaluation of BLM Intergovernmental and External Affairs.” BLM Press: 10/23/23.

-Christopher Hennessey. “Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Welcomes the 116th Congress.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: February 2019.

-Walker Conyngham. “Capital Chapter Updates March 2019.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: March 2019.

John Gale

-MeatEater Podcast Ep. 11: John Gale.

-John Gale, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Conservation Director. “Carrying on a legacy.” Vail Daily: 9/20/16.

-“Member Profile: John Gale, Colorado.” Backcountry Journal: Spring 2010, p. 12.

-Christen Duxbury. “A TRCP Featured Conservation Leader (John Gale).” Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership: 6/14/09.

John Gale Quotes

-“Wilderness is the best place to hunt and fish, period, bar none. It has the best habitat and the best experience. The adventure begins where the road ends.” –John Gale, Colorado BHA vice chair[16]

-“What’s good for the bird is good for the herd.” –John Gale, BHA Conservation Director

-“Conserving large tracts of undeveloped public lands as national monuments is essential to America’s hunting and fishing traditions.” –John Gale, BHA Conservation Director[17]

-“Backcountry … It’s where I go to get my boots dirty and my soul clean.” –John Gale, BHA Conservation Director

Camp Hale

-“A Hunter-Angler (Hell-Raisin’ & Habitat Savin’) Guide To Winning: Colorado BHA Examples (Browns Canyon & Camp Hale).” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 10/23/23.

-Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument: https://www.fs.usda.gov/visit/camp-hale-continental-divide-national-monument

-Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (10/12/23). It’s been one year since the Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument in Colorado was designated!

-Katie McKalip. “BHA Commends Administration Designation of National Monument in Colorado.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 10/12/22.

-The White House. “A Proclamation on Establishment of the Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument.” Briefing Room-Presidential Actions: 10/12/22.

Bureau of Land Management (BLM)

-Katie McKalip. “BHA Enters into New Partnership with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 9/20/23.

-Katie McKalip. “BHA Receives $2.5 Million from BLM to Fuel Habitat Stewardship Work: Partnership invests Inflation Reduction Act dollars in projects across Western states over five years, benefiting big-game migration corridors and priority habitat for other species, including sage grouse.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 9/6/23.

-Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Press. “Biden-Harris Administration Infuses $28 Million Through Investing In America Agenda For Restoration, Conservation Projects Across America: Funding will support 6 large-scale efforts on BLM-managed public lands.” BLM Press: 9/5/23.

-Brandy Wible. “TWS Addresses Proposed BLM Rulemaking On Conservation And Landscape Health.” The Wildlife Society: 7/11/23

-Liz Rose. “Updated Management Plan for Eastern Colorado BLM Lands Will Benefit Colorado’s Wildlife, Hunters, and Anglers.” TRCP: 7/10/12.

-“A new statistical analysis of more than 150,000 public comments finds nearly universal support for the Bureau of Land Management’s proposed Conservation and Landscape Health Rule, colloquially known as the Public Lands Rule. The Center for Western Priorities … analysis found 92 percent of the comments encouraged the Interior Department to adopt the Public Lands Rule as written or strengthen its conservation measures.”[18]

-Center For Western Priorities (CWP). “Analysis: Public comments overwhelmingly support BLM Public Lands Rule.” CWP: 7/5/23.

-BHA Armed Forces Initiative (AFI). “A proposed rule from the Department of the Interior would balance conservation with other uses of lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). BHA is encouraged by the BLM’s proposed Public Lands Rule, which could have a meaningful impact on fish and wildlife habitat by prioritizing conservation and restoration alongside other types of land use.”

-Dan Parkinson. “Colorado BHA Comments on BLM Public Lands Rule.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 6/21/23.

-Eric Galatas. “BLM Makes Big Investment in Colorado Public Lands.” Public News Service: 6/20/23.

-Athan Manuel. “BLM rulemaking is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape conservation policy: Federal agency could put conservation on equal footing with fossil fuel extraction.” Colorado Newsline: 5/30/23.

-“This framework will give BLM managers the tools they need to manage for intact and resilient landscapes,” said Land Tawney, President and CEO of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers.[19]

-Jordan Sillars. “New BLM Rule Could Fundamentally Change Public Land Management.” MeatEater: 5/17/23.

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers

-“Colorado BHA Habitat Watch Volunteer Program History & Training.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 4/6/20.

-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

-Are you interested in serving on the Colorado BHA Chapter Leadership Team? Learn more about our volunteer opportunities here.

Issues Triad (PAF)[20]

1. 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.”[21] 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.”[22]
2. Access & Opportunity. We are intent on keeping public lands in public hands.[23] 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.”[24]
3. 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.[25] 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.”[26] As America’s first conservationists, hunters have a century-old tradition of policing our own ranks.[27]

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] Bureau of Land Management (BLM). “John Gale Selected as Program Executive for Intergovernmental and External Affairs for the BLM Western Headquarters Office: New Senior Executive to provide executive direction, oversight and Evaluation of BLM Intergovernmental and External Affairs.” BLM Press: 10/23/23.

[2] https://davidpetersenbooks.com/

[3] Bureau of Land Management (BLM). “John Gale Selected as Program Executive for Intergovernmental and External Affairs for the BLM Western Headquarters Office: New Senior Executive to provide executive direction, oversight and Evaluation of BLM Intergovernmental and External Affairs.” BLM Press: 10/23/23.

[4] John Gale. “Note from John Gale.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 10/23/23.

[5] Ibid.

[6] The White House. “A Proclamation on Establishment of the Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument.” Briefing Room-Presidential Actions: 10/12/22.

[7] https://www.fs.usda.gov/visit/camp-hale-continental-divide-national-monument

[8] David A. Lien. “Final steps for crucial preservation of over 400,000 acres in Colorado: The CORE Act would honor Cape Hale legacy and provide important habitat protections for wildlife.” Colorado Newsline: 7/27/22.

[9] Katie McKalip. “BHA Commends Administration Designation of National Monument in Colorado.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 10/12/22.

[10] Ibid.

[11] Christopher Hennessey. “Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Welcomes the 116th Congress.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: February 2019.

[12] Walker Conyngham. “Capital Chapter Updates March 2019.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: March 2019.

[13] Rachael Schmidt. “Campfire Conversations: A BHA Campfire Circle and Life Member Event.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 11/19/21.

[14] Ibid.  

[15] Ibid.

[16] Paul Tolme. “Ah, Wilderness.” National Wildlife: October/November 2014, p. 31.

[17] Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA). “BHA Maps Hunting Opportunity in At-Risk National Monuments.” AmmoLand.com: 11/17/17.

[18] Center For Western Priorities (CWP). “Analysis: Public comments overwhelmingly support BLM Public Lands Rule.” CWP: 7/5/23.

[19] Jordan Sillars. “New BLM Rule Could Fundamentally Change Public Land Management.” MeatEater: 5/17/23.

[20] https://www.backcountryhunters.org/our_issues

[21] Ron Spomer is a hunting writer, conservationist, and photographer.

[22] Trevor Hubbs, BHA Armed Forces Initiative (AFI) Coordinator. “Lethal Minds Journal Volume 13.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 8/17/23.

[23] David A. Lien. “Fighting to keep public lands in public hands.” Grand Junction (Colo.) Daily Sentinel: 1/26/23.

[24] 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.

[25] https://www.backcountryhunters.org/fair_chase

[26] Jim Posewitz. Beyond Fair Chase. Helena, Montana: Falcon Publishing, Inc., 1994, p. 40.

[27] 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.