BHA Beer Dinner Recap

 A Night of Conservation, Community, and Culinary Delights

Darren Bruning, Deputy Director of Wildlife Conservation presenting on Wood Bison Restoration in Alaska

The Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) Beer Dinner, held on October 26, 2024, at Forbidden Peak Brewery in Juneau, Alaska, was an evening to remember! With conservation at the forefront, the event brought together hunters, anglers and other outdoor enthusiasts, foodies, and advocates for wildlife conservation and hunting opportunities to share a gourmet experience and celebrate and learn more about a conservation success story of an iconic species, and BHA’s impactful work in Alaska, which is expanding in scope.

An Evening of Flavors and Fun

The evening kicked off at 5:30 PM with a warm welcome to the Forbidden Peak Brewery Taproom. Guests indulged in a four-course buffet-style meal catered by Red Spruce, with bison as the highlighted ingredient, as well as local fish and flavor thanks to Alaska Glacier Seafoods. Each dish was expertly paired with a selection of Forbidden Peak's finest brews, offering a perfect blend of taste and creativity.

From the first bite to the last sip, attendees were treated to a local culinary journey that celebrated Alaska’s wild flavors. As a bonus, each guest received a beverage of their choice on BHA, four six-ounce beer pours, and a raffle ticket for a chance to win incredible prizes from event sponsors like Alaska Knifeworks and AKTIS Blacktail Deer Calls, Pavitts Gym, Western Auto Marine and more!

Conservation at the Core

A key moment of the evening was a presentation by Darren Bruning, ADF&G’s Deputy Director of Wildlife Conservation. Bruning captivated the audience with his inspiring talk on the reintroduction of wood bison to Alaska. His work, which has brought this species back after over a century of absence, exemplifies the importance of conservation and habitat restoration. Guests learned about the challenges and triumphs of this initiative and left with a deeper appreciation for Alaska’s unique environments and restoration opportunities.

Community and Prizes

The energy of the evening was elevated by highlighting Alaska BHA’s two Alaska Governor’s Tags (Copper River Bison (SI454) and Chugach Brown Bear (SB470) ) to raffle for 2025-2026 Hunt Seasons. For those who joined or renewed their BHA membership during the event, onX Hunt provided a free one-year Premium One State Membership, a fantastic resource for hunters and outdoor enthusiasts.

Raffle Prize Winners (above)

A Gathering of Community

This event was more than just a dinner—it was a gathering of like-minded individuals committed to conserving Alaska’s wild public lands. Attendees walked away with not only full bellies a take-home Public Lands Camo Pale Beer, door and raffle prizes as well information on important conservation stories and projects of Alaska.

Special Thanks

A heartfelt thank you to Forbidden Peak Brewery, Red Spruce, Darren Bruning, Deputy Director of Wildlife Conservation at Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game, our sponsors, and all who attended. Your support makes conservation efforts like these possible. If you missed this one, stay tuned for more events in the future and next year’s BHA Beer Dinner in Juneau. Want to see this event in other regions in the state? Become and event volunteer and help us launch! To express interest, please email us at [email protected].

Together, we’re making a meaningful impact on Alaska’s landscapes, wild public lands and wildlife for generations to come.

AK BHA Chapter Chair, Juneau based board members, Darren Bruning, and AK BHA Chapter Coordinator.