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]

“One of the best parts about BHA to me is that Backcountry Hunters & Anglers allows for a lot of interpretation … BHA is a pretty wide-open slate … If it benefits public lands and access, or serves as stewardship for wildlife habitat and fisheries, there’s a real good chance they support it.” -John Chandler, Savage Arms Blog[2]

-“Colorado BHA Q3 2023 Update.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 8/3/23.

-“Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: Mission, Issues & Actions (Triads).” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 8/17/23.

-BHA Stewardship: https://www.backcountryhunters.org/stewardship

-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.

-“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)

-“For the past decade, BHA has enjoyed the role of upstart conservation group, and has attracted tens of thousands of millennials and Gen-Zers to its ranks while other groups become increasingly gray around the muzzle.” -Rob Drieslein, Outdoor News publisher (7/28/23)[3]

-Travis Bradford. “2023 BHA Membership Survey Results.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 9/29/23.

Issues Triad (PAF)[4]

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.”[5] 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.”[6]
2. Access & Opportunity. We are intent on keeping public lands in public hands.[7] 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.”[8]
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.[9] 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.”[10] As America’s first conservationists, hunters have a century-old tradition of policing our own ranks.[11]

Top Chapter Highlights (Q4)

-Janet George was appointed to serve as an Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest Habitat Watch Volunteer.

-Paul Painter was appointed to serve as Denver Metro Area Work Projects Liaison.

-The chapter issued a Legislative Statement in support of the Colorado Outdoor Recreation & Economy (CORE) Act & Dolores River National Conservation Area And Special Management Area Act.

-Britt Parker, BHA’s habitat stewardship coordinator in Colorado, is featured in BHA Podcast & Blast, Ep. 165.

“Our most important asset is our volunteers.”

Chapter News

What Has BHA/CO BHA Done For Me?

-“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 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.

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 staffers based in Colorado include: John Gale (vice president of policy and government relations); Britt Parker (Habitat Stewardship Coordinator); and Bryan Jones, BHA Colorado/Wyoming Chapter Coordinator.

David “Elkheart” Petersen (a former U.S. Marine Corps helicopter pilot) started the first BHA state chapter in Colorado. David is also one of North America’s most renowned hunting ethicists and trad bow elk hunters and his writings (in part) inspired Mike Beagle to start BHA. A documentary film, “On the Wild Edge: Hunting for A Natural Life,” about his life and love of hunting and all things wild is available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/-IE58L4bqEA. Also see: 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

-Katie McKalip. “BHA Statement on Montana Gubernatorial Race, Busse Candidacy.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 9/19/23.

-Mike Beagle (BHA founder) worked for TU during the early days along with Colorado BHA founder David “Elkheart” Petersen and multiple other BHA board members over the years.

-“David Petersen might have put it best, writing in his book of hunting essays, Heartsblood: ‘Traditional archery is to hunting as fly casting is to fishing—each is the quietest, most artful, most personal and engaging expression of its genre.’”[12]  

-Drew YoungeDyke. “Of Sticks and Strings: Public Lands support the underlying spirit of traditional bowhunting and fly fishing.” Trout: 9/20/23.

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.

-“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.

-“Winter Newsletter (Colorado BHA).” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 12/23/22.

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

-Fort Carson AFI: Jonathan Dotson (President); Sean Stockmoe (VP); Bob Heckman (Secretary).

-CO BHA Armed Forces Initiative (AFI) Liaison (Matt Lee, Lakewood): [email protected];

-Check out the Colorado AFI Club Instagram page @colorado_bha_afi.

-“The Armed Forces Initiative tore down 1-mile fence opening up migration routes for deer, and elk in a region that typically kills 30+cervids annually. The area chosen to work allows critical access to winter feed and water while in their winter range.”

-Trevor Hubbs. “CO AFI Pulls Fence.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 10/3/23.

-“The Armed Forces initiative has state-based volunteer leaders in forty-six states (we need help in  Hawaii, Iowa, Indiana, and New Jersey) with twenty-six active-duty installation clubs teaching veterans and active-duty military members to recreate outdoors at over 130 events annually … The BHA mission is all of ours.”[13]

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

-“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.”[14] 

-“… 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 …”[15]

-Trevor Hubbs. “AFI Boundary Waters 2022: As seen in Oct-Dec issue of FlyFisherman Magazine.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 10/2/23.

-Trevor Hubbs. “AFI Snow Goose Hunt As Seen in Shooting Sportsman.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 10/2/23.

-BHA Fort Carson Armed Forces Initiative (AFI) “Colorado Hunting 101” seminar (photos) at Archery School of the Rockies in Colorado Springs (8/12/23).

-“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.

Bighorn Sheep

-“CO BHA supports the Vail Bighorn Sheep Initiative.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 9/30/23.

-Travis Duncan. “Colorado Bighorn Sheep Management 2023.” Colorado Outdoors: 8/31/23.

-Colorado Parks and Wildlife. “‘Livin' the Wildlife' Bighorn Sheep in Colorado.”

-Travis Duncan. “Colorado Bighorn Sheep Management 2023.” Colorado Outdoors: 8/31/23.

-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 Success (Stay Tuned for 2024 Updates!)

-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”). Thank you Planning Committee members (Britt Parker, John Chandler, Derek Pankratz, Leslie Kaminski, Chris Parmeter, Kyle Vistuba, Kassi Smith, Amber Leach and Christian Robertson) and everyone else who helped make this event a resounding success!

-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.”

-Also see: “Member of the Month: John Chandler.” Backcountry Beat: May 2023.

-Colorado BHA Public Lands Day Bash (“Beers, Bands & Barbed Wire Strands”) in Gunnison photos (May 19-21, 2023).

Mountain Lions

-“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.”[16]

-“‘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.’”[17]

-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.

-Hunting is Human-Colorado Focus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CO4GGifc1Xk

Trails vs. Elk

-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

-In August a federal appeals court halted a proposed railway that would carry crude oil from Utah through Colorado, finding the government’s environmental assessment did not adequately consider impacts to “downline” communities and natural resources in Colorado. Colorado BHA had previously expressed concerns about the unwanted impacts this railway could have in our home state of Colorado. If approved, the route along the Colorado River and the Arkansas River through Browns Canyon could see an estimated three to ten more trips a day for crude oil transport. Crude oil train cars tend to be longer, heavier, and more difficult to control, increasing the potential of track failure in this mountainous region which is prone to severe weather. This project would pose an unacceptable threat to our cherished waterways, landscapes, and wildlife which contribute millions of dollars to our state economy.

-Samuel Shaw. “Federal court derails proposed Utah oil railroad: Failures to assess risks to Colorado River and ‘numerous NEPA violations’ in project’s impact analysis highlighted.” High Country News: 8/23/23.

-You can learn more about Colorado BHA’s position on the Uinta Basin Railway project here: Brittany Parker. “CO BHA Comments On Uinta Basin Railway Project.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 2/14/22.

-Katie McKalip. “Alaska Public Lands, Habitat Conserved Following Administration Action: Oil and gas leases cancelled in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, conservation activities prioritized in the National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska, Indigenous rights elevated in fish- and wildlife-rich Arctic region.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 9/6/23.

-Tasha Sorensen. “BLM proposes saving the best of the West through oil and gas leasing reform.” Trout Unlimited: 8/3/23.

CO-OP Regional Partnerships

-Consider serving on a CO-OP Regional Partnerships (there are 16 Partnerships throughout the state, as of 7/30/23): https://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/Regional-Partnerships-Initiative.aspx

--Also see 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]) currently serves on the Ouray Regional Recreation and Conservation Alliance (ORRCA) Regional Partnership (#7 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.

Delores River National Conservation Area (NCA)

-“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.”

-“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.

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, BHA Conservation Director[18]

Elk Hunting/Tags/Matt Rinella

-“Colorado Over-The-Counter (OTC) Unit Elk Hunting: Hope Is Not A Strategy.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 8/29/23.

-Colorado BHA Co-Chair David Lien wrote this piece for Bugle magazine almost a decade ago: “Peak Elk Hunting.” Bugle: September/October 2013, p. 64.

-Hunt Quietly Talk: Matt Rinella Speaks to Pope & Young (5/1/23).

-PLJ Admin. “Colorado Sells More Nonresident Elk Tags than all Seven Western States Combined.” PublicLandJurisdiction.com (PLJ): 8/22/23.

-Many of us have experienced crowding and limited opportunity when hunting on public land. As pressure on wildlife grows from multiple sources, how Colorado allocates big game licenses is more important than ever. Tag structure was a focus of the Colorado Parks & Wildlife Commission’s August meetings in Steamboat Springs. Data presented there showed alarming trends in the balance between resident and non-resident tags, overall trends in non-resident tags, and the amount of pressure on wildlife relative to other Western states. Colorado has the greatest elk hunting pressure based on the number of tags per acre of public land, and also allocates limited elk tags to non-residents at double the rate of any Western state.

-Colorado BHA is actively engaged in these discussions, working to ensure a balance of opportunities for all hunters and tag allocations and season structures that put the best interests of wildlife first. We encourage members to get involved as well. You can find additional reference materials from the CPW Commission here, and Colorado BHA’s recent observations on tag allocations here.

Public Lands/Partnerships

-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.

-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.

-Nick Gann. “South Park (Colo.)–not the TV show–goes for gold in new (BLM) resource management plan.” Trout Unlimited: 8/24/23.

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

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

Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA)

-Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA) would dedicate nearly $1.4 billion annually to invest in proactive non-regulatory on both public and private lands. Join BHA in contacting your member of Congress to show your support of this monumental legislation that would dedicate funding for future conservation efforts.

-“Invest in the future of America’s great wildlife legacy.” Capital-Star: 9/1/22.

-“The habitat restoration supported by RAWA will ensure the future of abundant American wildlife, from bumblebees and bison to sandhill cranes and cutthroat trout.”[19]

-Martin Heinrich. “Defending Access and Opportunity in Congress.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 5/11/23.

Mining/Clean Water

-“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.”

-Katie McKalip. “Supreme Court Rules Against Clean Water, Wetlands.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 5/26/23.

-“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.

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

2023/2024 Events (Upcoming)

-Brian Mozey. “Twin Cities to host Backcountry Hunters and Anglers’ 2024 National Rendezvous.” Outdoor News: 8/25/23.

-Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) will celebrate its 20^th anniversary (2004-2024) next year at the North American Rendezvous in Minnesota. We celebrated BHA’s 10^th anniversary at the 2014 North American Rendezvous in Denver. See related photos/video here: BHA 2014 North American Rendezvous Rewind (video); BHA North American Rendezvous in Denver (photos): March 2014.

-Upcoming CO BHA Events: https://www.backcountryhunters.org/co_upcoming_events

-Upcoming BHA Armed Forces Initiative (AFI) Events: https://www.backcountryhunters.org/events_afi

-BHA’s North American Rendezvous is making its first appearance east of the Mississippi! Established in 2004, we'll be celebrating 20 years of work on behalf of our public lands, waters, and wildlife at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul. We’ve got more stories to share than lakes in Minnesota and 20 years of our members putting boots on the ground for conservation to celebrate. RSVP TODAY!

Other 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

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

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.

[3] Rob Drieslein, Publisher. “Outdoor Insights.” Outdoor News: 7/28/23, p. 3.

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

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

[6] 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

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

[8] 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.

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

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

[11] 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.

[12] Drew YoungeDyke. “Of Sticks and Strings: Public Lands support the underlying spirit of traditional bowhunting and fly fishing.” Trout: 9/20/23.

[13] 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

[14] 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

[15] 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

[16] Jason Blevins. “Ban on hunting mountain lions and bobcats in Colorado could land on 2024 ballot.” The Colorado Sun: 10/3/23.

[17] Jason Blevins. “Ban on hunting mountain lions and bobcats in Colorado could land on 2024 ballot.” The Colorado Sun: 10/3/23.

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

[19] Martin Heinrich. “Defending Access and Opportunity in Congress.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 5/11/23.