Micah Shanser - Central Rockies Group Regional Director

Micah was born and raised in Northern California, where he grew up exploring the backcountry by foot, bike and on skis. Although he didn’t have hunting mentors in his family, they spent a lot of time skiing, biking and camping. “My family taught me a lot about the woods and adventure,” Micah said.

“My first job was at a local outdoor shop in Squaw Valley, and I started hunting and fishing in college,” Micah explains. He went on to earn a Master’s in Wilderness Therapy and, after college, began guiding backcountry trips for at risk teens in Oregon, Washington and Utah. During his off weeks he worked at a wilderness survival school in Bellingham, Washington. 

Micah and his wife went on to found Restorative Adventures, an outdoor school that taught classes on hunting, tracking and ethnobotany. Today he operates a group of Neurofeedback clinics (“Amazing Brains”) helping people with traumatic brain injuries, PTSD, learning disabilities and peak performance. Micah hunts with bow, rifle and shotgun. He lives in Silverthorne, “right on the boarder of unit 371 and 37.” Contact Micah at: [email protected].

James Donohue - Central Rockies Group Assistant Regional Director

James was born in Concepcion, Chile, but grew up in Denver. He started fishing as a youngster, then (after high school) became interested in bird hunting and, eventually, big game. “I didn’t really have any hunting or fishing mentors growing up,” James said. “I’ve just always felt so fortunate to have so many public lands available, and grew up wanting to know/learn more.”

In 2009, a love for wildlife, skiing, backpacking, bird hunting, fishing and emergency medicine led James from a Front Range laboratory job to the Vail Valley, where he started a career on Vail’s Ski Patrol. Just a hike away, the Eagles Nest and Holy Cross Wilderness quickly became his backyard. “Watching the wildlife while working during the winter months is one of my favorite parts about this job,” James says.

He lives in Minturn and primarily hunts in Eagle County, with rifle and bow. James says he usually fishes “to eat alpine water trout while backpacking.” He also hunts grouse and ducks with his dogs, elk and deer have become new pursuits, and he’s never hiking without binoculars, tracking the animals he helps protect through his conservation efforts. “Emergency medicine and wildlife/land conservation are my passions,” James adds, “and I’m fortunate to now have a hand in both.” Contact James at: [email protected].

Brian Busker - Central Rockies Group Assistant Regional Director

Brian was born and raised in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. He grew up hunting and fishing with his father and grandfather. “I started hunting around 12 years old, mainly for duck, quail and doves,” he said. “I spent much of my youth trolling for game fish such as bluefish, tuna and marlin.” Brian went on to earn a BAS Psychology from the University of Delaware, then transitioned to becoming a Certified Chef from Le Cordon Bleu.

He lives in Vail, is a Chef for Nobu Matsuhisa at Vail and describes himself as a “Husband, Hunter, Forager, Snowboarder, #buskercooks, #chefswhohunt.” “I hunt primarily in Central to Western Colorado,” Brian adds, “for everything from duck, grouse, rabbit, deer, antelope and elk.” He hunts with both bow and rifle. Contact Brian at: [email protected].

For additional information see:

-“Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Appoint Central Rockies Leaders.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 7/9/18.

-“Colorado BHA Central Rockies Group Pint NightA Big Hit.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 7/9/18.

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is the sportsmen’s voice for our wild public lands, waters and wildlife