The Colorado chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers recently appointed Dave Deschenes to serve as a Habitat Watch Volunteer (HWV) for the Pike-San Isabel National Forest.

Dave was born and raised in New England (Methuen, Massachusetts) and started fishing and hunting whitetails with his grandfather and a friend who he still hunts with today. “I started angling with my grandfather while I was a kid,” Dave said. “I got very involved in the outdoors and conservation through the Boy Scouts. The Scouts really provided the opportunity to spend time in the outdoors and gain an appreciation and passion for the outdoors and wildlife.”

Today Dave chases trout throughout the western states and hunts turkey, mule deer and elk, primarily with a bow, but he also uses a muzzleloader. Dave works as an executive director for a sports-related nonprofit in the Olympic Space and lives in Colorado Springs. “Being involved with supporting the outdoor movement in Colorado, I wanted to get involved and make a bigger impact,” he said. “I heard about BHA through Colorado Parks and Wildlife.” Dave is also a member of Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and volunteers for CPW’s Raptor Monitor Program.

“Colorado BHA’s growing team of Habitat Watch Volunteers is a testament to our expanding boots on the ground effectiveness across Colorado and the continent,” co-chair Don Holmstrom said. “We’re lucky to have volunteers like Dave leading the way in the Pike-San Isabel National Forest.”

The Colorado BHA chapter’s 45-plus Habitat Watch Volunteers serve as our “eyes and ears” in all eleven Colorado national forests. Contact HWV Program Coordinator Don Holmstrom ([email protected]) for additional information. Also see: Colorado BHA Habitat Watch Volunteer (HWV) program information. 

Additional BHA/Colorado BHA Information:

• Colorado BHA Corporate Partners.
• Hunting For Sustainability (H4S).
• BHA’s Collegiate Program.
• BHA’s Public Waters Access campaign.
• BHA’s Armed Forces Initiative. “Armed Forces Initiative-Get Involved.”
• Backcountry Journal (Winter 2022); (Fall 2021); (Summer 2021); (Spring 2021).
• BHA National Policy Updates (January 2022); (November 2021); (October 2021).
• BHA Chapter Policy Updates (January 2022); (November 2021); (October 2021).
• Colorado BHA Habitat Watch Volunteer (HWV) program information.
• “BHA State Chapter Development (Recruiting/Retaining Leaders & Avoiding Burnout).” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 6/1/21.
• “Empowering Leaders: It’s In BHA’s DNA.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 1/7/21.
• “Where Hope Lives: A Brief BHA History.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 11/30/20.
• “We Are Backcountry Hunters & Anglers.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 3/2/21.
• Check out our Take Action Center and stay engaged on legislation in your area.
• Check out BHA’s North American Action Map, tracking examples of our accomplishments as an organization across the continent.
• David “Elkheart” Petersen (founder of the first BHA state chapter, here in Colorado, and a former U.S. Marine Corps helicopter pilot) books.

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 over 40,000 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. Since the Colorado BHA chapter was founded by David Petersen (a former U.S. Marine Corps helicopter pilot) in 2005 (the first official BHA chapter), they’ve grown their boots-on-the-ground presence to some 2,000 dedicated hunters and anglers.