The Colorado chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers appointed Aaron Lingwall to serve as an Assistant Regional Director for the Northern Colorado Group.[1]
Aaron was born and raised in Wahpeton, North Dakota, and spent a lot of time in nearby central Minnesota with extended family. “My brother and I would follow my father afield before we were old enough to carry a firearm,” he said. “We hunted pheasant and waterfowl in North Dakota. Fished for walleye, panfish, and pike and hunted whitetail and grouse in Minnesota. My dad and both of my grandpas were integral figures in raising me with a passion and respect for the outdoors.”
After completing a B.S. in Geology, Aaron worked in that field for about a decade. “A passion for woodworking led me to a management position in the hardwood lumber industry,” he explained. “I have been a manager at Western Hardwoods since 2020.” Most of Aaron’s hunting and fishing takes place in Colorado these days, with occasional trips to Wyoming, Nebraska, and Minnesota to hunt or fish with family.
“I hunt waterfowl, pronghorn, deer, and elk in Colorado,” he added. “I typically target trout and walleye across Colorado and Wyoming. I enjoy ice fishing and often make a trip back to Minnesota in the winter to chase walleye and crappie through the ice.” Aaron hunts most often with a rifle, but also occasionally uses a bow or muzzleloader. “Anything that allows me to get out in the wild more each season,” he said.
Northern Colorado Group Assistant Regional Director Graham Geary said Aaron is “a friend and steadfast conservationist” and “has helped with countless events and been a great addition to the team, truly pulling the rope for wild things and wild places.” Aaron is also a trainee in the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Hunter Ed Volunteer program and hopes to start teaching classes this year.
Aaron attended his first Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) event in Minnesota during 2018 after hearing BHA mentioned multiple times while listening to MeatEater podcasts. He became a member after moving to Colorado in 2018. Aaron lives in Wellington, Colorado.
Additional/Related Information
-Are you interested in serving on the Colorado BHA Chapter Leadership Team? Learn more about our volunteer opportunities here.
-CPW Hunter Education: Become An Instructor. https://cpw.state.co.us/hunting/education-outreach#4257225834-446818417
-The MeatEater Podcast: Latest Episodes. https://www.themeateater.com/listen/meateater
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)
About David Lien