The Colorado chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) appointed John Young to serve as an Assistant Regional Director for the Central West Slope region.
John grew up fishing across New England, mostly flat water and fly fishing bigger rivers. He’s an Operations Director for the Telluride Ski Resort, has served on the Telluride Ecology Commission, and studied forestry and ag science at the University of Vermont. “Growing up in New England, vast public land and water access was always very coveted,” John said. “Becoming a resident of Colorado has been a real dream come true for me.”
“My Grandfather was my hunting mentor in Michigan, upland birds strictly. He also raised homing pigeons, exotic pheasants, and peacocks along with a rotating cast of hunting dogs,” John added. “My hunting passion really evolved when I moved to Colorado in 2009, getting more into turkey hunting then all order of big game. I fish year round, hunt and trap whatever is in season, and caretake a 200 acre ranch where my wife and I keep a large garden, tabs on the wildlife, and an extensive bird count.” 
Public lands and waters are both where John works (i.e., he helps manage the ski resort National Forest Special Use Permit) and where he spends his recreational time hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, foraging, skiing, biking, and camping. “Through my experiences as an operationally minded individual,” John explained, “I have never encountered a project I could not work through.”
John currently lives in Placerville with his wife and their dog Stacks. He’s a Lifetime BHA Member and plans to get more involve with the local trails organization in Rico, where they will be moving in 2026.
Are you interested in serving on the Colorado BHA Chapter Leadership Team? Learn more about our volunteer opportunities here.
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.[1] With members spread out across all 50 states and 13 Canadian provinces and territories—including chapters in 49 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 “Elkheart” Petersen (a former U.S. Marine Corps helicopter pilot) in 2005 (the first official BHA chapter)[2]
[1] David A. Lien. “Freedom & Fire: A Brief BHA History II.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 2/24/25.
[2] David A. Lien. “Where Hope Lives: A Brief BHA History.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 11/30/20.
About David Lien