The Colorado chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) has been holding Pint Nights and other events and activities across the state. For example, on March 30 we held our first “Kids on Ice” event, that included free ice fishing for kids 13 and under at the Dillon Reservoir. We’ve also organized multiple Hike to Hunt & Fish (H2HF) ice fishing outings and held numerous Pint Nights and related events in locales across the state, including: Wheat Ridge, Colorado Springs, Almont, Durango, Parker, Minturn, Hotchkiss and Fruita, with many more to follow.

One recent Pint Night was held at Downhill Brewing Company in Parker, where we celebrated our new members along with our great public lands, waters and wildlife heritage. Colorado BHA members and prospective members had a chance to hear from local board members and other chapter leaders, including important updates on how to get involved locally. Just as important, everyone was able to share a beer (or two) with friends.

“A huge thanks to everyone who came out to the Parker Pint Night with Downhill Brewing Company,” said Southeast Colorado Regional Director, Ty Woodward. “We had a great time meeting new people and signing up new members to the ranks of Public Land advocates. Thanks again to Downhill Brewing Company, Oscar Blues Grill and Brew C-Springs, Mile High Game Note Calls, Good Bull Outdoors, Zach Northern, John J Barkowski Jr., Kyle Vistuba, Drew Trujillo. And of course all of those who showed up to celebrate Public Lands with us!”

Colorado BHA also assisted at a Train to Hunt (TTH) event in Colorado Springs (at Cheyenne Mt. State Park) on Saturday and Sunday, April 27-28. The Colorado BHA Southeast Colo. Group turned out an outstanding group of volunteers for this TTH event, with SE Group RD, Ty Woodward, again leading up our efforts. The SE Group also held a Pint Night in Colorado Springs on Saturday, April 27, at Oskar Blues Grill and Brew.

“We had our most successful Southeast Group outing yet! The TTH event was a huge success and the social was outstanding,” Ty said. “We brought in around $2,000 for BHA and had over 105 participants with 20 new memberships at Oskar Blues! Thanks to John, Kyle and his father, Ben, Justin, Drew, Nathan, Billie, Paul, Mikey, Amber, Isaiah, Jon Helton, Remington and Zach!”

“Good Bull is a new sponsor that helped out immensely at our weekend event,” Ty added. “The link below will take you to an order page where you can get prints of their photos they brought to the event on Saturday at Oskar Blues. For the next couple of days Good Bull will donate 10% of sales from this page back to BHA! (I know what my wife is getting for her birthday now). Also be sure to check them out of Facebook and Instagram: https://goodbulloutdoors.shootproof.com/.”

And don’t forget, the Colorado BHA 11th annual Rendezvous is scheduled for May 31 – June 2, 2019 (nights of Friday, May 31 & Saturday, June 1). We’ll be setting up camp at the Lakeview campground in the Pike-San Isabel National Forest (about 29 miles north of Buena Vista) in the vicinity of the Twin Lakes Reservoir. Same locale as last year. Let chapter co-chair, David Lien ([email protected]), know if you’ll be joining us.

The Colorado BHA Rendezvous is open to members and anyone potentially interested in becoming a member. In the words of a recent BHA bio by the editors of Outdoor Life: “You don’t have to be a member to attend, and it’s a welcoming atmosphere. BHA is a little younger (and, dare I say, cooler?) than some of the traditional hunting groups.”[1] For additional Rendezvous information see:

-“Hunter-angler rendezvous is May 31: This conservation group was born around a campfire during March 2004.” The Chaffee County Times: 5/11/19. http://www.chaffeecountytimes.com/community/hunter-angler-rendezvous-is-may/article_7e71455a-72a9-11e9-af9d-b30466388282.html

-“Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers To Gather at 11th Annual Chapter Rendezvous.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 5/7/19. https://www.backcountryhunters.org/colorado_backcountry_hunters_anglers_to_gather_at_11th_annual_chapter_rendezvous

In addition, Colorado BHA has six Groups (i.e., sub-chapters) you can check out, including: Southeast Colorado (the greater Pueblo/Colorado Springs/Peyton/Monument/Woodland Park/Divide/Florissant area), Northeast Colorado, Northern Colorado, the Denver Metro Area, the Central Rockies (Eagle/Vail/Frisco/Dillon/Steamboat area) and West Slope. See our Group Leaders webpage for additional information.

To stay up-to-date on upcoming Colorado BHA activities/events:

1. Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/coloradobackcountryhunters/
2. Check out the BHA Events page: https://www.backcountryhunters.org/events
3. Join our Instagram account: coloradobha
4. Share these events/activities via your social media and other comm. channels.

Founded by Mike Beagle, a former U.S. Army field artillery officer, and formed around an Oregon campfire, in 2004, BHA is the sportsmen’s voice for our nation’s wild public lands, waters and wildlife. With some 40,000 members spread out across all 50 states and 13 Canadian provinces and territories—including chapters in 44 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 nearly 3,000 dedicated hunters and anglers.[2]

[1] The Editors. “21 Ways to Recruit New People into Hunting and Fishing.” Outdoor Life: 4/17/19. https://www.outdoorlife.com/21-ways-to-recruit-new-people-into-hunting-and-fishing

[2] Katie McKalip. “BHA Membership Is Young, Active, Nonpartisan, Demographic Survey Shows: Two-thirds of members are 45 or younger, identify as Republican or Independent.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 8/7/18.