The Colorado chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers recently appointed Matt Roberts to serve as a Habitat Watch Volunteer (HWV) for the White River National Forest.

Matt was born and raised in Colorado (3rd generation).  “I started life in a small town in eastern Colorado,” he said. “At 11 years old we moved to the northern Front Range where I have spent the majority of my life.” Matt started fishing with his dad as soon as he could carry a pole. “We didn’t have any water near us, but I remember numerous trips to the Colorado mountains on vacation to fish,” Matt added. “We also visited family in Arkansas for fishing as well as deep sea fishing in Mexico several times.”

He started hunting as a teenager when friends invited him along for goose and duck hunts. “I currently spend my springs chasing turkeys in the northern front range,” Matt said. “Summers are mostly fishing in the Red Feather area where my dad has a cabin. In the fall I hunt elk, deer and pronghorn with my daughter. Mostly along the front range, near Walden and in the Flat Tops Wilderness Area.”

“Occasionally I chase pheasant and spend a few days in the goose blind,” he added. “Last year we got some field ducks out of a pit. Majority of the time is spent chasing big game.” Matt has been a rifle hunter from the beginning but has started bow hunting elk and pronghorn and plans to add a muzzleloader to the mix going forward. “I fish for trout, mostly out of lakes with a spinner rod,” he explained. “I have started to fly fish again. I also spend a few days a year chasing bass and walleye in float tubes and kayaks.”

Matt has a BA in History from the University of Colorado Boulder. After completing college, he attended the police academy and has spent the last 17 years serving as a municipal law enforcement officer. “I am currently a patrol sergeant,” he added. Matt lives in Loveland and joined Backcountry Hunters & Anglers after listening to BHA President and CEO Land Tawney on the Exo Hunt Backcountry Podcast.

“He explained his personal and BHA philosophy on conservation and our part in it as hunters and anglers and I had to join,” Matt said. “I also feel compelled to do more than join and give money, I want to help.” Matt has been a member of multiple hunter-conservation groups (Ducks Unlimited, RMEF, NWTF, etc.) and is looking forward to volunteering his time with BHA.

The Colorado BHA chapter’s 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 Public Waters Access campaign.
• BHA’s Collegiate Program.
• Backcountry Journal (Fall 2021); (Summer 2021); (Spring 2021); (Winter 2021).
• BHA’s Armed Forces Initiative. “Armed Forces Initiative-Get Involved.”
• BHA National Policy Updates (October 2021); (September 2021); (August 2021).
• BHA Chapter Policy Updates (October 2021); (September 2021); (August 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.