Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) mission is to ensure North America’s outdoor heritage of hunting and fishing in a natural setting, through education and work on behalf of wild public lands, waters, and wildlife. Although our organization is formed around hunting and fishing, our members are also avid hikers, backpackers, trail runners, mountain bikers, off-roaders, and so-on. Most importantly we seek to conserve our natural resources so that all pursuits can be enjoyed responsibly for many generations.1 

“An organization focused on supporting public-land access whether your purpose is hunting, angling, or hiking, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers has become a powerhouse organization in the past few years with a diehard following. It’s a following it’s earned. If you’ve hunted public land at all during the past decade, you’d likely agree that public hunting land is crowded now. This is not lost on BHA, and it’s committed to acquiring more public land while making sure we have legal access to land that is already publicly owned.” -Ryan Rothstein, Outdoor News (12/23/22)2 

BHA: Our Issues (PAF)3 

1. Public Lands & Waters (Public Lands = Freedom). Protecting and perpetuating our public lands and waters is paramount. We are the voice for our wild public lands, waters and wildlife.
2. Access & Opportunity. Access has emerged as a priority issue for North American hunters and anglers, and lack of access is cited by sportsmen and women as the No. 1 reason why we stop pursuing our passions.
3. Fair Chase. We must ensure that the ethical pursuit of fish and game is upheld as dearly as our own obligation to morality and citizenship.4

Top Chapter Highlights (Q2) 

-“Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Vice Chair Ivan James Receives Award.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 4/18/23.  

-Colorado co-chair Don Holmstrom was honored with the Sigurd F. Olson award at the 2023 BHA North American Rendezvous, acknowledging his years of work championing better stream access in Colorado. 

-Colorado BHA appointed Lew French as Central West Slope Assistant Regional Director. 

-Colorado Public Lands Day is May 20, 2023. Our Gunnison Group leaders are organizing a fence removal project and more. Join us for the Barbs, Beers and Bands celebration in Gunnison. 

-Our 14th Annual CO BHA Rendezvous will be held June 9-11, 2023, at the Soap Creek Corral/Coal Mesa Horse Camp west of Gunnison.  

-The BHA Armed Forces Initiative (AFI) has a Colorado Club. Check out their Instagram page @colorado_bha_afi or contact them at [email protected]. 

“Our most important asset is our volunteers.” 

Chapter News 

Chapter Leadership Team Updates 

(48 Chapter Leadership Team Members/46 Habitat Watch Volunteers) 

We currently have eleven (11) Colorado BHA Groups (not all necessarily currently active): Northern Colorado, Boulder County, Denver Metro Area, Southeast Colorado, Central Rockies, Roaring Fork/Eagle Valleys, Routt County, Gunnison Valley/County, Southwest Colorado, Central West Slope, Grand Valley/Mesa County. For additional information see: https://www.backcountryhunters.org/group_leaders  

-We have Habitat Watch Volunteers (HWVs) who serve as our “eyes and ears” in all eleven Colorado national forests. Contact HWV Program Coordinator/Co-Chair Don Holmstrom ([email protected]) for additional information. Also see the following link for more information: Colorado BHA Habitat Watch Volunteer (HWV) program information. 

BHA staffers based in Colorado include: Tim Brass (State Policy and Field Operations Director); John Gale (Conservation Director); and Brittany Parker (Habitat Stewardship Coordinator). In addition, Colorado BHA recently said farewell to one of its driving forces.  

Brien Webster (former Program Manager and Colorado & Wyoming Chapter Coordinator) embarked on a new conservation-related journey/career and is no longer serving as program coordinator. Brien, who we referred to as an “Army of One,” was at the center of nearly every effort undertaken by Colorado BHA to defend our public lands, waters and wildlife since he started with BHA in 2018 … and he will be greatly missed. Tremendous thanks to Brien for his massive contributions over many years!  

-“It’s critical that CLT members are pursuing their ‘passion projects’ that fit within our mission … there is no one way to host a successful event, strengthen the chapter, or advance our mission.” –Brien Webster, Colorado & Wyoming Chapter Coordinator 

-“Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Welcome BHA’s Colorado & Wyoming Coordinator (Brien Webster Hits The Ground Running).” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 6/19/18. 

-BHA CO/WY Chapter Coordinator job posting. 

-BHA is hiring two seasonal staffers to help inventory and rip fence on public lands in the Gunnison Basin: “CO Conservation Stewardship Coordinator (Temp).” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 4/12/23.  

-“Colorado BHA State Chapter Leadership (Triad) Structure.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 7/26/21. 

-“Empowering Leaders: It’s In BHA’s DNA.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 1/7/21. 

David “Elkheart” Petersen (a former U.S. Marine Corps helicopter pilot) started the first BHA state chapter in Colorado. David is also one of North America’s most renowned hunting ethicists and trad bow elk hunters and his writings (in part) inspired Mike Beagle to start BHA. A documentary film, “On the Wild Edge: Hunting for A Natural Life,” about his life and love of hunting and all things wild is available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/-IE58L4bqEA. Also see: https://davidpetersenbooks.com/  

-“You don’t inspire volunteers to action by decree from on high. Rather, you give them minimal direction and maximum freedom to do their own thing, within the realm of the group’s charter.” –David “Elkheart” Petersen, Colorado BHA founder/former U.S. Marine Corps helicopter pilot 

-“Reading Petersen’s books led me to BHA.” -Don Holmstrom, Colorado BHA Co-Chair (4/27/22) 

Chapter Communications Update-Derek Pankratz & Scott Heatwole 

-Communications Co-Chair Derek Pankratz is our primary contact for Colorado BHA Newsletter input/content.  

-If you have an event you’d like to promote on social media/Instagram, reach out to Communications Co-Chair Scott Heatwole and include a caption and image so he can post. 

-“Spring 2023 CO BHA Newsletter.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 4/10/23. 

-“Winter Newsletter (Colorado BHA).” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 12/23/22.  

-“Colorado BHA Fall Newsletter 2022.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 9/1/22.  

-“CO BHA Summer (2022) Newsletter.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 6/13/22.  

-CO BHA Communications Co-Chair (Scott Heatwole, Castle Rock): [email protected]  

-CO BHA Communications Co-Chair (Derek Pankratz, Gunnison): [email protected]  

Events-BHA & Colorado BHA 

Colorado BHA had a solid contingent of about a half-dozen members who attended the BHA North American Rendezvous in Missoula, not to mention the three Colorado BHAers we have on the HQ staff (John Gale, Tim Brass and Britt Parker).  

Central West Slope Assistant Regional Director Leslie Kaminski was one of the chefs for the Rendezvous Field-To-Table dinner (she prepared desserts for nearly 100 attendees!), working alongside the likes of Hank Shaw. In addition, Co-Chair Don Holmstrom was the recipient of the Sigurd F. Olson Award, which recognizes outstanding effort conserving rivers, lakes or wetland habitat.

-Travis Bradford. “2023 North American Rendezvous Recap.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 3/31/23.  

-Thomas Plank. “BHA Annual Award Winners from 2023.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 3/31/23.  

-“Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Co-Chair Receives Sigurd F. Olson Award.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 3/21/23.  

-Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) North American Rendezvous photos (March 16-18, 2023) from Missoula, Montana. 

-Join us for our “Beers, Bands, & Barbed Wire Strands” weekend bash (May 19-21). Contact Gunnison Valley Co-Regional Director John Chandler ([email protected]) if you can volunteer at/for the event. Also consider sharing the Public Lands Day event link (above) and Rendezvous links (below) via your social media channels. 

-We also have our 15th Annual Colorado BHA Rendezvous (June 9-11) coming up, which is being spearheaded by Gunnison Valley Assistant Regional Director Chris Parmeter.  

-All Things Colorado BHA: https://www.backcountryhunters.org/colorado  

-Upcoming CO BHA Events: https://www.backcountryhunters.org/co_upcoming_events 

BHA Collegiate Program-Colorado State University (CSU) Fort Collins 

Colorado has a BHA Collegiate Club at CSU in Fort Collins. Contact CSU Club leaders at: [email protected]. For additional information on the BHA Collegiate Club Program visit the webpage or Instagram page. 

Armed Forces Initiative (AFI)-Colorado 

-BHA’s Armed Forces Initiative (AFI) has a Colorado Club. Check out the Instagram page @colorado_bha_afi or contact them at [email protected]. 

-Trevor Hubbs. “What is the AFI.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 3/3/23.  

-Trevor Hubbs. “AFI Year in Review 2022.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 1/4/23.  

-“Giving Veterans a New Mission in Conservation” 

-“Public lands = Freedom” 

-“AFI has 11,500 members in 50 states and 34 active-duty installations. AFI membership has increased by 500% over the past two years.”5 

-“BHA Members Serve Their Country: 20% of BHA Members Are Active Duty Military or Veterans. More Than Twice The U.S. Average.”6 

-Become An AFI Volunteer; Armed Forces Initiative Leadership. 

-“Armed Forces Initiative Helps Veterans Hunt … And More.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 8/17/22. 

-BHA’s Armed Forces Initiative. “Armed Forces Initiative-Get Involved.” 

-Become An AFI Volunteer; Armed Forces Initiative Leadership. 

“We sometime forget, I think, that you can manufacture 

weapons, and you can purchase ammunition, but you can’t 

buy valor and you can’t pull heroes off an assembly line.” 

-Sgt. John Ellery, 16th Infantry Regiment, U.S. 1st Division  

Illegal Trails Reward Program/Initiative 

-“Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Increase Reward For Illegal Trail Construction (Help Stop Trail Building ‘Free-For-All’).” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 4/10/23.  

-“… the vast majority of us aren’t advocating for our desire to hunt, we are advocating for the protection of wildlife and their habitat,” explained Colorado BHA Board member Kassi Smith. “How can we compromise those protections? If the question of conservation was put back on us in the form of, ‘well, in order to protect the longevity of this species, you must give up hunting them or accessing their habitat,’ the majority of us would make that decision without hesitation.”  

Illegal trails are created by all user groups. However, in many areas mountain bike specific trail building dominates. Although the emphasis on the mountain biking community creates tension amongst user groups, BHA sees the involvement of the organized mountain bike community in addressing illegal trails as one of the most important steps forward. See the resources/links below for additional information.7 

-Thomas Plank. “Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Rewards OHV Enforcement Near Hesperus, CO.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 9/16/22. 

-Alayna Alverez. “Colorado's outdoor recreation boom endangers elk herds.” Axios Denver: 10/6/22.  

-“Trails vs. Elk: ‘They’re Just Dying Off.’” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 12/3/21. 

-“Colorado BHA Report: Impacts of Off-Road Recreation on Public Lands Habitat.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 5/21/18.  

-Sylvia Kantor. “Seeking Ground Less Traveled: Elk Responses to Recreation.” Science Findings #219 (U.S. Department of Agriculture-Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station): September 2019. https://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/sciencef/scifi219.pdf 

-Colorado Parks and Wildlife. “Colorado’s 2021 Guide for Planning Trails with Wildlife in Mind.” Appendix A includes standard protocols for how and where the trails are developed (i.e., Avoid, Minimize, Mitigate). The Guide recommends limiting trail densities to less than 1 linear mile of trail per square mile in mapped bighorn sheep, elk, and mule deer winter concentration areas and production areas. A 300-foot buffer for wetlands is widely accepted. 

-Liz Rose. “40% of Most Important Colorado Elk Habitat Is Affected by Trail Use.” Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP): 9/27/22.  

-Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP). “Outdoor Recreation and Elk: A Colorado Case Study: Where do elk habitat and recreational trails overlap in Colorado, and why does it matter?” TRCP: 9/27/22.  

CO-OP Regional Partnerships 

-Consider serving on a CO-OP Regional Partnerships (there are fourteen Partnerships throughout the state, as of 2/26/23): https://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/Regional-Partnerships-Initiative.aspx  

--Also see Map of Colorado Outdoor Regional Partnerships: https://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/PartnersInTheOutdoors/ColoradoOutdoorRegionalPartnerships_MAP.pdf  

--Central West Slope Regional Director Craig Grother ([email protected]) currently serves on the Ouray Regional Recreation and Conservation Alliance (ORRCA) Regional Partnership (#7 on map). 

--Southwest Colorado Assistant Regional Director Luke Kline ([email protected]) is engaged on/with the new Southwest Colorado Regional Partnership. 

Dolores River National Conservation Area (NCA) 

-Protect The Dolores River Canyon Country: https://www.protectthedolores.org/  

-Rig To Flip (2/22/23). “The River of Sorrows-Official Teaser: Two weeks packrafting down the Dolores River …”  

-In March, the Dolores River National Conservation Area and Special Management Area Act (S. 636/H.R. 1534) was reintroduced by Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO). This legislation would benefit hunters and anglers by conserving habitat for native fish and wildlife in southwest Colorado in addition to improving recreation opportunities on our public lands and waters. The establishment of the Dolores River National Conservation Area and Dolores River Special Management Area would conserve a total of 68,000 acres of public lands and waters. Management of these areas would be directed to conserve, protect and enhance native fish, wildlife and recreational resources, among others.8 

-Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. “Colorado Public Lands and Waters Legislation.” Backcountry Beat: March 2023.  

-“Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper introduced the Dolores River National Conservation Area and Special Management Area Act to protect over 68,000 acres of public lands in Southwestern Colorado.”9 

-U.S. Senator Michael Bennet. “Bennet, Hickenlooper Introduce Dolores River National Conservation Area and Special Management Area Act.” Press Release: 3/3/23. 

Bison Reintroduction 

-“Land Tawney, the Missoula, Mont.-based Backcountry Hunters & Anglers CEO and president, recently has advocated for bison conservation and restoring the wild bison population. ‘We’ve built an amazing conservation restoration pyramid in this country,’ Tawney said. ‘We’ve brought back waterfowl. We have white-tailed deer. We have turkeys that are back. All these species—grizzly bears, wolves, eagles. We’ve brought them back. But the one species we haven’t brought back is bison in a real way. So, I look at that conservation pyramid and bison being the capstone of that pyramid’ … Tawney added that grasslands are the No. 1 imperiled ecosystem in the country and world, so restoring them synchs with bison efforts.”10 

-Katie McKalip. “Bison Reintroduction Prioritized in Admin Plan for Public Lands Resiliency.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 3/3/23. 

Corner Crossing/Corner-Locked Public Lands 

-“HB 1066-Public Access Landlocked Publicly Owned Land (Colorado).” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 1/23/23. 

-Jason Blevins. “Crossing from one parcel of public land to another in Colorado creates a private-property conundrum that’s proven tough to fix.” The Colorado Sun: 2/22/23.  

-“There are 101,000 acres of public land in Colorado considered corner locked, according to a new report on access to public lands published by onX … About 15% of that land is corner-locked behind 489 property corners, which are shared with 527 unique landowners, onX said.”11 

-“A parcel of public land is considered corner locked when it is surrounded by private land but touches another parcel of public land at one or more corners.”12 

-“Not only are those lands important to backcountry enthusiasts but also to Colorado’s expanding outdoor industry and population growth, said Brien Webster, coordinator for the Colorado and Wyoming chapters of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. ‘Public lands are there for you,’ he said. ‘They belong to you. It’s one of the most democratic things we got in in this country.’”13 

-Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (3/15/23). “Corner Crossing Explained with Ryan Callaghan: At BHA, we are putting our efforts to making sure our access to public lands remains open to all people. Watch BHA North American Board Member Ryan Callaghan explains all things Corner Crossing.”  

-Ryan Callaghan (12/6/21). “Cal’s week In Review episode 136 is live this week we talk corner crossing.”  

-Katie Hill. “7 Sneaky Ways Landowners Block Access to Public Lands: And what to do when you run into it.” Outdoor Life: 4/11/23.  

Public Lands Transfers/Sales 

-“On Jan. 3, 2023, the U.S. House of Representatives convened the 118th Congress … The House’s first order of business was to determine a new rules package … One item … BHA strongly opposed … that threatens the integrity of our public estate–lands and waters enjoyed by 70 million hunters and anglers as well as many other outdoor enthusiasts–and we fought to exclude it the final rules package. It’s worth noting that similar language in the House rules package for the 115th Congress was followed by legislative proposals to eliminate federal public lands–efforts that were ultimately abandoned by their proponents after facing tremendous public backlash, including from BHA.”14 

-Kaden McArthur. “Welcome to the 118th Congress.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 1/13/23.  

-“Selling off our public lands is a bad idea that won’t die.” VailDaily: 1/29/23. 

-“Fighting to keep public lands in public hands.” Grand Junction (Colo.) Daily Sentinel: 1/26/23. 

-“Bad ideas never die.” Aspen Daily News: 1/25/23. 

Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA) 

-Katie McKalip. “Recovering America’s Wildlife Act Introduced in 118th Congress.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 3/31/23.  

-“Conservation groups lined up to hop aboard the RAWA train last week, as federal legislation—the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act—was reintroduced in the U.S. Senate. The bill would ‘make nearly $1.4 billion in annual funding available to state and tribal wildlife management agencies, enhancing fish and wildlife habitat, and boosting America’s outdoor recreation economy,’ according to a press release from Backcountry Hunters & Anglers.”15 

-Tim Spielman. “Reintroduction of RAWA gets conservation group approval.” Outdoor News: 4/7/23, p. 1. 

-“Land Tawney, BHA president and CEO, called RAWA ‘a vital tool … providing critical funding to keep common species common, and keeping other species out of the emergency room.”16 

-Tim Spielman. “Reintroduction of RAWA gets conservation group approval.” Outdoor News: 4/7/23, p. 25. 

Fence Pulls/Removal 

-BHA is hiring two seasonal staffers to help inventory and rip fence on public lands in the Gunnison Basin: “CO Conservation Stewardship Coordinator (Temp).” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 4/12/23.  

-Ty Woodward. “Big Springs Fence Pull and Replacement.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 12/15/22.  

-Brittany Parker. “Dome Rock SWA Aspen Regeneration Project.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 10/12/22.  

Stream Access Initiative (SAI), Fly Fishing & Clean Water 

Chapter Co-Chair Don Holmstrom has long been engaged on our stream access initiative (SAI) and is tracking an important court case here in Colorado (Hill v. Warsewa) that could set positive precedent for stream access through the navigability for title doctrine. Unfortunately, Colorado has some of the worst stream access laws in the nation on the books.  

Don is also a BHA life member and coordinates the Habitat Watch Volunteer program. Don has had a career as a lawyer and technical advisor related to chemical safety and environmental issues. He retired from the US Chemical Safety Board as the Director of the Western Regional Office in Denver. Floating and fishing Colorado streams since the 1970s, Don has been a longtime advocate for stream access and habitat protection issues.  

-“Right about now, landowners in Colorado trying to keep anglers out of the rivers running through their properties are likely fuming mad. That’s because the U.S. Supreme Court declined to overturn a New Mexico Supreme Court ruling that allows anglers to walk stream beds and banks within historic high-water marks. It’s a big deal for anglers and access advocates in New Mexico, and it will likely resonate with access groups in other states, like Colorado, where legal imbroglios over access to rivers and streams are ongoing. It could be precedent-setting.” -Chris Hunt: Hatch (3/3/23)17 

-“Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Co-Chair Receives Sigurd F. Olson Award.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 3/21/23. 

-Katie McKalip. “U.S. Supreme Court Decision Upholds New Mexico Public Access Law.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 2/27/23. 

-Sage Marshall. “U.S. Supreme Court Dismisses Lawsuit Challenging New Mexico Stream Access Law.” Field & Stream: 2/28/23. 

Colorado Tag Allocations 

This issue of resident vs. nonresident (and landowner) elk (and other) tag allocations has been a controversial issue in multiple Western states over the years, including Colorado. Given our state’s generous (compared to every other western state) non-resident tag distribution we get BHA member inquiries from across the country asking for Colorado elk hunting advice.  

Unfortunately, elk numbers are alarmingly low in some areas and there have been multiple seasons when I haven’t seen a single elk.18 Perhaps it’s because everyone in Colorado seems to play on public lands, not to mention the unlimited tags sold to both resident and nonresident hunters in OTC units.19 

-“The Ghost Bulls of Colorado.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 1/18/23. 

-“Colorado Over-The-Counter (OTC) Unit Elk Hunting: Problems & Possibilities.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 12/14/22. 

-“Colorado Over The Counter (OTC) Unit Elk Hunting.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 11/14/22. 

-Brien Webster. “CO BHA Comments on Potential (Tag) Allocation Changes.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 10/7/22.  

-“Colorado BHA Tag Allocation Observations & Information.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 7/20/22. 

-Colorado BHA 2022 elk hunt photo included in the 2023 Colorado Big Game Brochure (p. 4). 

CPW Commission Engagement 

-Commission meetings/information: https://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/pages/commission.aspx 

What Has BHA/CO BHA Done For Me? 

-“Spring 2023 CO BHA Newsletter.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 4/10/23. 

-“Colorado BHA Q1 2023 Update.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 2/1/23.  

-“Colorado BHA Q4 2022 Update.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 10/28/22.  

-“Colorado BHA Q3 2022 Update.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 7/25/22. 

-“CO BHA Summer Newsletter.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 6/13/22.  

-“CO BHA Q2 2022 Update.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 4/1/22. 

-“Colorado BHA Q1 2022 Update.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 1/14/22.  

2023 Events/Projects (Completed) 

-Brien Webster. “Upslope Brewing Co & onX Present: Pints for Public Lands (1/26/23).” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 12/20/22.  

-“Join the Northern Colorado Chapter of BHA at Grimm Brothers Brewhouse on February 2, 2023, at 6:00 pm for an evening of swapping stories, swilling brews, chatting conservation, and building community. 

-Volunteer to Help Our Local Wildlife–Friday Feb 3, 2023. WSCC is partnering with Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Backcountry Hunters and Anglers to remove unneeded elk fencing throughout the Valley 

-Kate Mayfield. “Conservation Roundtable and Community Update 2-3-23.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 1/20/23.  

-Kate Mayfield. “Conservation Roundtable and Community Update 3-2-23.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 1/20/23. 

-Kate Mayfield. “Conservation Roundtable and Community Update 4-6-23.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 1/20/23.  

-Andrew Hahne. “Ramblebine Brewery Pint Night (2/16/23).” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 1/26/22. 

-Upslope Brewing Company in Boulder (3/22/23 @ 6-9 p.m.): Fly Tying Food Drive. Join us for an evening of fly tying at Upslope Brewery. 

-Chris Slaughter. “Ice Fishing on Lake Dillon (March 26).” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 3/1/23. 

-“Colorado BHA Summit County Icefishing Event: ‘A great day on the water … even if it was frozen!’” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 3/31/23. 

-“Join the Colorado Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers on April 20th from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Bent Barley Brewing in Aurora, CO (Southlands Mall).  

-“Join us April 22-23 for some fence pulling grouse viewing in Maybell, CO. 

2023 Events (Upcoming) 

-See Chapter Events page. 

-Colorado Public Lands Day is May 20, 2023. Our Gunnison Chapter Leadership team is organizing a fence removal project and more. Join us for the “Barbs, Beers and Bands” celebration in Gunnison. More information to follow. 

-2023 Colorado BHA Rendezvous: June 9-11, 2023, @ Soap Creek Corral/Coal Mesa Horse Camp west of Gunnison. More information to follow. 

Other Information 

-Check out BHA’s North American Action Map, tracking/highlighting examples of our accomplishments as an organization across the continent. 

-See our Take Action Center to stay engaged on legislation in your area.  

-Gift a BHA membership 

-Auto-Renewal of Membership Option Now Live on the BHA Website.  

-Landing Page to Track Chapter-Generated Memberships. To better track memberships renewed or recruited by chapters, we’ve developed a new landing page: https://www.backcountryhunters.org/chaptermemberships 

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. 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.