The Texas Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers invites you to join us for our 4th Annual Conservation Conversation.
Come and celebrate wild public lands, waters, and wildlife in the Lone Star State. This event is BHA's biggest gathering in Texas and a chance to share stories, recipes, tactics and comaraderie with other conservation-minded outdoorsmen and women. We are bringing together hunters, anglers, and BHA members from around the country, while introducing new people and nonmembers to to the BHA campfire and raising funds to increase and protect public land and water access and opportunity, through landscape stewardship, political advocacy, and education.
This year, we return to our moderated discussion featuring conservationists from across the state and country discussing the issues and opportunities that Texas public lands and waters face now and into the future.
Our night of conservation will take place at the McKinney Roughs Nature Park, located about 13 mi east of Austin and next to the Colorado River, on Thursday, October 23rd. This iconic setting is the perfect backdrop to grow our community, share stories, stoke the fire, and raise funds to maintain and enhance public access.
Ticket Options:
All tickets include Event Entry, Dinner and Drinks
$60- Single Adult Ticket OR $100- Couple Ticket
**The fundraising held through ticket sales, raffles, and live auctions at this event helps fuel our fight for public lands in Texas and support our mission across the country.
Speakers
This year our event features an eclectic group of Public Land Owners, all passionate about protecting our wild resources and utilizing them in their daily lives. Joining us for 2025 are:
Chris Johnson
Chris is the owner and founder of Living Waters Fly Fishing, a fly shop and guide service based out of Round Rock, Texas. He has guided the Texas Hill Country for nearly two decades and has fly-fished the heart of the Lone Star State for over 25 years. In addition to guiding his home state, Chris has been a licensed fly-fishing guide in Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Alaska. Chris is a FFI Certified Casting Instructor, Umpqua Signature Fly Designer, Tenkara USA Guide, and a Texas Parks and Wildlife Angler Educator Area Chief. He is also a pro team member for Whiting Farms, Scott Fly Rods, Dyna-King Vises, and Scientific Anglers.
Chris is dedicated to sharing his passion for the sport and investing in the next generation of fly anglers. He often is a featured presenter and fly tier at fly fishing, outdoor, conservation, and community events throughout Texas and beyond.
Chris and his shop have also been featured in several outdoor publications including Trout magazine, Garden and Gun, and Tenkara Magazine. He was also awarded the 2014 Man of the Year from the FFI Texas Council and in the same year, Living Waters was the recipient of the FFI’s prestigious Lee Wulff Award.
In addition to fly fishing, Chris is passionate about fisheries conservation. His fly shop frequently hosts conservation-based events that range from angler creel surveys to native species monitoring and reintroduction. Chris co-produced the short film “Unspoken,” to raise awareness for Rio Grande Cutthroat trout conservation. As a result, Living Waters is working with Trout Unlimited as a Gold Level endorsed TU Business to restore Rio Grande Cutthroat throughout their native range. Chris serves as the current State Council Chair for Texas Trout Unlimited and is the Conservation Chair for Guadalupe River Trout Unlimited as well. He is also a part of the Texas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society and the Rio Grande Cutthroat Conservation Team. Chris also serves as a member of the current Texas Freshwater Fisheries Advisory Committee and the Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame Nominating Committee.
Chris is happily married to his wife Emily and together they enjoy fly fishing the world and raising their children in the sport.
Ben Masters
Ben Masters is a wildlife, adventure, and conservation filmmaker best known for Unbranded, The River and The Wall, Deep in the Heart, and The American Southwest. He studied wildlife management at Texas A&M, has rode a mustang from Mexico to Canada twice, guided elk hunts in the Teton Wilderness for five years, and is proud husband and father of two young Texans.
Josh Crumpton
Josh Crumpton is a 7th generation Texan who owns and operates Spoke Hollow Outfitters and is the primary steward of Spoke Hollow Ranch in Wimberley. Josh is an avid angler and huntsman, with a passion for being in the outdoors, and he has a calling to share his knowledge and joy with others. A culinary background set the stage for a major “light bulb” moment when he harvested his first large game several years ago. A sense of satisfaction enveloped his life when he was able to bring his harvest to the dinner table, and he believes there is a true connection to the natural cycle that comes from being an active participant in bringing your own protein to the table. His life mission and calling are to share that feeling with others.
Aaron Hebeisen
Aaron serves as the Chapter Coordinator supporting Texas and 9 other BHA state chapters. As all real Minnesotans do, Aaron grew up playing hockey, hunting, and recreating outdoors. His lifelong passion for wildlife and an outdoor lifestyle led him to to pursue a career in Wildlife Ecology. Hebeisen has held positions with the Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources and U.S. Dept of Agriculture working on wildife diseases like Chronic Wasting Disease, Brucellosis, and Tuberculosis. These and jobs in the hunting industry with brands such as SITKA Gear and Irish Setter Boots cemented his drive for educating people about the role they play in our natural world.
Aaron has been a BHA member since 2016, serving 5 years as a volunteer with the Minnesota Chapter Board before joining the BHA staff. He now lives in southeastern Minnesota with his wife Olivia, their son Carter, and duck dog Ridge. Aaron also teaches R3 courses and mentors new adult hunters, stressing the importance of good hunting ethics and ecosystem level ecology. He enjoys sharing a campfire with friends and family, testing his mettle in new places, and the connection to nature that comes from calling in animals- from ducks to elk to turkeys.
*This is a private, ticketed event open to both members and nonmembers designed to inspire and educate the outdoor community.
MORE INFO TO COME! PLEASE CHECK BACK FOR MORE INFO.
WHEN
October 23, 2025 at 6:00pm - 10pm
WHERE
McKinney Roughs Nature Park
1884 State Hwy 71 West
Cedar Creek, TX 78612
United States
Google map and directions
CONTACT
Judson Brown · jlbrown@gmail.com