Media Chapter News Stewardship News Press Releases Veterans Give Back Through Chesapeake Bay Oyster Restoration 7/18/2025 For Immediate Release: July 18, 2025 For Information Contact: Valerie DiMarzio, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, vdimarzio@cbf.org Alena Billingsley, Armed Forces... Tags: media, Press Releases, Armed Forces Initiative, Habitat Stewardship, Mid-Atlantic Chapter, Public Lands & Waters
Media News Chapter News Issues Federal Issues These Woods Saved Me. Now I’m Fighting to Save Them for My Sons 5/20/2025 By Hunter Owen I’ve spent most of my adult life in uniform. As a dad I’ve done my best to balance fatherhood and life in uniform. But the truth is, I’ve been in and out of... Tags: media, Armed Forces Initiative
Media Chapter News National Monuments At Risk (Veterans Defend Camp Hale) 4/8/2025 During early April members of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) and other conservation groups converged in Washington, D.C. to advocate for keeping public lands in public hands. I had the... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative, Colorado Chapter
Media State Issues Veterans Against the Ambler Road: A Call for Responsible Stewardship of Public Lands 11/13/2024 As a veteran who has dedicated my life to serving this country, I am deeply troubled by an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would revive the Ambler Road project.... Tags: Policy, media, Armed Forces Initiative, Alaska Chapter
Media State Issues Russian River Stream Watch Fencing Project: Longterm Stewardship 6/23/2024 Alaska Chapter Backcountry Hunters & Anglers & USFS at the fence site, Sunday June 9th, 2024. Every year over 150,000 anglers, nearly a quarter of the population of Alaska, fish along the... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative, Habitat Stewardship, Alaska Chapter
Media Chapter News Volunteers Restore Habitat for Rio Grand Cutthroat Trout 5/7/2024 The Kirtland AFI club and New Mexico Chapter had an incredible time at the Annual Lincoln National Forest stream restoration project on April 20th! Our crew worked diligently to repair two small... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative, Habitat Stewardship, New Mexico Chapter
Media State Issues Central Yukon Resource Management Plan 5/3/2024 Floating and fishing in the Jim River Area of Critical Environmental Concern along the Dalton Highway. The Jim River is an important spawning tributary for... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative, Alaska Chapter
Media Chapter News AFI Oklahoma Waterfowl Dual Skills Camp 1/11/2024 Oklahoma Waterfowl Dual Skills Camp Review: What is it: A Dual Skills Camp is a learn-to ______ event. Attendees will be mentored through a hunting or fishing experience from the planning phase... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative, Oklahoma Chapter
Media Chapter News State Issues Peninsular Bighorn Sheep Get Another Boost from U.S. Marine Corps Helicopter Squadron 12/13/2023 ANZA-BORREGO DESERT STATE PARK, Calif - For the third year in a row the brave men and women of the U.S. Marine Corps Helicopter Squadron HMLAT303 have stepped up to provide aerial support for bold... Tags: media, California Chapter, Armed Forces Initiative, Habitat Stewardship
Media Chapter News Operation Javelina 10/2/2023 I received word in 2019 that the military was sending me to Fort Huachuca, Arizona. To save time among ourselves, my wife and I named the move “Operation Javelina.” Javelina - more properly... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative, Arizona Chapter
Media State Issues AFI Priority Landscape Camp 9/30/2023 Bouncing down a barren stretch of the Dalton Highway, known to Alaskans as the Haul Road, a bang and a thud emanating from the engine compartment of our van signaled that our hunting adventure was... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative, Alaska Chapter
Media Chapter News State Issues Wilderness in Virginia? Yes, that there is! 9/17/2023 Back in the spring I was fortunate enough to participate in a “fly-in” event in support of the LWCF Coalition at our Nation’s capital. You can read the blog post I published about that... Tags: Policy, Armed Forces Initiative, Mid-Atlantic Chapter
Media Chapter News State Issues The Land and Water Conservation Fund benefits our nation, so let’s build on it 8/16/2023 The following article was first published by The Virginian-Pilot on 15 August 2023. It is an op-ed I wrote in support of an ongoing collaboration with the LWCF Coalition on behalf of Backcountry... Tags: Policy, Armed Forces Initiative, Mid-Atlantic Chapter
Media Chapter News State Issues Alaska BHA Partners with Stream Watch Program to Mitigate Bank Erosion on the Famed Russian River 6/22/2023 Of the many things that I remember wanting as a young kid, but not among the few that I never obtained, living in Alaska was in the top two. Early in my military career and after garnering... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative, Habitat Stewardship, Alaska Chapter
Media Chapter News The Warden is Watching 5/31/2023 The Warden is Watching By Spencer Como Last January, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers Armed Force Initiative held a leadership camp outside the Parker River Wildlife Refuge in Massachusetts.... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative, New England Chapter
Media Chapter News State Issues LWCF Coalition Fly-in with Capital Region Chapter and AFI 5/25/2023 Capital Region Chapter Vice Chair and Mid-Atlantic AFI Liaison Recently I had the opportunity to participate in a fly-in hosted by the LWCF Coalition in Washington, D.C. This is the second time... Tags: Policy, Armed Forces Initiative, Mid-Atlantic Chapter
Media Chapter News BHA recognizes USMC Squadron with Plaque and Ram Skull 5/23/2023 BHA and partner organizations recognize U.S. Marine Corps Squadron HMLAT 303 and Major Johnny "CONGO" Zimmer for their critical role in support of desert bighorn sheep during the extreme drought... Tags: California Chapter, Armed Forces Initiative, Habitat Stewardship
Media Chapter News North Carolina AFI Turkey Camp 5/17/2023 I recently had the pleasure in attending the 2023 North Carolina Armed Forces Initiative Turkey Camp as a mentor. There was a bit of trepidation on my part about being a mentor as I do not have a... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative, North Carolina Chapter
Media Chapter News Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Armed Forces Initiative (AFI) Names Matt Lee Colorado AFI Liaison 5/5/2023 Army National Guard veteran Matt Lee was named Armed Forces Initiative (AFI) Liaison for the Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers AFI Club. Matt was born in Iowa and raised in both Iowa and... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative, Colorado Chapter
Media Chapter News New Year, New Zero "a day at the range" 4/18/2023 I hear the familiar sound of the bolt running a round into a chamber of my buddies Browning X-bolt. I am focused on looking through my spotting scope and watching the young Black tail, slowly... Tags: California Chapter, Armed Forces Initiative
Media Chapter News State Issues Anza Borrego Desert Helicopter Guzzler Replacement with US Marine Corps 12/2/2022 Tags: California Chapter, Armed Forces Initiative, Habitat Stewardship
Media Chapter News NM AFI ladies Night 11/28/2022 The Kirtland AFB AFI chapter hosted its first ladies’ night. The event was centered around a pack dump where we discussed gear, tools, resources, and lessons learned. Attendees were treated to... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative, New Mexico Chapter
Media Chapter News State Issues AFI Podcast Tour 10/31/2022 AFI Director Trevor Hubbs has been hitting the podcast network on a speaking tour for a few months garnering support for the program and building sponsor relationships. For a list of Podcast... Tags: Montana Chapter, Michigan Chapter, Armed Forces Initiative, Wisconsin Chapter, New England Chapter, Kansas Chapter, Minnesota Chapter
Media Chapter News Capital Region Celebrates Public Lands Month with Pack-Out Work Days 9/28/2022 For the third year in a row, Capital Region BHA held a Public Land Pack Out at C.F. Phelps Wildlife Management Area in Hartwood, Virginia as part of its Public Lands Month celebrations. After... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative, Habitat Stewardship, Mid-Atlantic Chapter
Media Chapter News NM AFI Antelope Adventure 9/14/2022 As I sit here watching the sun go down, the chickens peck and the sheep do sheep things, I am chewing on a piece of backstrap from an antelope that not a week ago was living on a pasture that... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative, New Mexico Chapter
Media Chapter News Podcasts BHA Podcast & Blast, Ep. 137: Marine Veteran and Storyteller Russell Worth Parker 8/2/2022 Russell Worth Parker, known as Worth, is a retired Marine and a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan. After 27 years in the Corps, he is home in Wilmington, North Carolina, hunting and fishing and... Tags: media, Podcast, Armed Forces Initiative, North Carolina Chapter, Public Lands & Waters
Media Chapter News AFI Alaska in the News 6/14/2022 Alaska AFI leader David May had the opportunity to represent the program. Have a listen below. https://sourdoughoutdoorsmen.buzzsprout.com/1443304/10367598 This time on Lead and Line, Brandon... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative, Mentorship, Alaska Chapter
Media Chapter News AFI Podcast appearance 6/14/2022 AFI Leader Trevor Hubbs and Chapter Coordinator Aaron Hebeisen were able to sit down with Amaazen Outdoors and record a podcast while turkey hunting in Northern Wisconsin. Have a listen... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative, Wisconsin Chapter, Minnesota Chapter
Media Chapter News State Issues BHA Endorses Petition to Restore Historic Fishing Access to Surf Beach 6/10/2022 The California Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers urges the California Fish & Game Commission to adopt the regulation change proposed by the city of Lompoc to modify the Vandenberg State... Tags: California Chapter, Armed Forces Initiative, Public Waters Access, Access & Opportunity
Media Chapter News Press Releases BHA Bestows Top Honors at North American Rendezvous 5/17/2022 News for Immediate ReleaseMay 17, 2022Contact: Katie McKalip, 406-240-9262, mckalip@backcountryhunters.org MISSOULA, Mont. – Backcountry Hunters & Anglers bestowed its top honors on a suite of... Tags: Montana Chapter, media, Press Releases, Armed Forces Initiative, Arkansas Chapter, Collegiate Clubs, New England Chapter, North Carolina Chapter, Wyoming Chapter
Media Chapter News State Issues Water for Sheep 3/31/2022 Photo: Brian Schwab, SCBS BHA’s California chapter, Armed Forces Initiative and the Marines team up to save bighorn sheep BY EVAN NORDSTROM While the devastating fires of the Western... Tags: media, California Chapter, Armed Forces Initiative, Backcountry Journal
Media Press Releases Veterans Gain Access to Public Lands Via Measure in Defense Bill 12/15/2021 News for Immediate ReleaseDec. 15, 2021Contact: Katie McKalip, 406-240-9262, mckalip@backcountryhunters.org WASHINGTON – Military veterans and Gold Star families will gain lifetime access to... Tags: media, Press Releases, Armed Forces Initiative
Media Chapter News California Chapter & AFI Events Recap 8/10/2021 Shark tacos, guzzler installations & pint nights The California Chapter and BHA Pendleton AFI Club have been busy Operation Horno Last month BHA Pendleton Armed Forces Initiative Club and the... Tags: California Chapter, Armed Forces Initiative
Media State Issues Uphold Hunting and Fishing Opportunities in the Carson and Santa Fe National Forests 9/3/2019 Our national forests play host to a wide variety of users, not least of whom are sportsmen and women. Totaling nearly 190 million acres across the United States, national forests are critical to... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative, New Mexico Chapter
Media State Issues Smith River: California’s and Oregon’s Largest Wild & Scenic River 6/12/2019 This article originally appeared in the Spring 2019 issue of Backcountry Journal. By Matthew Clark Photo by Sunny Capper Along the Oregon/California border the mountains rise up straight... Tags: California Chapter, Armed Forces Initiative, Collegiate Clubs, Oregon Chapter
Media State Issues BHA's Land Tawney Speaks to the Importance of the Boundary Waters 2/27/2018 With The more than 1 million acres of Wilderness in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness at risk from large scale sulfide-ore copper mining proposals, BHA's Land Tawney Speaks about the... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative, Public Lands & Waters, Minnesota Chapter
Media State Issues The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: The Epitome of Remoteness 12/8/2017 As an avid elk hunter in Idaho and Wyoming, I often marvel at how elk country, even when very close to cars and civilization, can feel wild. Entering a tight, timbered canyon, especially when elk... Tags: media, Armed Forces Initiative, Alaska Chapter
Media Chapter News Press Releases Sportsmen Welcome Move to Conserve Colorado’s Thompson Divide 3/1/2017 WASHINGTON – Acknowledging years of collaborative, community-driven efforts to permanently conserve valuable backcountry habitat in Colorado’s Thompson Divide, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers... Tags: Press Releases, Armed Forces Initiative, Habitat Stewardship, Colorado Chapter
Media State Issues Sportsmen Welcome Movement to Conserve Colorado's Thompson Divide 11/17/2016 Backcountry Hunters & Anglers commends the recent decision by the Bureau of Land Management to safeguard high quality undeveloped habitat in Colorado's Thompson Divide by cancelling controversial... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative, Habitat Stewardship, Colorado Chapter
Media State Issues Jewels of the North Umpqua: Frank Moore and the Wild Steelhead of Steamboat Creek 11/16/2016 The following BHA feature film showcases the 104,000 acre Steamboat Creek watershed that BHA is working to protect as the Steamboat Creek Wild Steelhead Sanctuary, in partnership with Trout... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative, Oregon Chapter
Media State Issues Infographic: Legislation Honors Two Oregon Icons 11/3/2016 Oregon BHA is working to advance legislation that would permanently protect more than 100,000 acres of public lands within the Steamboat Creek Watershed. Learn more about this unique steelhead... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative, Reports, Oregon Chapter
Media State Issues THE FRANK MOORE WILD STEELHEAD SANCTUARY 9/6/2016 On Sept. 23, 2016, Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon announced the introduction of H.R. 6129, a House companion bill to Sens. Ron Wyden’s and Jeff Merkley’s Frank Moore Wild Steelhead Sanctuary... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative, Oregon Chapter
Media State Issues Maintaining Gunnison County’s Habitat and Longstanding Hunting and Fishing Traditions 6/24/2016 “Leave it as it is. The ages have been at work on it and man can only mar it.”– Theodore Roosevelt The secret’s been out for quite some time, Gunnison County is a sportsmen’s paradise, boasting... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative, Habitat Stewardship, Colorado Chapter
Media State Issues Frank Moore Steelhead Sanctuary: A BHA Interview with Senator Ron Wyden 5/27/2016 Join Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon and BHA Northwest Coordinator Brian Jennings for a conversation about the proposed 104,000-acre Frank Moore Steelhead Sanctuary (S. 1448) along Oregon's famed North... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative, Oregon Chapter
Media State Issues Video: Veteran & Conservationist Frank Moore 5/25/2016 BHA is currently working to protect the 100,000 acre Steamboat Creek Watershed, through legislation that was recently introduced by Senator Ron Wyden in recognition of legendary conservationist... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative, Oregon Chapter
Media State Issues Flush in the Wild Film Highlights Need to Protect the Boundary Waters 5/25/2016 Follow this story of a veteran and BHA member that found reprieve from PTSD through his time in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. This film was produced by Minnesota BHA Board Member, Mark Norquist... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative, Public Lands & Waters, Minnesota Chapter
Media State Issues Fish Out of Water Film Showcases Boundary Waters Canoe Area 5/25/2016 The following is a three-part video series produced by Minnesota BHA Board Member, Mark Norquist in collaboration with Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters. In this film, three chefs from the Twin... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative, Public Lands & Waters, Minnesota Chapter
Media State Issues MN BHA: Thank You Governor Dayton for Protecting the BWCA 4/27/2016 March 9, 2016 Governor Dayton, The MN Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers thanks you for your leadership in opposing the proposed Twin Metals sulfide-ore copper mine at the edge of the... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative, Public Lands & Waters, Minnesota Chapter
Media State Issues Minnesota BHA: Thank You Governor Mark Dayton for Protecting the BWCA 3/9/2016 For years, Minnesota BHA has been working hard to protect the world-renowned fisheries and backcountry habitat from proposed mines in and around the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area. On March... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative, Public Lands & Waters, Minnesota Chapter
Media Chapter News State Issues Book Cliffs Get Three-Year Reprive 9/20/2013 The Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA) announced today it would give a three-year reprieve to a controversial lease it planned to issue in the Book Cliffs. An... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative, Utah Chapter
Media Chapter News State Issues Prized hunting and fishing area leased to oil and gas 8/26/2013 Book Cliffs leasing blindsides sportsmen, threatens to derail protection efforts Sportsmen expressed dismay Monday after learning that the Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands (SITLA) Board... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative, Utah Chapter
Media Chapter News State Issues Members Urged to Attend Grand Bargain Meetings 7/25/2013 The upcoming meetings regarding the Grand Bargain Land Exchange Initiative are an important opportunity for members to speak-up for Utah’s backcountry fish and wildlife habitat, and sporting... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative, Utah Chapter
Media State Issues Proposed BWCA land exchange is a bad deal 9/4/2012 During September of 1901, Vice President Theodore Roosevelt unexpectedly (but prophetically) became America’s 26th president, and during his tenure as commander-in-chief, Roosevelt personally... Tags: Armed Forces Initiative, Public Lands & Waters, Minnesota Chapter