The Colorado chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) appointed Kassi Smith to serve on their Chapter Leadership Team (CLT) as San Luis Valley Public Lands & Community Liaison. She previously served on the CLT as an Assistant Regional Director for the Denver Metro Area/Group and later on the chapter Executive Leadership Team (ELT)/Board.[1] 

Kassi was born on the west coast of Washington and spent every summer on her grandparent’s farm in eastern Washington. She started fishing and shooting as a kid, then backpacking as an undergraduate in eastern Washington, and started hunting after moving to Idaho for graduate school. Kassi has a doctorate degree in Materials Science and Engineering from Boise State University.

She started hunting with her boyfriend, now husband, and said, “We will generally go out at least once per year casually for each small-game species, but big game is where the action is.” She hunts with a rifle but is “attempting to hunt trad.” Kassi also enjoys fly-fishing for trout in alpine lakes or streams/rivers, but when time is short she’ll throw spinners out in local reservoirs.

Kassi joined BHA during 2015 and first started volunteering in Idaho. After moving to Colorado, she served as Assistant Regional Director for the Denver Metro Area Group stating in August 2019.[2] During 2020 Kassi started “Women in The Woods,” a series of blogs, content, and virtual events.[3] She also organized Women in the Woods Weekend (WitW) Workshops that included an elk hunting camp, a fly-fishing camp, and a waterfowl and upland game bird camp.

“I love BHA. I love the network, the events, the members. Most of all, I love what we stand for,” Kassi said. “The reason BHA is a successful organization is because we have a wide network of individuals who are capable of level-headed, intelligent and considerate conversation. We have different opinions, expertise, ideas … and we can talk about them. Many of us, dare I say most, are even open to hearing other people’s viewpoints! So simple, yet so novel.”[4]

Kassi has her certification to lead outreach hunts for Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW). She lives in Moffat with her husband and son and is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Adams State University in Alamosa. “Kassi is an experienced chapter leader we’re lucky to have her rejoin the Chapter Leadership Team,” Colorado BHA Co-Chair David Lien said. “Kassi is a selfless, tireless defender of wildlands and wildlife. We need many more like her!”

Are you interested in serving on the Colorado BHA Chapter Leadership Team? Learn more about our volunteer opportunities here.

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.[5] With members spread out across all 50 states and 13 Canadian provinces and territories—including chapters in 49 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. The Colorado BHA chapter was founded by David “Elkheart” Petersen (a former U.S. Marine Corps helicopter pilot) in 2005 (the first official BHA chapter)[6]

Additional/Related Information

-“Colorado“Member of the Month: Kassi Smith, Colorado Board Member.” Backcountry Beat: October 2021.

-Kassi Smith. “Women in the Woods Waterfowl and Upland Game Camp.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: October 2021.

-Kassi Smith. “Women In The Woods Elk Camp.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 8/23/21.

-Kassi Smith. “San Juan River Public Access Enhancement Project.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 5/11/21.

 -“Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Appoint Executive Leadership Team Member.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 1/29/21.

-“Women in The Woods: A New Series of Blogs, Content & Virtual Events From CO Chapter Leader Kassi Smith.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 4/15/20.

-Kassi Smith. “Women In The Woods: Carp Cooking Showdown.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 7/15/20.

-Kassi Smith, Gabby Zaldumbide, Emma Dunfee. “How to Build a Crawfish Trap-Women in the Woods.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 8/28/20.

-“Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Appoint Denver Metro Area Assistant Regional Director and Southwest Colorado Habitat Watch Volunteer.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 8/29/19.  

[1] “Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Appoint Executive Leadership Team Member.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 1/29/21.

[2] “Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Appoint Denver Metro Area Assistant Regional Director and Southwest Colorado Habitat Watch Volunteer.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 8/29/19.

[3] Kassi Smith. “Women in The Woods: A New Series of Blogs, Content & Virtual Events From CO Chapter Leader Kassi Smith.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 4/15/20.

[4] Kassi Smith. “Women in The Woods: A New Series of Blogs, Content & Virtual Events From CO Chapter Leader Kassi Smith.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 4/15/20.

[5] David A. Lien. “Freedom & Fire: A Brief BHA History II.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 2/24/25.

[6] David A. Lien. “Where Hope Lives: A Brief BHA History.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 11/30/20.