I didn’t grow up hunting. Back in Minnesota, it always felt like something other people did to embrace the cooling temps and an excuse to sit in a deer stand and drink beer all day. Not me....Still, I struggled to take the leap on my own. I had always been the curious observer tagging along—helping prep gear, mapping hunts on OnX, waterproofing tents, packing food—yet never the hunter. That’s when I discovered Backcountry Hunters & Anglers’ Hunting for Sustainability program: a chance to finally step into the role I’d been circling for a few years.

Project Description The Northwest is home to the largest elk, mule deer, and prong horn populations in the state of Colorado. The Oak Ridge State Wildlife Area alone will carry up to 3,000 head of elk during the winter months. During this time the property is closed to the public, which encourages the herds to stay on the property instead of spilling over onto and damaging the surrounding agricultural lands.  Thanks to BHA volunteers and Colorado Parks and Wildlife we were able to further ...