by Angelica Boyd-Devine

Advocating Every Day: How Alaska BHA Board Members Champion Wild Public Lands

At Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, our mission to maintian Alaska’s wild public lands, waters, and wildlife is powered by passionate volunteers. Each of our board members brings unique skills, perspectives, and personal dedication to this cause—advocating not just through words, but through their everyday actions.

Here’s how our team lives BHA’s mission across Alaska:

Mark Lindberg — Conservation Policy Chair
Mark Lindberg, our Policy Chair, is a talented photographer and lifelong advocate for Alaska’s wild country. He uses his creative and professional skills to amplify BHA’s message—bringing visual storytelling and policy expertise together in service of conservation.

Mark plays a pivotal role in shaping Alaska BHA’s policy work, including the Public Lands Pint Ale (PLPA) initiative, where his photography and communication skills help extend the campaign’s reach and impact. You can pick up a PLPA and support public lands at Black Spruce Brewing in Fairbanks and La Bodega in Anchorage, while supplies last.

 

 

Alec Boyd Devine — Communications Chair
Alec Boyd Devine, our Communications Chair, naturalist, and photographer, integrates scientific knowledge and visual communication in his daily advocacy. Professionally, Alec works as a naturalist and guide, educating the public about Alaska’s ecosystems and the importance of conservation. In his free time, he participates in avian health research by swabbing ducks for the USDA, contributing to the management and understanding of Alaska’s wild bird populations.

Alec also models ethical, sustainable hunting practices: since 2016, he has not purchased meat commercially and only harvests meat himself, demonstrating his commitment to responsible stewardship of Alaska’s wildlife resources.
 

Through his research, educational outreach, and photographic work, Alec translates field observations into insights that inform and engage the public, demonstrating that effective advocacy can occur through both professional practice and personal choices. Alec volunteers with other conservation nonprofits as well, feeding his passion for waterfowl hunting and conservation, all of which occurs on public lands.

Rory O’Hanrahan — Events & Outreach Assistant Chair
Rory O’Hanrahan leads by example—believing that being visible and active on public lands is one of the strongest forms of advocacy. Whether floating the wild and scenic Gulkana River with his family or camping under the midnight sun, Rory demonstrates what it means to cherish and responsibly use public lands.

Beyond the field, Rory helps co-host pint nights and community events that build lasting relationships among hunters, anglers, and conservationists. These gatherings are where advocacy begins—through shared stories, collaboration, and a collective commitment to Alaska’s wild heritage.

Andrew Hardy — Events, Outreach & Stewardship Chair
Andrew Hardy advocates for Alaska’s public lands both publicly and privately. In his public work, Andrew engages with state and federal representatives, coordinates events focused on conservation, and partners with local businesses to advance BHA’s mission.

Privately, Andrew spends nearly all his time recreating on public lands with his family and friends—instilling in his children a deep respect for stewardship and the value of wild spaces. For Andrew, advocacy isn’t just an action—it’s a way of life, rooted in connection, education, and hands-on stewardship.

 

Paul Forward, AK Chapter Board Member at Large

Paul's advocacy has primarily been in the form of going on Podcasts to discuss the issues as well as being an avid writer of letters both to lawmakers and influential members of the outdoor industry. Podcasts Paul has done in the past few months with a focus on public lands issues include: The Blister Podcast, The Outdoor Life Podcast, Journal of Mountain Hunting Beyond the Kill, and Alaska Wild Project. I've also helped host some local events over the past year with the Alaska Chapter in southcentral. More than anything, sharing stories and a love of wild public lands in face to face interactions seems to help as much as anything. A year ago a short film was released on Youtube by Sitka about a hunt that Paul did on public land that also highlighted some important conservation issues.

 

 

 

 

Jordan Koppelmann, AK AFI Liaison

Jordan advocates for Alaska's public lands by getting more service members aware and using them. In military professions where the tempo is extreme, it serves as a gateway to natural stress relief. As weird (to some) as that may seem, it's offered Jordan, and others, an expenonetial amount of just that, and at a minimal monetary cost. When he first got back to Alaska Jordan was stressing out over a spot to take his dog bird hunting, until he opened up onX. To this day, he's still amazed at how much land is open for public use. In return, he finds himself not only enjoying it with close ones and his dog, but also heavily encouraging others to do the same. In an age where technology brings the likes of nature to your screen at the click of a button, it's even more important to disconnect and experience it first hand. In Alaska specifically, it's detrimental, as safeguarding wild public lands is essential to the subsistence lifestyle and cultural identity of it's people. Getting service members outside, be it hunting or fishing, and exposing them to the outdoors is healthy, and Jordan firmly stands by that. "If I can bring more people to the fight, more voices will be heard, and we can strengthen the effort to keep public lands in public hands."

 

 

 

Brewing Partners Supporting Public Lands

We’re also proud to highlight our brewery partners—Black Spruce Brewing in Fairbanks and Forbidden Peak Brewery in Juneau—for their participation in BHA’s nationwide Public Lands Pint Ale collaboration. Through their partnership, they’re helping raise awareness and funds to protect the places we love to hunt, fish, and explore.

Grab a pint, raise a glass, and toast to Alaska’s public lands—because every pour helps preserve the wild country we all share.
 

 

 

Together for Alaska’s Wild Public Lands
From fieldwork and photography to policy and public events, advocacy takes many forms. What unites our board and partners is a shared belief that Alaska’s wild places are worth protecting—for the next adventure, the next generation, and the future of our public lands.