Since joining BHA in 2016, Rick Seymour, a U.S. Air Force veteran, has been a veritable whirlwind of activity. Last year he singlehandedly coordinated Colorado BHA’s participation in the Train to Hunt Challenge, held in Eagle, Colorado, and accepted an appointment to Colorado’s Forest Health Advisory Council as the sportsman organization representative. He also organized a Beers for the Backcountry gathering in New Castle, and in June he became Colorado BHA’s first Sponsor & Events Coordinator.

However, this was just a warmup for 2017! So far this year Rick has manned a BHA table at the Hunting Film Tour in Grand Junction, organized Beers for the Backcountry gatherings in New Castle and Grand Junction, and is leading multiple Colorado Public Lands Day events: assisting the BLM in cleaning up areas northwest of Rifle, near Grand Junction and northeast of Newcastle. Rick also teamed up with the BLM’s Colorado River Valley Field office to post ATV/OHV enforcement signage on 10 trails where the BLM has detected illegal motorized access.

If that’s not enough, Rick has penned a dozen letters to the editor that have been published in a half-dozen regional papers covering topics ranging from supporting the Continental Divide Wilderness and Recreation Act to opposing Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz’s bills to sell 3.3 million acres of public lands and to terminate the law enforcement functions of the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. As Rick said in one of his letters, “Please keep in mind … that none of Colorado is suitable for disposal and all of Colorado needs law enforcement.” And our wild public lands, waters and wildlife need many more hardworking, selfless, boots-on-the-ground hunter-conservationists like Rick!

For additional information on the Rick’s efforts/work see:

-Colorado BHA Sponsor/Events Coordinator (& BHA Life Member) Rick Seymour was recognized as BHA’s Volunteer of the Month for May 2016: http://www.backcountryhunters.org/co_bha_award_winners

-“Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Promote/Recognize Chapter Leaders.” AmmoLand.com: 6/23/16. http://www.ammoland.com/2016/06/colorado-backcountry-hunters-anglers-promoterecognize-chapter-leaders/

-Rick Seymour appointed to the Forest Health Advisory Council: http://www.backcountryhunters.org/rick_seymour_appointed_to_forest_health_advisory_council

-Colorado BHA Teams-Up with BLM Field Office To Protect Habitat & Access: http://www.backcountryhunters.org/colorado_bha_teams_up_with_blm_field_office_to_protect_habitat_access

-A public lands LTE (“Questioning Tipton,” 1/9/17) from Rick Seymour: http://www.craigdailypress.com/news/2017/jan/09/rick-seymour-questioning-tipton/ --Rick Seymour: An open letter to Rep. Scott Tipton: http://www.aspentimes.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/an-open-letter-to-rep-scott-tipton/

-Rick Seymour. “None of Colorado ‘fit for disposal.’” The Aspen Times: 1/29/17. http://www.aspentimes.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/none-of-colorado-fit-for-disposal/

-Rick Seymour. “Protect Camp Hale, surroundings.” PostIndependent (Glenwood Springs, Colo.): 2/1/17. http://www.postindependent.com/opinion/letter-protect-camp-hale-surroundings/

-Rick Seymour. “Congress mulling public’s role in BLM land-use planning.” Grand Junction (Colo.) Daily Sentinel (scroll down): http://www.gjsentinel.com/opinion/articles/better-pay-for-municipal-workers-should-be-priorit

-Rick Seymour. “Sustainable and healthy western economies flourish with accessible public lands available.” Grand Junction (Colo.) Daily Sentinel (scroll down): 3/29/17. http://www.gjsentinel.com/opinion/articles/email-letters-march-29-2017 -Rick Seymour. “Is this our land?” The Aspen Times: 3/4/17. http://www.aspentimes.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/is-this-land-our-land/

-Rick Seymour. “HB 17-1321 will ensure Colorado’s outdoor business continues to thrive.” Grand Junction (Colo.) Daily Sentinel: 4/24/17 (scroll down). http://www.gjsentinel.com/opinion/articles/email-letters-april-24-2017 -Rick Seymour. “Support CPW bill.” Glenwood Spring (Colo.) Post-Independent: 4/27/17. http://www.postindependent.com/opinion/letter-support-cpw-bill/

-Rick Seymour. “Public land landlocked by private owners.” The Durango Herald: 4/10/17. https://durangoherald.com/articles/149943

-Rick Seymour. “HB 17-1321 will ensure Colorado’s outdoor business continues to thrive.” Grand Junction (Colo.) Daily Sentinel: 4/24/17 (scroll down). http://www.gjsentinel.com/opinion/articles/email-letters-april-24-2017 -Rick Seymour. “Support CPW bill.” Glenwood Spring (Colo.) Post-Independent: 4/27/17. http://www.postindependent.com/opinion/letter-support-cpw-bill/

-Rick Seymour. “Grand Junction based manufacturer [Seek Outside] recently awarded [BHA’s] Larry Fischer award.” Grand Junction, Colo., Daily Sentinel: 5/8/17 (scroll down): http://www.gjsentinel.com/opinion/articles/email-letters-may-8-2017

-Rick Seymour. “Report littering on your public lands.” Grand Junction (Colo.) Daily Sentinel: 5/17/17 (scroll down). http://www.gjsentinel.com/opinion/articles/email-letters-may-17-2017