Chapter News and Issues

Media Chapter News State Issues

Roadless Rule Rollback

Roadless Rule Rollback On June 24 Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) posted a statement (“USDA Rescinds Near Quarter Century Old Protections for 58.5 Million Acres of National Forest Lands”)...
Media Chapter News Press Releases State Issues

BHA Condemns Senate Proposal to Sell Off Up to 3 Million Acres of Public Lands

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 11, 2025  Contact: media@backcountryhunters.org    MISSOULA, Mont. — Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) is rebuking a sweeping new proposal released by the Senate...
Media State Issues

Privatization of Public Lands

“Privatization of Public Lands.” Colorado Springs (Colo.) Gazette: 6/5/25 Public lands, and hence hunting, are under threat like never before. From states such as Utah (and 14 others) laying...
Media Chapter News State Issues

Public Lands Mountain Merriam’s Hunt

Access And Opportunity Are On The Chopping Block Public lands, and hence hunting, are under threat like never before. From states like Utah (and 14 others) laying claim to Bureau of Land...
Media Chapter News

Colorado BHA Spring 2025 Newsletter

“Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you.” - Pericles Standing Strong for Colorado’s Public Lands Across the nation, policies...
Media Chapter News Press Releases State Issues

10th Circuit Court Affirms District Court Decision in Corner-Crossing Case, Upholding Public Access Rights

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:   March 18, 2025      CONTACT:   Devin O’Dea, Western Policy & Conservation Manager, odea@backcountryhunters.org     Denver, CO – In a huge victory for public land owners,...
Media Chapter News State Issues

Western State Policy Spotter - March

This is your March 4th edition of BHA's Western Policy Spotter - a high-level scan of state policy and legislation impacting wild public lands, waters and wildlife across the West. Note - this...
Media State Issues

Colorado BHA Statement of SN25-053, Protect Wild Bison

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is a member organization that seeks to ensure North America's outdoor heritage of hunting and fishing in a natural setting, through education and work on behalf of...
Media Chapter News State Issues

Western State Policy Spotter - First Look

Welcome to your first glimpse of BHA's Western Policy Spotter - a high-level scan of state policy and legislation impacting wild public lands, waters and wildlife across the West. Much like...
Media Chapter News

Colorado BHA Winter 2024 Newsletter

As 2024 came to a close, Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers looked back on a year of many successes. We had one of our most active and impactful stewardship seasons ever, removing miles of...
Media Chapter News State Issues

Senate Committee Advances Final Public Lands and Waters Legislation for the 118th Congress

On November 19, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held its final Business Meeting of the 118th Congress. The record-breaking number of bills on the docket highlights the backlog of...
Media Chapter News

6x6 Karma: The Bear Facts

During the late summer/early fall I spend several days in the San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado scouting rifle season elk hunting locales. I’m not looking for elk, specifically, but for...
Media Chapter News

Colorado BHA Fall 2024 Newsletter

“Deerness manifests a death.My word is grateful.”- Ursula K. Le Guin, Always Coming Home Fall is here, and hunting season is in full swing. Even as many of us turn our thoughts to filling...
Media Chapter News Backcountry Journal

Hunting on the Ballot

This article also appears in the Fall 2024 issue of Backcountry Journal.    By Bryan Jones This fall the public’s right to hunt will take center stage on the ballot in Colorado with a proposed...
Media Chapter News

Q3 CO BHA News Update

“If you want to hunt, first you have to have animals to hunt. And if you want animals, first they’ve got to have habitat to live in. So, if you’re not trying to protect habitat and improve it and...
Media Chapter News State Issues

Thompson Divide Mineral Withdrawal: A Win for All

Backcountry Journal: Summer 2024 Backcountry hunters and anglers value wild country, clean water and intact habitat. It’s a founding principal of this organization, and one that remains a priority...
Media Chapter News State Issues

Colorado BHA Chapter Newsletter, Summer 2024

“The solution to any problem–work, love, money, whatever–is to go fishing, and the worse the problem, the longer the trip should be.” John Gierach, Standing in a River Waving a Stick   Welcome to...
Media Chapter News State Issues

Colorado BHA Q2 2024 Update

“The natural world sustains us with clean air, unpolluted water, recreation, and natural resources. If we destroy nature, we destroy ourselves.” –Jim Posewitz, Beyond Fair Chase[1]   Backcountry...
Media Chapter News State Issues

CO BHA Chapter Newsletter Spring 2024

“One swallow does not make a summer, but one skein of geese, cleaving the murk of March thaw, is the spring.”  -Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac   There’s no other organization like Backcountry...
Media Chapter News

The Patron Saints of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) started around a campfire during March 2004, thanks to seven hunters and anglers, men and women, the “Gang of Seven.”[1] They were inspired by the political...
Media Chapter News State Issues

Colorado BHA Q1 2024 Update

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) mission is to ensure North America’s outdoor heritage of hunting and fishing in a natural setting, through education and work on behalf of wild public lands,...
Media Chapter News State Issues

Stalking Wildness: BHA’s Wilderness Warriors

Stalking Wildness: BHA’s Wilderness Warriors The title caught my attention: “Wilderness Warriors: Tales of Backcountry Hunting and Veteran Camaraderie.” It was for a Backcountry Hunters & Anglers...
Media Chapter News State Issues

Elk Hunting: A State of Mind (& Body)

“Elk hunting is a physically and mentally grueling endeavor, but is also worth every second for nothing other than the clarity it can provide in your life.” –Tony J. Peterson[1]   During...
Media Chapter News State Issues

Colorado BHA Q4 2023 Update

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) mission is to ensure North America’s outdoor heritage of hunting and fishing in a natural setting, through education and work on behalf of wild public lands,...
Media Chapter News

CO Chapter Newsletter Fall 2023

“A world in which a sacramental portion of food can be taken in an old way—hunting, fishing, farming and gathering—has as much to do with societal sanity as a day's work for a day's pay.” – Tom...
Media Chapter News

Colorado BHA Q3 2023 Update

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) mission is to ensure North America’s outdoor heritage of hunting and fishing in a natural setting, through education and work on behalf of wild public lands,...
Media Chapter News State Issues

Colorado Chapter Newsletter Summer 2023

“What if I made a bunch of money and die before I can spend it to buy the free time to fish?” – Jim Harrison, Field & Stream, February 2003 Hopefully you’re taking Mr. Harrison’s warning to heart,...
Media Chapter News

Colorado BHA Volunteer of the Month

Alex Krebs BHA Member of the Month: June 2023 (Colorado BHA Southwest Group Assistant Regional Director) During the spring of 2022 Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Southwest Group Assistant...
Media Chapter News

Colorado BHA Hosts Its 14th Annual Rendezvous

Colorado BHA 14th Annual Rendezvous Report: Gunnison National Forest (June 9-11, 2023) The Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers 14th Annual Rendezvous was held in Gunnison National Forest south...
Media Chapter News

Mountain Merriam’s (Snow Toms) Hunt

The winter of 2022/2023 produced epic snow totals in Southwest Colorado. As Durango resident Dave Marston (publisher of Writers on the Range) pointed out, it was “obvious this winter as roofs...
Media State Issues

Hunting Ethically Is Good, Hard Work

While hunting Rocky Mountain elk or mountain Merriam’s turkeys or any other wild game in southwest Colorado’s San Juan Mountains I generally endeavor to meet up with Colorado Backcountry Hunters &...
Media Chapter News

Colorado BHA Q2 2023 Update

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) mission is to ensure North America’s outdoor heritage of hunting and fishing in a natural setting, through education and work on behalf of wild public lands,...
Media Chapter News

Spring 2023 CO BHA Newsletter

“Spring, in addition to many other things, is a time for renewal of memories that may have grown dim during the winter.” – Sigurd F. Olson, Wilderness Days  As the days grow longer and the weather...
Media Chapter News

Jackson Mountain Trails Proposal

As members of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, we are passionate about preserving the natural habitats of game and nongame species alike. It's time to take action to mitigate the impact of...
Media Chapter News

2023 COLORADO RENDEZVOUS

BACKCOUNTRY HUNTERS & ANGLERS  2023 COLORADO RENDEZVOUS  SOAP CREEK CORRALS, GUNNISON COLORADO  A CALL TO THE WILD:  The Gunnison Region BHA folks are pleased to bring the ‘23 Colorado...
Media Chapter News

Colorado BHA Q1 2023 Update

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) mission is to ensure North America’s outdoor heritage of hunting and fishing in a natural setting, through education and work on behalf of wild public lands,...
Media Chapter News

The Ghost Bulls of Colorado

“Taking the life of such a large, magnificent animal can change you. Looking into its lifeless eyes sticks with you.” It’s early Wednesday morning (September 21, 2022) and nearly pitch black on...
Media Chapter News

Colorado BHA Winter Newsletter

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Colorado Chapter Newsletter Winter 2022 “Nature is not a place to visit. It is home.” – Gary Snyder[1] Recently, I found myself in a vegetarian restaurant in New York...
Media Chapter News

CO BHA Summer Newsletter

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Colorado Chapter Newsletter Summer 2022 “What I stand for is what I stand on.” – Wendell Berry Welcome to the first edition of our Colorado Backcountry Hunters &...
Media Chapter News

CO BHA Comments On State Trails Policy

Public Comment - State Trails Program Policy and Grants May 27, 2022 Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission Members of our organizations have been actively engaged with the State trails program...
Media State Issues

CO BHA Comments on Hidden Lakes Trail Proposal

The attached letter authored by Colorado Chapter Leader Craig Grother and Policy and Government Relations Director John Gale was sent to the Telluride Mountain Club regarding mountain biking trail...
Media State Issues

Colorado Chapter Engages on GPS Points Bill

Senate Bill 22-169, "Sensitive Species Data And Public Records: Concerning the nondisclosure of sensitive species information under the "Colorado Open Records Act" is an important bill that will...
Media Chapter News

Hunting Mountain Merriam’s (& Gettin’ Schooled)

More often than not encounters with mountain Merriam’s end with hunters getting schooled by wary toms or watching them from afar. After getting busted by a tom not long after sunup, we encountered...
Media Chapter News

Colorado BHA Q2 2022 Update

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) was born around a campfire in March 2004 thanks to seven hunters and anglers, men and women, taking the initiative.[1] That’s how all battles are begun and won!...
Media Chapter News

Colorado Hunters and Anglers - Vote No on Amendment 78

Soon we will all fill out our ballots (or head to the polls) to join in the 2021 election. One of the initiatives we are asked to decide is Amendment 78, officially known as the Custodial Funds...
Media Chapter News

The ABCs of LTEs: Writing Letters to the Editor

“Brave words are brave acts.” –David “Elkheart” Petersen[1] Renowned trad bow elk hunter David Petersen (a former U.S. Marine Corps helicopter pilot) founded the Colorado Backcountry Hunters &...
Media State Issues

Colorado Wolf Statement

The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation and the Public Trust Doctrine define fish and wildlife resources as the property of the people and managed by the state and federal agencies...
Media Chapter News

Winter 2021 Colorado Chapter News

    Colorado recently lost a strong voice for wildlands and wildlife when BHA member Kent Ingram passed away (on Aug. 28). Kent was a consummate hunter-angler-conservationist and his lifetime of...
Media Chapter News

Colorado Get Outdoors Giveaway!

We are launching the Get Outdoors Giveaway to bring attention to the Great American Outdoors Act moving forward in Congress right now and to ask for your support. The Colorado Chapter has worked...
Media Chapter News State Issues

E-Bikes & Elk: A Bad Combination

A recent story in The Aspen Times (“Traditional cyclists, e-bikers clash over new trail rules across Colorado,” 5/17/20) included some observations from Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) State...
Media Chapter News

Mountain Merriam’s Chess Match

During April 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt embarked on a month-long hunting trip up Divide Creek near Silt.[1] TR described the region as “a great, wild country … where the mountains crowded...
Media Chapter News

Spring 2020 Colorado Chapter News

  The Colorado BHA chapter has appointed five new Chapter Leadership Team (CLT) members: Liz Rose, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) State Trust Lands Liaison;[1] Kyle Vistuba, Membership...
Media Chapter News

Timber to Table Elk Hunt

Stephen came home from a BHA fundraiser, happy to tell me he had bid and won a guided elk hunt. I didn’t know right away that I would be going with him as the hunter.  He told me later that the...
Media Chapter News

Winter 2020 Colorado Chapter News

The Colorado BHA chapter recently appointed several new Chapter Leadership Team members, including: Mesa County-Grand Valley Assistant Regional Director Becca Fowler; Southeast Colorado Events...
Media Chapter News

Gunnison Hosts Bighorn Observation Program Lecture

You may have heard of the Bighorn Observation Program in the Weminuche Wilderness in southwestern Colorado. If not, check out this story by High Country News. Program creators Terry Meyers, the...
Media State Issues

CO BHA Member Reports Illegal OHV Use

On September 14th, a BHA member and Denver resident was preparing for the opening day of Colorado’s muzzleloader season by scouting one of his most reliable spots when he witnessed a truck parked...
Media Chapter News

Fall 2019 Colorado Chapter News

The Colorado BHA chapter recently appointed several new Chapter Leadership Team members, including Sam Williamson to serve as a Northern Colorado Assistant Regional Director, Gabriela...
Media Chapter News

Colorado Chapter Celebrates New Hunting Grounds

Photo Credit: Good Bull Outdoors   Earlier this week Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) announced the locations of state trust lands now accessible to hunters and anglers across the state of...
Media Chapter News

CO BHA Attends USFS Taylor Park Field Trip

The U.S. Forest Service’s GMUG Ranger District and the Center for Public Lands teamed up to provide an informative field trip to Taylor Park. Field trippers convened at the Tin Cup Town Hall and...
Media Chapter News

Summer 2019 Colorado Chapter News

The Colorado BHA chapter recently appointed two new Chapter Leadership Team members: John Barkowski, serving as our Assistant Regional Director for the Southeast Colorado Group, and Michael Kozer,...
Media Chapter News

BHA Co-hosts Public GMUG Comment Writing Workshop

On July 16th, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (BHA) partnered with High Country Conservation Advocates (HCCA) to host a public comment writing workshop in Crested Butte, Colorado. The workshop was...
Media Chapter News

CO BHA Holds a Learn to Hunt Turkeys Seminar

For Colorado Public Lands Day on May 18th, 2019, the Colorado Chapter of BHA held a Learn to Hunt Turkey Seminar in Gunnison. The event featured an educational seminar, a target shooting field...
Media Chapter News

CSU Work Project

On April 27th, 2019, the Colorado State University (CSU) Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (BHA), accompanied by the CSU chapters of Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and The Wildlife...
Media Chapter News

Naturita River Access Project

For many years, even among local boaters, there has been much uncertainty and confusion about legal access points for running the section of the San Miguel River near Naturita, CO. This Spring,...
Media Chapter News

CO Habitat Watch Volunteer Leads Stewardship Effort

We all know what a difficult and lengthy journey it is to get a habitat project off the ground. That’s why it is so important to continue monitoring these projects to ensure our efforts are making...
Media Chapter News

Your Backcountry: San Juan Wilderness

Renowned elk hunter (and Colorado BHA founder) David Petersen describes, in his book A Man Made of Elk, a bugling bull as “an otherworldly music … like a calamitous crescendo of bluesy high notes...
Media Chapter News

CO BHA Appoints Two Habitat Watch Volunteers

Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Appoint Habitat Watch Volunteers The Colorado chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers recently appointed two Habitat Watch Volunteers (HWVs): Justin...
Media Chapter News

Sportsmen for the San Juan Mountains Wilderness

The Colorado Chapter of BHA is proud to announce the launching of the Sportsmen for the San Juan Mountains Wilderness Coalition. We have joined TU, Artemis, and a number of Colorado Business...
Media State Issues

CO Chapter Comments on Trail Development Plan in Western CO

Colorado Parks and Wildlife                                                                                                                        September 19, 2018 State Trails Program 13787 US...
Media State Issues

GMUG Wilderness Evaluation Comment Period

Right now the Forest Service is evaluating backcountry landscapes within the Grand Mesa Uncompahgre and Gunnision National Forests (GMUG) for wilderness suitability - to determine which...
Media Chapter News

Colorado BHA Remembers Chapter Patriarch Bill Sustrich

Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) member, William “Bill” Henry Sustrich, 91, of Salida died on July 25, 2018. He was two months shy of 92 years old. “He enjoyed BHA so we have asked for...
Media Chapter News State Issues

Bighorn Observation Volunteers Needed Colorado BHA

Project Lead: SW Colorado BHA Regional Director Dan Parkinson DVM                                    docdanp@gmail.com  970-759-0545    Why?  Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep, the highly valued and...
Media Chapter News

Campfire Storytelling Event at New Belgium a Big Hit

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Campfire Stories/Public Lands Day Celebration “Was Pretty Darn Cool” A recent Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (and Filson) Campfire Stories Public Lands Day celebration...
Media Chapter News

Colorado BHA Member of the Month

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Recognize U.S. Army Veteran as Member of the Month Russell Bassett, Colorado Front Range Sponsor/Events Coordinator, BHA The Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA)...
Media Chapter News

2018 Colorado Chapter Rendezvous

The Colorado BHA 2018 Chapter Rendezvous will be on June 1-3 at the Lakeview campground in the Pike-San Isabel National Forest (about 29 miles north of Buena Vista) in the vicinity of the Twin...
Media Chapter News

A Big Win for Sportsmen and Wildlife in Colorado

In a big win for sportsmen and wildlife, this week the Colorado State Legislature passed two separate pieces of legislation securing critical funding for Colorado Parks and Wildlife and other...
Media Chapter News State Issues

Colorado State Trails Grant Program Comments Needed

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Trails Program (i.e., State Trails Grant Committee) distributes millions in grants to user groups and federal agencies in Colorado for trail development each...
Media Chapter News

Trapshooting Gaining Popularity

In Colorado, and on public lands nationwide, ATV/OHV overuse and abuse is increasingly impacting big game (and other wildlife) habitat and related watersheds for trout and other aquatic species....
Media Chapter News

Uncompahgre RMP Comments - Adam Gall

October 28, 2016 Uncompahgre Field Office   2465 Townsend Ave. Montrose, CO  81401 Comments on the Draft RMP/EIS for the Uncompahgre Field Office Adam Gall, Colorado BHA Assistant Central West...
Media Chapter News

Uncompahgre RMP Comments - Craig Grother

Project Manager, Uncompahgre RMP                                                                                  October 27, 2016 Bureau of Land Management Uncompahgre Field Office 2465 South...
Media Chapter News

September 2016 Member of the Month

BHA Member of the Month (for September 2016), Matt Anderson, took the bull by the horns during August when he hosted a Full Draw Film Tour event in Longmont, Colorado. With little time to plan,...
Media Chapter News

Colorado BHA Summer 2016 Update

Colorado BHA held its 8th annual rendezvous during early June in the San Isabel National Forest west of Salida. During the weekend we recognized BHA Life Member Steven Choromanski for spearheading...
Media State Issues

Rico-West Dolores Travel Management Plan

Help us protect the Rico/West Dolores region in the San Juan National Forest (SJNF) from excessive motorized trails while safeguarding these 245,000 acres of the Dolores River watershed for...
Media Chapter News

Colorado BHA Spring 2016 Update

Colorado BHA wrapped up a series of four Hunter Happy Hours (aka “Beers for the Backcountry”) in December. Thanks to all those who helped organize these events, Bob Shettel and Kevin Alexander in...
Media State Issues

Sportsmen Applaud Drone Ban in Colorado

DENVER, COLORADO — Sportsmen from Colorado and beyond today applauded the state of Colorado for moving to protect traditional, fair chase hunting by curbing the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles...
Media State Issues

And Now for Some Good News in Conservation…

Meanwhile, back on the home-front, a coalition of sportsmen and conservation groups scored-big by winning a lawsuit which challenged plans for irresponsible oil and gas development on Bureau of...