Cameron is a Washington native who currently resides in the heart of the Cascade mountains amidst the Mt Baker/Snoqualmie National Forst in Sultan, Washington. From a very young age, he spent most of his time outdoors from hiking and camping to snowboarding to ORV recreation. During his 20’s he discovered a passion for hunting, beginning with the thrill of waterfowl and upland bird, then developing into a desire to chase big game such as elk, bear, and deer. His obsession with blacktail deer and upland birds has fueled his desire to become immersed in public lands and the wild places they inhabit. He explores all options from rifle to archery, seizing any opportunity to set foot afield.
With the motivational words of Aldo Leopold, Theodore Roosevelt, Gifford Pinchot, and others he developed a passion and sense of responsibility to help preserve and protect the public places for his two sons and all others who enjoy them.
I love to chase both elk AND upland birds, as they both lead me to explore beautiful places that require immense physicality.
The Your mountain podcast.
Alaskan Caribou or Southeast Alaska Sitka Blacktail hunt.
Dan grew up on Washington’s Hood Canal before relocating to Eastern Washington in 2006. After a few years working overseas, he came home with a deeper appreciation for the unique experience of American public lands and a reinvigorated interest in hunting and fishing. Whether crashing his Dad’s deer camp, discovering his own morel honey hole or picking up fly fishing in the last few years, his desire to be an outdoor generalist keeps him in the field year-round. An academic background in anthropology informs his perspective that through food, development and culture, hunting is intrinsic to the human experience.
Dan resides in Spokane with his wife and son, as well as two dogs that couldn’t hunt their way out of a paper bag. He is deeply committed to advancing recruitment, retention and reactivation in hunting and angling, especially reaching out to develop new participants from diverse backgrounds.
A perfectly seared pronghorn backstrap with a huckleberry balsamic reduction is about as good as it gets.
For hunting I really enjoy the Average Conservationist to get an idea of how other people are giving back to the outdoors. Wild Thing is a great long-form podcast on the enduring cultural impact and relevance of bigfoot that I enjoyed more than I would have ever expected and anyone who cares about public lands should listen to Bundyville.
A free-range Aoudad hunt in Texas or New Mexico.
Ryan lives in Wenatchee, WA with his wife and two kids. Ryan and his wife love getting out on our public lands and waters hunting and fishing, with both young kids in tow. Ryan has a Bachelors degree in Environmental Policy, which he doesn't currently use for work instead using his knowledge in volunteering his time with groups like BHA.
My favorite wild game to pursue is by far elk with my bow but I’m starting to develop a love hate relationship with the challenge of getting a mature mule deer on a backcountry hunt. I cook elk and any game meat in a wide variety of ways, from tongue tacos, shank Ossobuco, and your normal steaks and roasts. I love cooking especially when its something in depth and gathered around with a group of people.
My favorite podcast would have to be Joe Rogan, the array of guests he has on and the varied topics is great, plus he is a very good interviewer/conversationalist. I listen to a lot of podcast so always have something hunting related on my list, Meat eater, Cal's Week, Remi Warren, THC and good ol Hal Herring.
My dream hunt would be to go chase moose and woodland caribou in the Yukon. I have read so many books about the area and just getting to see the area would be spectacular.
Mandy is a Washington State local, who grew up the Westside of the Cascades with her family riding horses through public lands bordering their neighborhood and trolling a wooly bugger behind the drift boat at a local lake. She spent her youth in 4-H and golfed throughout high school and college while completing her BA in Business. After graduating, moving to the Olympic Peninsula and marrying her husband, she got into hunting due to Cash, their GSP. The first season started with a pheasant release site, and ended with notching her first big game tag, on a blacktail doe with her bow. The following years have been spent chasing elk, deer, turkeys, upland birds, waterfowl and salmon.
As Doug Duren best says “its not ours, it’s just our turn”- conservation, habitat improvement and ensuring access to those things we all love is so incredibly important. Through public lands Mandy was able to find where her true passions lie and is incredibly excited to be a part of BHA and help create more opportunities for others to find theirs.
My absolute favorite wild game to pursue is elk with my bow. One of the first dishes I’ll make when I punch an elk tag, will be my favorite blacktail recipe: Sirloin tip cooked in the sous vide with butter, garlic and rosemary at 130 for 4-6 hours, rested for 30-45 minutes then onto the cast iron for a quick hot sear seasoned with salt, pepper and rosemary, garlic and butter in the pan.
Feels impossible to pick one- Cal’s Week in review, Meateater, Live Wild and Cutting the Distance
Backcountry hunt for elk- as far back and away as you can get chasing some screaming bulls with the bow.
Ryan is a seventh generation Washingtonian and grew up on an alfalfa farm in Okanogan County where his parents still live. He grew up hunting and fishing all over Washington State, including hunting for goose in the winter, mule deer, grouse, and other upland bird in the Fall, and trout fishing almost year round. Ryan lives in Cashmere with his wife and kids, and still likes to hunt and fish, and mostly hunts with a compound bow. He's also an avid trail runner and cross-country skier. Professionally, Ryan completed his Masters in Natural Resources and PhD in Water Resources both at University of Idaho. He has worked on various natural resource issues including the impact of dams on river temperatures in Eastern and Western US, forest thinning impacts on water resources in the interior Pacific Northwest, and riparian buffers in Nicaragua. At the Upper Columbia Salmon Recovery Board, Ryan is the Watershed Program Manager and works on a wide array of issues. Ryan is passionate about working with BHA to both increase hunting opportunities and public land access. He's also excited to work with BHA on projects to conserve and improve habitat for fish and game across Washington State.
Elk is on the top of the list. My preferred way is to sauté the meat in some curry or soy sauce. But elk is most palatable to my kids when ground and served in tacos or quesadillas - so that's how I most often cook and consume elk.
I'm all over the place with the podcasts I listen to - history, comedy, hunting, politics, etc. I'm going to try to hunt elk on the west side this year, so I've been listening to any podcast about hunting Roosevelt elk.
Hunting with my kids for mule deer in Washington State. The first big game I shot was a mule deer in the high Cascades with my Dad. The deer wasn't very big, but given the rugged terrain, we earned it. That is a memory I will always cherish. I'm hoping I can give my kids a similar experience hunting.
Bill was born and raised in Spokane and has had a life-long obsession of everything related to the outdoors. It started when Bill was a kid, hunting for deer and grouse with his grandpa and fishing with his dad and older brother. After a four-year hitch in the US Marines, serving two combat tours and receiving a Purple Heart, Bill returned to Spokane and reignited his passion for the outdoors. Now Bill can be found chasing pheasants across the Palouse and eastern Montana, searching for elk south of Spokane or floating down the Spokane, St. Joe or Grande Ronde river with his wife and two dogs.
Bill is a lawyer by trade and a graduate of Gonzaga Law School. With his background in law and policy, Bill aims to help preserve and improve wild lands and the public’s access to them.
Elk has to be my favorite game to pursue but wild pheasants are a very close second. As far as my favorite recipe, it is medium rare elk tenderloin medallions over mashed potatoes and horseradish sauce on the side. Paired with a Caesar salad and glass of good scotch, that is about as close to perfection as one can get.
I generally don’t listen to podcasts (I tend to get distracted too easily) but I did enjoy Zero Dark Thirty.
In 2021, I took a month-long sabbatical during the month of October while in between jobs. During that time, I hunted grouse in northeast Washington, fly fished the Yellowstone with an old high school friend, spent five days hunting pheasants in eastern Montana and rounded out the month by taking a young bull elk in south east Washington. It is really hard to think of a dream hunt which can top that
Matt grew up camping and fishing with his family in Eastern Washington. While serving in the Army he and his wife, Amy, moved to south eastern Alabama. While there, he joined a hunting club so he could hunt whitetail deer, turkey and feral pigs on leased timber land. It was at this time that he became aware of how amazing the public lands that he grew up on were. After the Army, Matt and Amy returned to Spokane where he continued to hunt whitetail deer and started hunting for elk, ruffed grouse and pheasant.
In the summer months he enjoys being thigh deep in a secret mountain stream fly fishing with his two sons, Logan and Derek. When not fishing with the boys, he and Amy enjoy kayaking the Little Spokane River and the Priest Lake thoroughfare.
My favorite wild game to pursue right now is Elk with a black power rifle in North Eastern Washington. Sadly, I have been unsuccessful. My favorite game to cook is whitetail deer. There is nothing better than venison blackstrap pan seared in a cast iron skillet.
I listen to a wide variety of podcasts including WTF, PulpMX, Americana Podcast, The Problem with John Stewart and The Good Ol’ Grateful Deadcast.
Anything Alaska especially goats or sheep.
Dallas spent the majority of my 20's chasing employment from Washington to Arizona to afford school and graduated from the University of Idaho with a BS just a shade under a decade later after drifting through several universities, community college and Spokane county jail. Currently work as a Natural Resource Specialist for the Yakama Tribe focusing on stream and upland meadow restoration.
My favorite big game to pursue is Chinook salmon and I like it grilled.
Favorite podcast is Fire Ecology Chats.
Dream hunt: Dog n dagger pig hunt, Hawaii.
Nick is a Washington native and a "west side refugee" escaping to North Central Washington in 2022. He grew up poor with the woods as his free playground growing up. Now living near Wenatchee allows Nick to easily escape to his favorite wilderness areas Pasayten, Glacier Peak, and Alpine Lakes. True to his surname, which means Mountaineer in Italian, you'll find Nick exploring the mountains and chasing mountain Mulies. He enjoys any hunting opportunities but also focuses on upland and waterfowl in the shrubsteppe with his dog, Rhea.
With a Master in Public Administration and a background in teaching and volunteerism, Nick switched from a nonprofit career to now working with WDFW Hunter Education because he deeply believes in conservation and hunting's important role for wildlife, people, and wild places. He is also a First Hunt Foundation mentor helping new hunters.
Deer and steaks over a fire. Keep it simple with salt, pepper, and good wood for good smoke.
Hunt Backcountry by Exo Mountain Gear followed by The Hunter Farmer Artisan podcast.
Mountain Goat Billy near Mt. Baker with a rifle hopefully harvested in October for a great coat.
Justin was raised in the Bellingham area and the San Juan Islands. He now lives happily on the eastern slopes of the Cascades nestled amongst some of the largest tracts of public land Washington has to offer and perhaps some of the best habitat for big game. As a young adult, he decided to learn how to hunt. He’s still learning.
He earned a B.A.S. in Wildlife Ecology and Natural Resource Management from the Evergreen State College. He’s been employed to research wildlife, enhance habitat, raise cattle, and manage wildfire. He now works for a King County fire and EMS agency and is thrilled to be a part of the Washington Chapter of BHA.
What is your favorite wild game to pursue, and how do you cook it?
I love the way hunting changes the way I experience and interact with a landscape. I love feeling like a participant in an ecosystem. I’ve enjoyed every hunt I’ve been on. Mule Deer and Elk are the two species that have always motivated me the most. I love them and their habitats. My family eats a lot of meat, so getting a deer and/or an elk is a good deal. I think my favorite thing ever is eating steaks. If I had to narrow that down, I’d say backstraps. Marinated… grilled… or sautéed with copious amounts of fat… yes.
What is your favorite podcast?
Well, I think Hal Herring’s work on the BHA Podcast & Blast is fantastic. I also dig the stuff coming out from Prolonged Field Care, the Wilderness Medical Society, the Wildfire Lessons Learned Center, the Art of Range, etc.
What is your dream hunt (species and location)?
Any wild sheep hunt anywhere in wild sheep country.
Tom is a passionate outdoorsman with over 20 years of experience in fishing, specializing in steelhead. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, he developed a deep connection to the region’s rivers and wild landscapes. Now living in Maple Valley with his wife Anne, Tom has recently ventured into the world of hunting, expanding his love for conservation and outdoor recreation.
He is especially committed to protecting wild fish populations and advocating for access to fishing and hunting locations. Tom is dedicated to ensuring that current and future generations have the opportunity to experience the joys of angling and hunting. He brings a fresh perspective as a newer hunter, along with a steadfast dedication to advocating for responsible stewardship of public lands and preserving access to these vital resources.
His passion for preserving the natural beauty of the PNW and protecting its ecosystems is at the core of his involvement with Backcountry Hunters & Anglers.
My favorite wild game to pursue has to be winter steelhead. There’s nothing quite like the challenge of chasing these incredible fish during the colder months. While I mainly practice catch and release for wild steelhead, the most prized catch in the Northwest, in my opinion, is the spring Chinook salmon. When it comes to cooking, I like to keep it simple and let the fresh flavor shine—just a bit of lemon, salt, pepper, and butter does the trick for a delicious meal.
My favorite podcasts are Remi Warren's Cutting the Distance and Live Wild. I really enjoy his ability to break down hunting tactics and share his wealth of knowledge. I also tune into Cal's Week in Review to stay updated on important conservation topics, and I regularly listen to the Rokslide Podcast. Robby's insights into hunting mountain mule deer are invaluable, and I’m always looking to learn from his expertise.
My dream hunt would be a Wyoming mule deer adventure on horseback, immersing myself in the rugged backcountry and creating enough wild stories to last a lifetime. On the fishing side, catching a 30-pound steelhead on the Dean River would be the ultimate experience—combining breathtaking scenery with the thrill of landing a true giant.
Rebekah originally grew up in the Midwest hunting Indiana whitetails and squirrels before moving to Washington in 2020 for graduate school. Washington quickly felt like and became home, especially after marrying a West Coast guy, and she now resides in Olympia with her husband, Clark. Growing up in a family that valued the outdoors, Rebekah pursued hunting, camping, backpacking, fishing, and anything else that involved being outside all through her childhood and adult life. This passion and love of wild places led her to pursue a B.S. and M.S. in Wildlife Conservation, then work across the country studying wildlife populations. While working, she learned about BHA and started getting involved because so many of her experiences had been on public land, and it’s an amazing resource we need to protect. She is very excited to help advocate for public lands and wildlife in Washington.
Although I love big game hunting, I have a special place in my heart for squirrels, as I grew up heading out my back door to hunt them in the forest behind my house and using it as a break from school when I could be in the woods. One of my favorite squirrel recipes is squirrel pot pie, but I’m often trying something new each time as well.
I’ll have to be a little cliché and say Meateater, although I also listen to a lot of Your Mountain and Ologies (all about different scientific fields).
Elk hunting with my husband and brother. Location doesn’t matter, getting to create memories with two of my favorite people would be the best part.
I grew up in the Pacific Northwest and am an avid public land hunter who enjoys nothing more than pursuing big game with my bow or birds with a shotgun. I am blessed to have an amazing wife who supports my outdoor passions and joins me on many outdoor adventures. We also enjoy spending time on the Hood Canal, where we harvesting crab, spot prawn, salmon, and a variety of shellfish. I began my career at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard shortly after high school, then transferred to Trident Refit Facility Bangor to work on various submarine pumps, eventually changing carriers to being an Occupational Safety and Health Specialist at that same location.
Access to public lands and water is the only way I am able to experience the outdoors in a way that makes sense to me, and the driving force behind my desire to get involved with BHA.
Elk with a bow. I like to cut the ribs and backstrap into tomahawk steaks, salt and coat in cracked pepper then braze in a mix of olive oil and butter with fresh thyme, rosemary, and whole garlic cloves. Serve rare with fried onion, mushrooms, fresh tomato, and Coors Banquet.
Big fan of "The Meateater Podcast", and "Closing the Distance" with Remi Warren.
Pack in on horseback to chase rutting bull elk with my bow in the Montana backcountry.
AFI Liaison
Todd grew up as an active outdoor kid in the Midwest, spending his early childhood running through the woods, climbing trees, building forts, gigging frogs, catching crawdads with bacon on a string, hunting squirrels and rabbits with a single-shot .22, and cooking his catch over a fire. These wild-eyed adventures laid the foundation for the outdoorsman he would become throughout his life.
After leaving those formative experiences behind, Todd attended college through the Air Force ROTC program. Upon graduation, he received his commission and was assigned as an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Launch Officer in Montana. There, he discovered a whole new level of outdoor challenges, from chasing mule deer, elk, and pronghorn to waterfowl and upland hunting, and developing a strong passion for fly fishing. After a long tour in Montana, he was assigned to Central California, where he found his passion for teaching by training space and missile experts to mentor new recruits. He also learned to hunt feral hogs and convinced the base to start a whitewater rafting program on the Kern River. Trained as a swift water rescue technician, Todd developed and ran a program that took active-duty members and their families on rafting trips to help them enjoy and appreciate the outdoors.
Later, at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, he served as a Mission Flight Control Officer, managing the ascent phase of manned and unmanned rocket launches to ensure public safety by "terminating" malfunctioning flights. While stationed in Florida, Todd embraced scuba diving and spearfishing, fished for snook and permit, and eagerly awaited the tarpon bite.
After a 24-year Air Force career, Todd retired and worked to return to the Northwest, which he dearly missed. When an opportunity to teach high school AFJROTC in Washington state arose, he seized it. He now resides in Southwest Washington on a small homestead bordering the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. When not teaching, he serves as the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (BHA) Armed Forces Initiative (AFI) Board President for Washington State. The mission of BHA AFI is to ensure that military members and veterans have the opportunity to continue their service to the nation by protecting public lands and waters, while fostering a community that strengthens their connection to the outdoors.
In addition, Todd volunteers as a member of his local sheriff's office search and rescue team. Channeling his childhood spirit of adventure, Todd spends his time exploring the woods with his wife, foraging for wild edibles and mushrooms, hunting elk, bear, turkey, and blacktail, and learning to fish for salmon and steelhead.
Spot and stalk mule deer. I like to reserve the tenderloins from a successful harvest and prepare a "Steak Diane" that evening.
Meateater is a given. But also Addicted Fishing, Brian Call's Gritty Podcast, the Shawn Ryan Show, and Huberman Lab.
I don't really have a species and location. My dream adventure would be deep in a backcountry, with a couple of close friends, hunting, fishing, foraging, and living off the land for an extended period of time.