Hello from the Montana Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers! We hope you're beginning the new year by taking stock of a successful 2024 in the backcountry, as well as looking forward to what adventures 2025 will bring. While you're at it, take a moment to see what we've been up to this winter and how you can get involved with BHA in the coming months.     Montana's 2025 legislative session has begun, and Montana BHA is working hard to track bills and comment on issues that affect public ...

To welcome the new year, the Montana BHA board elected a new leader, Jake Schwaller, after our previous Chair, John B. Sullivan III, completed his term. First and foremost, we are grateful for the years of exceptional dedication and leadership John gave to BHA and are happy to retain him on the board in the position of Immediate Past Chair. Jake certainly has big boots to fill, and we look forward to the great work he will do in his new role. To give members an idea of Jake’s background and ...

The arrival of fall means many things to a hunter. Here in Montana in September, I’m often conflicted by the dueling options of archery elk hunting and the upland bird season. Bow or shotgun? Bugling bulls or flushing grouse? Either adventure awaits a mere hour’s drive from my porch. An embarrassment of riches, sure, but still a tough choice. Sometimes I let my appetite decide, and last week I had a craving for one of my favorite comfort foods: grouse and dumplings. A play on the southern ...

Whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni) often get a bad rap among Western anglers, but the native salmonid deserves our respect as both worthy quarry and delicious table fare. Related species dominate deli cases in Manhattan and potlucks throughout the Midwest, and the Mountain Whitefish—with its wide distribution throughout the Pacific Northwest—should be no exception. Their mild, firm flesh is ideal for smoking and incorporation in salads and spreads, and this recipe highlights the simplicity of ...

I’m a daydreamer at heart, and I spend a lot of time fantasizing about recipes during the big game hunting season. Between the idle hours spent driving to trailheads, hiking to glassing knobs in the dark, and waiting for first light, my mind frequently wanders to winter and spring, when I’ll (hopefully) transform the meat from a successful harvest into nourishing and delicious meals for my family and friends. Part of this is purely logistical—I need to plan what to use and how, in order to ...