A Brief BHA History III: Taking The Initiative and Raisin’ Hell

A Brief BHA History III: Taking The Initiative and Raisin’ Hell

“This is why BHA was built. For this opportunity. For this fight!”

Taking the initiative. That’s how Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) got started over twenty years ago.[1] It’s why the “Gang of Seven” stood around that southern Oregon campfire during March 2004 and brought our BHA tribe into existence.[2] They were anticipating (i.e., hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst) this moment, when our great public lands estate—our unmatched North American hunting and angling heritage—hangs in the balance.[3]

“We’re at a pivotal moment in the history of conservation and management of our public lands and waters. The calls to sell off public lands are no longer mere whispers or rumors,” Backcountry Journal editor Zack Williams wrote. “Those advocating for resource extraction in irreplaceable wild landscapes, such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and Boundary Waters, are becoming increasingly vocal. National monuments, critical areas for hunting, angling, and wildlife habitat, are under review for reduced protections or elimination altogether.”[4]

During June 2025 the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee—chaired by Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT)—advanced budget reconciliation language mandating the sale of some 3 million acres of public lands across 11 Western states.[5] Public lands eligible for sale in the Senate’s bill  include local recreation areas, wilderness study areas, and inventoried roadless areas encompassing critical wildlife habitat and big game migration corridors.[6]

On June 25 BHA released an interactive state-by-state ArcGIS Story Map pinpointing Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service parcels eligible for sale.[7] In addition, an Outdoor Alliance map shows/documents nearly 100,000 miles of trails, 8,232 climbing areas, and 3,405 river miles at risk across the West.[8] Discouraging numbers, but as military strategist Sun Tzu said, “In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.”[9] This is why BHA was built. For this opportunity. For this fight!

The Gang of Seven knew future BHA members would take the initiative, like they had. They were confident that the boots-on-the-ground fortitude, resilience, adaptability, and ingenuity pounded into all of us during days, weeks, and years afield would serve us well in rasin’ hell on behalf of “our wild public lands, waters, and wildlife.” They knew intuitively that we would never give up or give in; we’d always find a way to win or rapidly regroup and return to the offensive if things didn’t go our way.

Thanks to the Gang of Seven, and others, BHA is built on a foundation laid down by the likes of Theodore Roosevelt, a hunter-conservationists and veteran who understood that America’s outdoor heritage depends upon healthy habitat.[10] We take the advice of Roosevelt, who said: “Preserve large tracts of wilderness … for the exercise of the skill of the hunter, whether or not he is a man of means.” We are at our core a tribe of wilderness warriors and public lands advocates.[11]

A  tribe is a family with ties defined (in part) by blood, but also by the strong bond of shared life experiences. Much like our Native American brethren, BHA’s tribe of North American hunting and angling patriots are spread out across the country and continent bonded by shared experiences and common purpose. Public lands, and the inherent freedom therein, unite our tribe, along with a penchant for raisin’ hell in defense of wildlands and wildlife.[12]

Raisin’ Hell

As founding BHA board member Ben Long (author of the Hunter & Angler Field Guide to Raising Hell) wrote in the Summer 2014 Backcountry Journal, “Unlike other groups, we are not focused on a particular species like elk, trout, turkeys or ducks. Nor are we focused on a particular method of take, like the fly rod or bow-and-arrow. Our bond is something else: the backcountry.” A bond as strong as blood amongst our tribe.[13]

The future of wildlands, wildlife, freedom, and democracy hinges on what we give, not what we take. It depends on selfless and determined public servants and public lands advocates taking the initiative. It depends on a continent-wide tribe of public lands warriors who understand that democracy and freedom go hand in hand with public lands and public service. To drive the point home, in the words of BHA’s Armed Forces Initiative (AFI), “Public Lands = Freedom.”[14]

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers allows us to amplify and magnify our collective voices and accomplish feats of conservation we could never attain on our own. However, it can also be uncomfortable going up against the greed-crazed billionaires looking to privatize our public lands, but as Theodore Roosevelt said, “There are many occasions when the highest praise one can receive is the attack of some given scoundrel.”[15]

And as I wrote in a 2021 BHA Blog (“The ABCs Of LTEs: Writing Letters To The Editor”), “If you’re not raising the hackles of a few adversaries you may not be challenging assumptions or changing minds. Said another way, ‘If you’re not pissing someone off, you’re just pissing in the wind.’”[16] Finding common ground and compromise are frequently the name of the game, but our current adversaries aren’t in the mood.

“We’ll work with anyone, anywhere, to find real solutions. But if you’re looking to carve up America’s public lands behind closed doors, you won’t find compromise – you’ll find us,” BHA North American Board Chair (& MeatEater Conservation Director) Ryan “Cal” Callaghan said.[17] As Cal implies, with everything on the line, now is the time to Take Action.[18]

Take Action

Life is, in great part, about continually adapting and overcoming obstacles (i.e., problem solving). That’s inherently how all backcountry hunters operate in the field, so we know the drill as well as anyone. Some problems are small and can be fixed on the fly while others may require years or decades of collaborative efforts, and some require immediate and robust action.[19]

I recall a Winston Churchill quote: “It’s not good enough that we do our best; sometimes we have to do what’s required.”[20] We’ve kept our powder dry long enough. Now’s the time to show up and speak up: Loudly. Clearly. And without compromise. Here’s how we can fight back on behalf of every public landowner. 

Even if you’ve already called your Representative’s and Senator’s offices (Washington, D.C. and/or local offices), DO IT AGAIN! Then again the next day, and the next day. The more ALL (R + D) Senators and Representatives hear from us the better! They ALL need to feel the heat!!

1.) Call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to speak to your Senator or Representative 

2.) Tell them: “My name is [your name], and I’m a public land hunter and angler. I’m calling to urge you to oppose any public land sales in the budget reconciliation bill. These lands belong to all Americans. Keep public lands in public hands.” 

3.) Then follow up with an email at BHA’s Action Center.

4.) Repeat 1. & 2. (in particular) daily if/as necessary.

With the 640 million acres of federal public lands in the United States, our nation’s hunters and anglers have unparalleled opportunities to pursue fish and game without relying upon private landowners for access. However, sportsmen and women cite lack of access as the number one obstacle to continuing our sporting traditions.[21] Unfortunately, public lands, and hence hunting, are under threat like never before.[22]

From states like Utah (and 14 others) laying claim to Bureau of Land Management lands — which was shot down by the Supreme Court — to Congress attempting to sell public lands using the budget reconciliation process to the Trump administration proposing selling public lands under the guise of promoting homebuilding to rolling back national monument protections. In a nutshell, hunting access and opportunity are on the chopping block.[23]

Public lands provide access and opportunity to 70 million American hunters and anglers. Nothing will limit our access and opportunity more than the privatization of public lands.[24] As BHA members know well, silence has never been our way. Not a chance. From every canyon, every forest, every capitol, and campfire, we rise. Because we’ve done it before. Because we’ll do it again. Because united we stand for public lands.

“In a flurry of unknowns,” BHA President and CEO Patrick Berry said, “one thing is certain: As nonpartisan advocates, BHA will remain unwavering in our commitment to defend our wild public lands, waters, and wildlife, regardless of who holds elected office.” Although we are in the midst of an epic, if not desperate, public lands battle, that’s what BHA was built for, to dare mighty things.[25]

Dare Mighty Things

“For those of us who hunt, fish, and find purpose in wild places, there may be no mightier principle than defending America’s public lands,” Patrick Berry explained. “But those lands—640 million acres of national forests, wildlife refuges, BLM parcels, and more—are under attack in ways that demand we live up to Roosevelt’s charge and BHA’s promise to defend our public lands legacy against seemingly insurmountable odds.”[26] 

“At BHA, we have clarity of purpose,” Berry added. “We call our lawmakers. We show up to commission meetings. We organize pint nights, plant trees, pull fences, and clean up trash. We mentor new hunters. We share meals of wild-game harvests and celebrate stories of wildland moments. And we fight. We fight because we know that once a piece of public land is gone, it’s gone for good. And we fight because the stakes have never been higher.”[27]

“Roosevelt didn’t shy from controversy or conflict. He understood that conservation was hard, messy work—but necessary, nonetheless,” Patrick emphasized. “He understood that daring mighty things means sometimes taking shots from those who stand on the sidelines. But it also means we stand a chance at winning glorious triumphs.”[28] As Edward Abbey said (I’ll add), “Beware of the man who has no enemies.”[29]

“We can choose to live boldly. To act decisively. To speak truth to power,” Patrick added. “We can dare mighty things. Because if we don’t, who will? Honor Roosevelt’s legacy: Visit BHA’s Action Center today to contact your senator—by both phone and email. Let them know: ‘United We Stand for Public Lands.’”[30]

For those who haven’t watched/listened to Randy Newberg’s summary of the key points in the Senate reconciliation bill, it’s brazen! See the Ep. 102 link below. In particular (among a multitude of public lands liquidation elements), the bill facilitates the sale of isolated parcels to landowners who live adjacent to them (i.e., think “corner crossing”).[31]

If this bill passes there will be no parcels left to corner-cross into because the millionaires and billionaires who have been losing their corner crossing cases in the courts will be buying these parcels (again, see Ep. 102 link below), compliments of U.S. Senator Mike Lee of Utah (Chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee) and his billionaire-wish-list Senate Reconciliation bill.[32]

Get Involved

In a June 2025 Greeley Tribune letter to the editor (“Hunters are the next endangered species,” 6/7/25) I wrote: “Hunters are already on the verge of becoming an endangered species, but these proposed actions will essentially guarantee it. Public lands are not a left or right issue, they’re an American issue. Join us in the fight to keep public lands in public hands!”[33]

“The only equality in this world is that we’re all given the gift of life and have an opportunity to do something with it,” Cameron J. Kirby wrote in the Winter 2025 Backcountry Journal.[34] If you aren’t already doing something, now’s a good time to start. Said more directly (in the Spring 2025 Backcountry Journal), “‘Vicariously’ Is a Terrible Way to Live.”[35]

“BHA Podcast & Blast host Hal Herring has often reminded me: ‘Now is our time,’” Backcountry Journal editor Zack Williams wrote. “This is our opportunity to shape the future of our public lands and waters, and we must not shy away from this moment. However, we must also avoid burning ourselves out, as this will not be a short-term battle.”[36]

I can think of nothing better to do with my life than to fight this public lands battle with every ounce of energy, perseverance, and ingenuity I can muster; to take the initiative and raise hell on behalf of our wild public lands, waters, and wildlife alongside this indomitable BHA tribe. The Gang of Seven did no less and expects nothing less! Join us!

David Lien is co-chair of Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, a former Air Force missile launch officer, and author.[37] In 2014 he was recognized by Field & Stream as a “Hero of Conservation.”[38] During 2019 he was the recipient of BHA’s Mike Beagle-Chairman’s Award “for outstanding effort on behalf of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers.”[39]

Additional Information/Resources

-Nadia Marji. “BHA Unveils Map Highlighting Hunter-Angler Impact as Senate Pushes Public Land Selloff.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 6/19/25.

-Joel Weltzien. “Flood the Lines Day 6.25.25.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 6/18/25.

-Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (6/6/25). “Silence has never been our way … Not a chance. From every canyon, every forest, every capitol, and campfire, we rise. Because we’ve done it before. Because we’ll do it again. Because united we stand for public lands.”

-Take Action: https://www.backcountryhunters.org/take_action#/

-The billionaires will be back, and we’ll be here waiting. Join us! https://www.backcountryhunters.org/join

-United We Stand-Fuel the Fight!

https://www.backcountryhunters.org/united_we_stand_donate

-“Giants of Conservation Rally For Public Lands.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 6/18/25.

-“Freedom & Fire: A Brief BHA History II.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 2/24/25.

-“2021 Rendezvous Recap-Campfire Stories: Hal Herring.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 9/1/21.

-“Where Hope Lives: A Brief BHA History.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 11/30/20.

-Looking back, looking forward: A brief history of BHA.

-Randy Newberg-Fresh Tracks Clip (6/20/25). “The Biggest Threat to Public Land in Our Lifetime | Fresh Tracks Weekly (Ep. 103).”

-Randy Newberg says: “ … continue to flood the Senators … Be professional, be persistent … Keep on ’em folks. We have our foot on their throat. Do not let them get any air at this point.”[40]

-Randy Newberg-Fresh Tracks (6/19/25). “The Biggest Threat to Public Land in Our Lifetime | Fresh Tracks Weekly (Ep. 103).”

-Randy Newberg (6/15/25). “Millions of Acres at Risk – Unless We Act NOW!”

-Randy Newberg: Fresh Tracks (6/12/25). “This is Not a Drill | Fresh Tracks Weekly (Ep. 102).”

-Randy Newberg (6/13/25). “This is Not a Drill-Fresh Tracks: Congress Selling Assets Instead of Raising Revenue or Cutting Costs!”

-Randy Newberg (6/12/25). “THIS IS NOT A DRILL | Senator Mike Lee's Proposal to Sell Millions of Acres!”

-wiredtohunt (6/16/25). “Impromptu Cal’s Week in Review podcast intro before we take off for the Arctic. See ya’ll in a week. Until then, please, keep it public!”

-Nadia Marji. “BHA Condemns Senate Proposal to Sell Off Up to 3 Million Acres of Public Lands.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 6/11/25.

-Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (6/11/25). “The Senate just dropped a budget reconciliation proposal that would force the sale of approximately 3 million acres of public land across 11 Western states.⁠”

-“Hunters must join fight to protect public lands.” Summit Daily: 6/19/25.

-“Privatization of public lands.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 6/9/25.

-“Public lands and hunting.” The Pagosa Springs Sun: 6/8/25.

-“Hunters are the next endangered species.” Greeley Tribune: 6/7/25.

-“Privatization of public lands.” Colorado Springs (Colo.) Gazette: 6/5/25.

-“Sulfide-Ore Mining a Lose-Lose for Minnesota.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 6/4/25.

-“Public Lands Mountain Merriam’s Hunt: Access And Opportunity Are On The Chopping Block.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 4/25/25.

-Hunting mountain Merriam’s turkeys on public land in southwest Colorado’s San Juan Mountains … keep public land in public hands (video)!

-“Selling Off Public Lands Is Not An Affordable Housing Fix.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 4/8/25.

-“Public Lands On The Chopping Block: It’s Now Or Never.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 1/24/25.

-“Hunting For Experience: Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Oral History Project.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 3/28/24.

-“The Patron Saints of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 3/12/24.

-“Stalking Wildness: BHA’s Wilderness Warriors.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 2/13/24.

-“Public Lands (& Freedom) Unite Our Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Tribe.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 1/5/24. 

-“Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: Mission, Issues & Actions (Triads).” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 8/17/23.

-“Hunting Ethically Is Good, Hard Work.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 5/1/23.

-“Armed Forces Initiative Helps Veterans Hunt … And More.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 8/17/22.

-“The ABCs Of LTEs: Writing Letters To The Editor.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 2/5/21.

Hunter & Angler Field Guide to Raising Hell

-“A Hunter-Angler (Hell-Raisin’ & Habitat Savin’) Guide To Winning: Colorado BHA Examples (Browns Canyon & Camp Hale).” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 10/23/23.

-BHA Podcast & Blast, Ep. 162. “Ben Long, The Hunter & Angler Guide to Raising Hell.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 8/15/23.

-Ben Long’s Hunter & Angler Field Guide to Raising Hell: https://www.scottpublishingcompany.com/fieldguide; https://shop.backcountryhunters.org/collections/discount/products/hunter-angler-field-guide-to-raising-hell

[1] David A. Lien. “A Hunter-Angler (Hell-Raisin’ & Habitat Savin’) Guide To Winning: Colorado BHA Examples (Browns Canyon & Camp Hale).” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 10/23/23.

[2] Looking back, looking forward: A brief history of BHA.

[3] David A. Lien. “Public Lands Mountain Merriam’s Hunt: Access And Opportunity Are On The Chopping Block.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 4/25/25.

[4] Zack Williams, editor. “Staying Fresh.” Backcountry Journal: Spring 2025, p. 87.

[5] Nadia Marji. “BHA Unveils Map Highlighting Hunter-Angler Impact as Senate Pushes Public Land Selloff.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 6/19/25.

[6] Jasmine Laws. “What Donald Trump has said about selling off federal land.” Newsweek: 6/20/25.

[7] Nadia Marji. “BHA Unveils Map Highlighting Hunter-Angler Impact as Senate Pushes Public Land Selloff.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 6/19/25.

[8] Outdoor Alliance (OA). “Public Lands For Sale: Outdoor Alliance Map Shows the Extent of Land on the Auction Block.” OA: 6/17/25.

[9] James Collins. “Management By Philosophy: Successful organizations have philosophies, not strategies, in common.” Credit Union Magazine: April 2017, p. 50.

[10] David A. Lien. Giants of Conservation Rally For Public Lands.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 6/18/25.

[11] David A. Lien. “Stalking Wildness: BHA’s Wilderness Warriors.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 2/13/24.

[12] David A. Lien. “Public Lands (& Freedom) Unite Our Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Tribe.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 1/5/24.

[13] David A. Lien. “Public Lands (& Freedom) Unite Our Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Tribe.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 1/5/24.

[14] David A. Lien. “Stalking Wildness: BHA’s Wilderness Warriors.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 2/13/24.

[15] James M. Strock. Theodore Roosevelt on Leadership: Executive Lessons from the Bully Pulpit. New York: Three Rivers Press, 2001, p. 201.

[16] David A. Lien. “The ABCs Of LTEs: Writing Letters To The Editor.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 2/5/21.

[17] wiredtohunt (6/16/25). “Impromptu Cal’s Week in Review podcast intro before we take off for the Arctic. See ya’ll in a week. Until then, please, keep it public!”

[18] Joel Weltzien. “Flood the Lines Day 6.25.25.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 6/18/25.

[19] David A. Lien. “Where Hope Lives: A Brief BHA History.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 11/30/20.

[20] Jim Carrier (as told by Neal Oberlee). “‘Solotripper Toughs It Out.” The Boundary Waters Journal: Fall 2020, p. 67.

[21] David A. Lien. “Selling Off Public Lands Is Not An Affordable Housing Fix.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 4/8/25.

[22] David A. Lien. “Hunters are the next endangered species.” Greeley Tribune: 6/7/25.

[23] David A. Lien. “Hunters are the next endangered species.” Greeley Tribune: 6/7/25.

[24] David A. Lien. “Privatization of public lands.” Colorado Springs (Colo.) Gazette: 6/5/25.

[25] David A. Lien. “Public Lands On The Chopping Block: It’s Now Or Never.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 1/24/25.

[26] Patrick Berry, BHA President & CEO. “Dare Mighty Things.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (Take Action): 6/5/25.

[27] Patrick Berry, BHA President & CEO. “Dare Mighty Things.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (Take Action): 6/5/25.

[28] Patrick Berry, BHA President & CEO. “Dare Mighty Things.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (Take Action): 6/5/25.

[29] Edward Abbey. A Voice Crying in the Wilderness (Vox Clamantis in Deserto). New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1989, p. 15.

[30] Patrick Berry, BHA President & CEO. “Dare Mighty Things.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (Take Action): 6/5/25.

[31] Devin O'Dea. “State Policy Spotter: Wyoming Corner Crossing Fight Headed to the Supreme Court and BHA is Once Again Fundraising for the Win.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 6/3/25.

[32] Devin O'Dea. “State Policy Spotter: Wyoming Corner Crossing Fight Headed to the Supreme Court and BHA is Once Again Fundraising for the Win.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 6/3/25.

[33] David A. Lien. “Hunters are the next endangered species.” Greeley Tribune: 6/7/25.

[34] Cameron J. Kirby. “Unfair in Your Favor” Backcountry Journal: Winter 2025, p. 73.

[35] Duck Camp. “This season, don’t make excuses.” Backcountry Journal: Spring 2025, p. 74.

[36] Zack Williams, editor. “Staying Fresh.” Backcountry Journal: Spring 2025, p. 87.

[37] David A. Lien. “A Higher Calling.” Association of Air Force Missileers (AAFM) Newsletter: March 2011, p. 4.

[38] Editors. “Heroes of Conservation: Safeguarding Winter Elk Range.” Field & Stream: July 2014, p. 29.

[39] https://www.backcountryhunters.org/co_bha_award_winners

[40] Randy Newberg-Fresh Tracks (6/19/25). “The Biggest Threat to Public Land in Our Lifetime | Fresh Tracks Weekly (Ep. 103).”