Nearly every hunter has a different answer when asked why they hunt. Some do it mostly for the reward of meat, others for friendships and camaraderie, and others still ... for the love of the dog. Then, there are some dogs that come into a hunter’s life and completely change their “why.” This is about one of those special dogs. As college students, my wife and I couldn’t afford professional training, so we bought and read books, took advice when we could and tried to spend as much time on it ...

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 & Anglers quarterly newsletter. In it we’ll share key policy developments from Denver, Washington, and beyond; highlight some of the amazing, boots-on-the-ground conservation work being done across the state by BHA members like you; preview upcoming events you can engage in; and offer trip reports, ...

For the past two years, Sen. Jon Tester has led an effort to extend federal protections to some of the most loved free-flowing rivers and streams in Montana. If signed into law, Tester’s “Montana Headwaters Legacy Act” would add segments of the Yellowstone, Madison and Gallatin rivers to the nation’s list of Wild and Scenic Rivers. Additionally, portions of 17 smaller streams including the Smith River, Hyalite Creek and the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone would gain federal protections ...

1. Why did Montana hunting and conservation groups formally file to intervene in the lawsuit by United Property Owners of Montana?   The coalition’s members – Montana-based hunting and conservation organizations – have continually opposed efforts to degrade Montana’s time-tested system of wildlife management and fought back repeated attempts to privatize and commercialize public elk. Montana is the envy of the world when it comes to wildlife held in public trust and the opportunity for the ...

Access to 8.3 million acres of public land in 11 western states is in limbo due to questions over the legality of crossing from one corner of public land to another, known as corner crossing. The checkerboard-like acreage is highlighted in a recent report by onX, a Montana-based online mapping company, which pointed out the amount is more than half of the West’s total landlocked acreage. In Montana, this amounts to 871,000 acres, according to onX, while Wyoming leads all western states with ...