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 obsolete fencing and improving habitat throughout the state. We mobilized supporters and allies to defeat the Prop 127 ballot initiative, which would have banned mountain lion hunting and–as importantly–challenged time-tested principles of science-based wildlife management (more on that win below). And we saw important new protections for Colorado public lands put into place or advance, from the Thompson Divide to the Dolores River and beyond.

Those successes are only possible with the support of people like you. So on behalf of Colorado BHA’s board, chapter leaders, staff, and volunteers: Thank you! We hope you had a joyous holiday season, and we look forward to continuing to fight for our wild public lands, waters, and wildlife in 2025.

If you’re not yet a member, join us! Sign up or renew at https://www.backcountryhunters.org/join.

Stay informed by following Colorado BHA on Facebook or Instagram!

Policy Updates

Defeat of Prop 127 a victory for science-based wildlife management

Thanks to the tireless efforts of hunters across the state, Prop 127, which would have banned mountain lion hunting in Colorado, was defeated in November’s election. This marks an important win for the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. A massive thank you to all Colorado BHA members and supporters who worked to defeat this misguided ballot initiative!

New Senate bill would conserve over 700,000 acres of Colorado public lands

Elk hunting in a GORP Act proposed Special Management Area.

Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers celebrates the introduction of the Gunnison Outdoor Resources Protection (GORP) Act in the U.S. Senate in late September. The introduction follows the release of a draft bill two years prior and more than a decade of stakeholder engagement by the Gunnison Public Lands Initiative, including members of BHA’s Colorado Chapter.

The GORP Act (S. 5193), led by Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) and co-sponsored by Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO), would conserve and enhance more than 700,000 acres of federal public lands in and surrounding Colorado’s Gunnison Basin. Managed by the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, these landscapes provide important fish and wildlife habitat and hunting and fishing opportunities in Colorado’s backcountry.

“Hunters and anglers know well the value of intact habitat for big game including elk and mule deer as well as the critical role healthy coldwater streams have for native and wild trout populations,” said Kaden McArthur, government relations manager for BHA. “We applaud the GORP Act, which reinforces the importance of these wild places and the habitat they support, as well as a sustainable approach to managing recreation on our public lands.”

More wildlife crossings in the works

The US Department of Transportation is providing $22 million to construct a wildlife overpass spanning I-25 between Denver and Colorado Springs, an important step to create habitat connectivity and maintain migration routes for a variety of big game and other species. Colorado BHA has been working closely with state officials to advance wildlife-smart transportation projects, in particular through participation in the Colorado Wildlife and Transportation Alliance.

Make your voice heard at CPW Commission meetings

The Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) Commission is the key body overseeing many wildlife and habitat issues in the state, including hunting season structures. While the Commission must have representatives from the sporting community by law, active participation by hunters and anglers is key to ensuring that the interests of sportspeople and conservationists are fully considered. Commission meetings are open to the public and can be viewed virtually, and written comments can be submitted prior to meetings. The next hybrid meeting will be held in Denver (and online) January 8-9. We encourage all interested BHA supporters to provide input and tune in.

Chapter News

Businesses join BHA coalition to protect the Dolores River Canyons

The Sportsmen for the Dolores Coalition, led by Trout Unlimited and Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, has expanded its membership as local businesses pledge their support for public land protections. New members include:

• Mayfly Outdoors (Ross Reels, Abel Reels, Airflo, Dyna-King) – Montrose, CO
• Scott Fly Rods – Montrose, CO
• Big Trout Brewing – Winter Park, CO
• Black Canyon Anglers – Austin, CO
• Duranglers – Durango, CO
• RIGS Fly Shop & Guide Service – Ridgway, CO
• The San Juan Angler – Durango, CO
• Western Anglers – Grand Junction, CO

The Sportsmen for the Dolores Coalition, launched earlier this year, is advocating for a national monument designation or other means of permanent protection in the Dolores Canyons of western Colorado. This region is one of the largest expanses of unprotected public land in the state and represents prime habitat for big game species like bighorn sheep, elk, and mule deer as well as significant populations of native Colorado River cutthroat trout. The addition of these new partners illustrates the overwhelming support among local businesses, anglers, and hunters for protecting the Dolores region.

To add your voice to the growing number of sportsmen and -women who support protections for the Dolores region, click here.

Mounting evidence of trails’ impacts on wildlife

Since its inception twenty years ago, BHA has been a vocal champion of the importance of big, wild country. We love the opportunities and experiences that can only be found amid large tracts of public land. And we know that intact, unfragmented habitat is critical for the health of wildlife. As Colorado chapter Co-Chair David Lien summarizes in this post, biologists and wildlife managers are increasingly finding that trails of all types–whether motorized, mechanized, or limited to foot traffic–have significant impacts on wildlife behavior. With ever-growing pressure on our public lands from multiple user groups, it’s imperative that we continue to advocate for smart trails policy and to push back against illegal trail building. Remember, Colorado BHA offers a $1,000 reward for reports of illegal trail building.

Upcoming Events

Even as winter settles in, local BHA groups are still organizing a variety of events. For an up-to-date list of all upcoming events see: https://www.backcountryhunters.org/co_upcoming_events. Be sure to check back often as new events are being added.

Hard water curious? Always wanted to try ice fishing but not sure where to start? Check out the ‘Intro to Ice Fishing’ event hosted by Colorado BHA at Dowdy Lake in Red Feather, Saturday, February 1.

Mark your calendars for Colorado BHA’s 3rd Annual Beers, Bands, and Barbed Wire Strands event to celebrate Colorado Public Lands Day, May 16-18 in Gunnison. We’ll once again be gathering for a weekend of stewardship, music, food, drink, camping, and tons of great prizes. Look for additional details in our spring newsletter.

Around the Campfire

Colorado BHA’s Legislative Liaison Ivan James has spent decades hunting, fishing, and contributing to habitat conservation efforts. He’s bowhunted 9 of the 10 big game species extant in Colorado and has been fortunate to bowhunt in 10 states and two foreign countries, including three Canadian provinces. His most memorable backcountry hunts were in the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana, Colorado’s Weminuche Wilderness, and northwest of the Alaska Range near Denali. So it’s safe to say he knows a few things about backcountry living–including the importance of hygiene. Here are Ivan’s top five tips for bathing in the backcountry and staying scent free:

1. When in doubt, take the plunge (sort of)
   If you find yourself standing in freezing mountain streams, remember: numb feet = clean body. Wading in, washing with soap and a rag, and letting the sun dry you off might not be luxurious, but it's effective.
2. Don't forget the sunshower
   If you’re lucky enough to have a tree, a flat rock, and a sunshower, you've got the makings of a luxury bath experience. If there are snowflakes falling while you shower it can be a bit surreal, but nothing beats a quick dash to your hot tent for warmth afterward.
3. Pack light, bathe light
   In the backcountry, less is more. Skip the bulky towels and opt for a lightweight washcloth. Unscented soap bars are your best friend; just don’t expect a full spa treatment—more like "patchy cleanup with nature as your towel."
4. Clean clothes > stinky gear (that’s “greater than,” not “leads to”!)
   Nothing beats crawling into a sleeping bag after a good mid-day wash. Trust me, your gear—and your body—will thank you.
5. Be aware of scent–because your quarry will be
   You might not notice your own smell after days without a bath, but game sure will. A clean, relatively odor-free body can get you much closer to that deer or elk. The key takeaway: game smells you long before you smell it. Keep your hygiene as stealthy as your hunting skills.

With these tips, you'll stay fresh—or at least less stinky—in the wild. And remember, sometimes the best part of backcountry bathing is the memory of it, not the experience itself.

In Case You Missed It

The Denver Gazette recently featured the work of Hunters of Color, who are working to increase diversity in the hunting community and reduce barriers to participation for groups that have historically been underrepresented in the ranks of hunters.

Thank you for your continued support and we'll see you in the field!

Cheers,

- The Colorado Chapter of BHA

Questions? Drop us a line.

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