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 Executive Director’s NOTE By Jim Akenson

BHA puts our boots on the ground

A
s I write this column summer need to think twice about involving our
We are planning an educational
is just getting started weather- organization’s resources.
wise, even though we are well and fun gathering called the Back on the topic of education and
into June now and snow still hangs heavy “Missoula Rendezvous.” being effective educators: We are plan-
in the Wallowa Mountains just outside Scheduled for next March, ning an educational and fun gathering
the HQ office. For me, June also marks the event will be the first that will be advertised as the “Missoula
completion of a year on this job as BHA national gathering for BHA. Rendezvous.” This event is scheduled for
Executive Director. I think this has been early next March in Missoula, Montana,
a productive year with many accomplish- involvement for the Owyhee Canyon- and it will be the first national gathering
ments, and some lessons learned as well. lands. Wherever the location the message for BHA. We are planning many semi-
As an organization, just seven years old, is the same: protect high quality habitat nars and a panel discussion on western
we have grown considerably and have for hunting and fishing while taking into land protection efforts, hopefully involv-
really established our presence in the consideration local economic concerns ing Montana’s Senator Tester and other
conservation community in many states such as cattle grazing and timber harvest. high profile decision makers. Co-chair
and Washington D.C. Repeatedly, we are This is a world of compromise, and if we Ben Long and I are currently involved in
the sportsmen’s group most willing to are willing to take a leadership role in fundraising for the event. We will have
engage lawmakers from both a scientific that process we’ll most likely achieve the some income from registration and a
and common sense approach on federal desired outcome from a BHA perspec- banquet raffle, but the costs associated
land protection and management. We tive. Recently, a group of Idaho Chapter with space rental, speaker travel costs
are, in essence, educators, and as such we members had a teleconference with Rep. and staff time add up in a hurry. If you
need to keep our skills honed so we ex- Simpson’s chief of staff, Lyndsey Slater, know of any funding sources, or want to
pand and increase our effectiveness. on the BLM wildlands topic. After we put make a donation ear-marked for the Mis-
There is not a week that goes by in our pitch for land protection for hunt- soula Rendezvous, please let us know.
without someone asking me what the ers, Slater stated, “it was good to hear Enjoy the summer and take a kid
mission is of our organization, and what from sportsmen; we rarely hear from fishing!
do we do with our “proceeds” from that interest group.” It was pretty sad to
membership dues, donations, grants and hear that factoid, but it does illustrate the
contracts. It seems the response is get- importance of our efforts as we are the Backcountry Hunters & Anglers

Heading panoramas by Tony Heckard. Cover photo courtesy Barry Whitehill

ting more complex as we expand our mouth-piece for sportsmen well beyond Board of Directors
geographic area of involvement, grow in our membership numbers.
numbers, develop chapter strength and State chapter strength is vital for Ben Long, Co-Chairman (MT)
gain diversity in our membership. Fur- BHA, and recently I had a punctuation Joel Webster Co-Chairman (MT)
thermore, each state and region has its mark put by that statement in Wyoming, Tony Heckard, Secretary (OR)
own identity and outdoor subculture. We one of the states where we do not yet Chad Sivertsen, Treasurer (MT)
have to be careful how we portray our- have an official state chapter. My lesson Mike Beagle (OR); David Lien (CO);
selves, particularly on a national scale. learned is that we should not get involved John Pollard (UT); John Gale (CO);
Initially, my response to these inquiries in land protection projects unless we have Joe Mirasole (WA); Jay Banta (NV).
was simply that we (BHA) work toward local folks to serve as the “boots on the Advisory Member: David Lyon (AK)
protecting high quality outdoor experi- ground” and carry the BHA banner. I’m
Jim Akenson, Executive Director
ences for hunters and fishermen seeking still licking my wounds after attempting
541-398-2636
solitude, and in many cases that involves this in Wyoming regarding the Absaroka-
some degree of motorized travel restric- Beartooth Front and keeping some winter Holly Endersby, Conservation Director,
tion as well as public land protection. range undeveloped to enhance wildlife 208-628-3956
I’m often giving examples, per habitat, and ultimately improving game
state, of how we do our business, involv- populations for hunters. The project area Rose Caslar, Executive Administrative
ing collaborative planning efforts such and topic are perfectly suited to our mis- Assistant, 541-398-0091
as the Clearwater Basin Collaborative sion, but sending a rallying message to
in Idaho and the “logging and wilder- Wyoming sportsmen from an Oregon Backcountry Hunters and Anglers
ness” meetings in Washington State. In address just does not make the cut. The P.O. Box 53, Joseph, OR 97846
Oregon we are on the verge of land-use bottom line is, if it isn’t based locally we www.backcountryhunters.org

2 Backcountry Journal, Summer 2011

 BHA News & Views By David Lien

Roadless areas at risk in Colorado

Editor’s Note: The following edito- level equal to, or stronger than,
rial, written by Colorado BHA co-chair the protections afforded by the
David Lien, appeared in May in the As- 2001 national rule. For the Col-
pen Times. The Colorado Chapter is very orado Rule to live up to the na-
busy getting the word out on the value of tional rule standard, the acreage
backcountry. See more member editori- of roadless areas designated as
als at www.backcountryhunters.org “upper tier” must be expanded
and development loopholes
Dear Editor: closed.
Roadless areas (along with desig- In my “backyard,” the
nated wilderness) represent the gold stan- Pike-San Isabel National Forest,
dard for wildlife habitat and backcountry there is some 774,600 acres of
hunting/angling grounds. Unfortunately, roadless land, and even though
after nearly a decade of protection under 312,900 acres (40 percent) of
the National Roadless Rule, Colorado’s that was proposed by hunters
roadless areas could soon be managed to and anglers and others for up-
a weaker standard. The proposed Colo- per tier protection, the Forest
rado Rule, recently released by the Forest Service’s summary chart lists
Service for public comment, falls short of Pike-San Isabel upper tier acres
being as protective as the National Road- at zero. Across the state, mil-
less Rule. lions of acres of such high qual-
As Colorado Backcountry Hunter ity roadless areas aren’t being
& Angler (BHA) member Bill Sustrich considered for this protection: The author took this turkey on a recent hunt.
says, “In the simplest terms, without suit- Only 11 percent of the state’s
able habitat we will have no game; with- Inventoried Roadless Areas are proposed [email protected].
out game, we will have no hunting; with- for the stronger upper tier protections. —David Lien, Co-Chair, Colorado
out hunting, a precious heritage of our On top of that, loopholes in those Backcountry Hunters & Anglers
past will be lost forever.” Apparently, the protections put even these few roadless
folks pushing this watered-down Colo- areas at risk from oil and gas develop-
rado Rule don’t fully understand that part ment, pipelines, and transmission lines. Support our Sponsors!
of keeping good, healthy big game herds The risk is even greater for roadless areas Blue Ribbon Flies
(in particular, elk) on national forests and that would not be managed under an upper West Yellowstone, MT
other public lands is to make sure they tier, where logging would be allowed at www.blueribbonflies.com
have ample secure habitat — big wild least a mile and a half into roadless areas. Colorado Mountain Expeditions
country with large blocks of land without Lifelong Colorado hunter/angler - Turner Guides
motorized disturbance. Bill Sustrich hit the nail on the head Durango, CO
They may not know that high road when he said, “From my own observa- www.turnerguides.com
densities also decrease the quality of tions, I have seen nothing yet created by
Dark Timber Design
streamside habitat, which is detrimental mankind that offers the degree of habitat
Thompson Falls, MT
for wild trout and reduces angling op- protection that is achieved through wil- www.darktimberdesign.com/BHA/selection.html
portunities. Maybe they’re unaware that derness [and roadless] designation.”
Colorado’s roadless areas comprise more As Bill’s hunting brethren Theo- Morrison Creative Co.
than 58 percent of native cutthroat trout dore Roosevelt said, “The wildlife and Cody, WY
its habitat cannot speak. So we must and [email protected]
habitat and more than 50 percent of pub-
lic land in the 15 most-hunted game man- we will.” Take a few minutes and submit Traditional Bowhunter Magazine
agement units. comments to the Forest Service explain- Eagle, ID
That’s why hunters and anglers want ing the importance of roadless backcoun- www.tradbow.com
Colorado’s roadless areas conserved at a try areas to our hunting/angling heritage:
Backcountry Journal, Summer 2011 3
by Scott Stouder

When my daughter was a very

young girl, and I was increasingly
troubled by my fading hopes for
a better world, I wrote her a letter,
which I’ve kept close all these years.
W
atching a wild trout rise paved roads, salmon for reservoirs and
to a fly takes your breath. wild trout for sterile water? Will you
Watching it in a wild river know the primitive thrill of a bull elk’s
takes your soul. Last sum- challenge in the first frozen moments of
mer when I watched both happen to my light or the bone-weary relief of settling
daughter, it took my heart. And it gave into a saddle as the sun slips behind the
me hope.

Photos by the author

mountains? Will you learn what being a
Susan and I were deep in Idaho’s part of the beauty and grace of wild land
Salmon River country. It had been years and free-flowing rivers has meant to me,
since we’d spent time together in wild to my father, to his father?
country. When she was young and we Will you take the necessary effort to
lived together in western Oregon, we experience the simple joy of casting a fly
spent every spare moment hunting deer to a wild trout?
and elk in rain-shrouded mountains or These are the questions I ask you,
fishing in the clear, cold waters of a The author's daughter Susan recently Susan. But more crucial is the question I
coastal stream. joined him on a backcountry flyfishing ask myself: “Will I have left you a world
But for the past several years, after trip after spending a long time apart. where these experiences can still be
her mother and I divorced, and I pulled found?”
my Oregon roots and replanted them in Suddenly, in a flash of red and
Idaho, those memories seemed suspend- You don’t know it, but as you leap silver, the fly vanished. Susan’s reac-
ed in time. I began a new life in one of toward your teenage years and into a tion was instant. The rod tip came up.
the last truly wild places left in America. crowded and confused world, I watch The line came tight. And eight feet of
Susan went on to graduate from col- and wonder, too. laminated technology bent under the
lege and start her own life. Ours were I watch our urban culture drift from weight of a fish that had lived its life in
inevitable paths, I suppose, but divergent a connection with wildness, and wonder the wild.
nonetheless. if you’ll understand what that connec- Susan’s face sparkled as the thick,
I was thinking of those lost years tion has meant to my life. colorful cutthroat catapulted from the
last summer as I watched her brace her I see your blue eyes sparkle with water and propelled itself deep into
feet on a moss-covered rock and strip joy from catching your first trout, and the current. A small shriek escaped her
line from her reel before casting an wonder if you’ll ever feel the raw, chaot- as she slipped, back-stepped to solid
elk hair caddis into a swirl of river and ic power of a wild steelhead in untamed ground and stumbled downriver through
rocks. water. rocks and water, following the fish.
The water from which she was try- I remember the girl huddled close I waited while she coaxed the
ing to entice a cutthroat trout, like most in a winter duck blind, and wonder if trout toward the surface, waited while
of Idaho, was a mixture of turbulent you’ll ever know the sheer excitement of it ran and sulked, shaking its head in
current and dark pools. I was anxious thousands of ducks and geese lifting in the river’s depths. I watched her bring
that she wouldn’t remember where trout the pre-dawn light from a lonely marsh. it to the surface once more and slide it
live. But the ways of angling and water As I watch the bond grow between through the rocks until it lay on its side
were deeply set in her muscles. She gen- a young girl and her horse, I wonder in the shallows.
tly, almost magically, roll-cast the line, if you’ll ever be able to experience the I started over to help, but she deftly
picked the fly from the water, completed freedom and beauty of that companion- reached down with the forceps and
the arch and set it in the seam between ship in an unbroken world of canyons released the tiny hook. Then she laid her
current and calm. and ridges. rod aside, cupped the trout in both hands
Holding the rod tip high, her eyes In your lifetime will wild land and and held it in the current for a long
followed the tiny feathered speck as it water become so diluted and tamed moment before opening her hands and
swirled on the current. As I watched her that what little remains will be crushed releasing it.
pure concentration it occurred to me beneath the weight of our own good When she looked up, I knew that
how much I’d missed her. intentions? the years we’d been apart were past. I
When she was a very young girl, As you grow older, will you be able also knew the answer to my troubled
and I was increasingly troubled by my to recognize—and combat—the constant question so many years ago. She has a
fading hopes for a better world, I wrote compulsion that seems to drive us to world where the wild can still be found.
her a letter, which I’ve kept close all reduce wildness—the heart of land—to Scott Stouder is a field coordinator
these years. interpretive signs and text books? for Trout Unlimited, an award-winning
Dear Susan, Will you have the courage, built outdoor writer and backwoodsman ex-
How quickly you’re passing from experience, to challenge those who traordinaire. He lives on the edge of the
through the portal years of innocence. would trade pristine elk country for wilderness in Pollock, Idaho.

Backcountry Journal, Summer 2011 5

 Reflections of a River Guide

A
by Gary Lane
fter some 35 years escorting ered another side. Sitting in a boat with
various folks down some of the folks and camping out for several days
planet’s most beautiful water- together, I came to appreciate the more
ways, I discovered an interesting aspect positive side of people. From all walks of
to the human part of nature that changed life, humans continued to stream through
the way I view the world. my world, as the river miles grew vastly
As a kid, nature was where I went to behind me. Because I was always dealing
escape people and their contraptions. The with people wanting to have a good time,
wilderness was, well, wild. No mecha- our more fragile elements. For me, the that is pretty much all I could see. Like
nized things are allowed, just raw, pure river became a good metaphor for life. compound interest, the collective experi-
nature. The more time I spent stepping Often we get swept up being busy ences, story after story, made me appreci-
back and forth between two seemingly bees, working, shopping, and tying ends ate the common thread tying everyone all
separate worlds, I began to question what together. We easily forget about who the together.
was natural or not. The more I evaluated heck we really are. By exposing our frail We all experience a frailty in a
man versus nature, and looked around at vulnerabilities to others we remove the world full of obstacles and never-ending
all the carnage left behind by the extrac- outer wrappings and reveal who we real- turmoil. It is something akin to running
tive industries, the more my attitude to- ly are inside, where the real gifts reside. big class V whitewater. Living constantly
wards human nature soured. At the end of the day, out on the challenges us as we make our way down
Everything seemed to be about con- river, what does it all mean? People pay that same metaphorical river of life, do-
sumerism. I came to the conclusion that us to take them down the river. But I don't ing our best to survive to the bottom of
our flag was the wrong color and design. ever recall sitting around the campfire the rapid.
It should be green with big dollar signs. with a fist full of dollars. Retelling stories We must always be alert. But, so too,
As the old Cree prophecy says, mon- of the day is what I remember most and we must occasionally drop our guard to
ey cannot be eaten, yet we do all have to look forward to on every trip. Dollars are play like an otter and soar like an eagle.
eat. So my plan to put food in my mouth merely fuel to keep the engine running It adds joy to our life and lifts our wings.
and do my part to help save the world and get us from camp A to B. During my experience out on the
was to figure out a way to work outdoors. My profession was always more river, I can escape the big problems in
I would have to jump through the man- about finding something that would bring the world, and focus more on the simple
made hoops to get myself into the middle me personal enjoyment and a way to things. You know: Where to pitch a tent.
of nature’s hoops, a process that led me do what I could to pursue my first true What hole to fish. Which ridge to climb.
to college, the U.S. Forest Service—and loves – fish, wildlife, and the beauty of The medicine of the river is like taking an
then, back to the river. nature. People were secondary – at that aspirin for all my daily aches and pains.
It didn’t take a fancy degree to run time in life, at least. Looking around the It soothes my soul and recharges my
people down the river, and I learned more world and observing all the man-made energy. Like a natural cycle I come full
about the “real” world there, than in some environmental degradations that plagued circle again, realizing money cannot be
university ivory tower. Often on trips, our planet, left me very skeptical of the eaten and man is not outside the circle.
deep in the wilderness, people asked me “goodness” of man. We humans seemed More importantly, our earthly allot-
what I did in the real world. like a cancer, slowly consuming every- ted time is all about the positive relation-
“Look around,” I replied. “What if I thing in front of us with an insatiable ap- ships we people can build with our fellow
let you off on shore, and leave you here. petite. Our culture seemed to be cutting humans. We need to become more self
Perhaps then you can learn what is or every last tree, catching every fish, poi- aware, and take serious notice of what
isn’t the real world.” soning every river, and consuming every- is happening as the oarlock turns in the
People from all walks of life basi- thing to the last drop. “real” world. It is what gives me hope
cally finance our lifestyle, and the one I often felt like just moving to the that we can align our actions to Mother
thing I learned early on, was the com- mountains and becoming a simple re- Earth with enough wisdom to collec-
monality of all people, despite their pro- cluse. Was there really any hope for man- tively leave a proud signature upon her
fession. Once on the river, even judges kind? But where to run to? What then? bosom for the Seventh Generation.
and lawyers had to live by the laws of Would hiding out ever solve anything? BHA member Gary Lane, a wildlife
nature. As my personal life history even- biologist turned river guide, owns Wa-
My time on the river with people in tually morphed into a worldview cen- piti River Guides, and has been leading
the middle of nowhere reduced us all to tered around the “river,” I soon discov- guests down the river for 35 years.
6 Backcountry Journal, Summer 2011
 by Matt Miller

You can find redbands in remote canyons,

but as with so much wilderness fishing,
don’t expect monsters in the depths.

is no match for smallmouth bass, which

swim up rivers from reservoirs and gob-
ble trout. You won’t find them in the main
Owyhee River anymore. The cattle that
graze along streams don’t help, either.
But summer’s no time for doom and
gloom, so get out and enjoy the fishing
that is still available, for anyone willing
to scramble over rocks.
You can find redbands in remote
canyons, places like the Jarbidge River
Photos by the author

out of Murphy Hot Springs, and the

newly created wilderness of Big Jacks
and Little Jacks creeks. As with so much
wilderness fishing, don’t expect monsters
in the depths. And don’t overthink it: No
delicate leaders or #22 midges required
here.
Cast a flashy dry fly in any pool and
Native high desert rainbow trout still swim the remote Owyhee River.
wait for the savage little trout to rise from
the depths.

T
hey might just be the tough- desert trout have not been swamped by The hardest part may be getting over
est trout on earth. After all, hatchery trout genes. The reason: Hatch- your disbelief that trout really live there.
as you’re scrambling over ery trout go belly up in the desert heat, They do. Don’t take my word for it: Time
canyon rocks – the scent of fast. to head out into the desert, into that dusty,
sagebrush in the air – trout rocky expanse of sagebrush, and see for
are about the last thing you expect to find. The desert rainbow swims on yourself. The trout are out there, tough
Mule deer, pronghorns and sage The latest research suggests these and hungry.
grouse? Of course. Rattlesnakes? Hell fish may not be able to withstand higher
yes. But trout? What self-respecting trout temperatures than other trout, as once Matt Miller is the new editor of Back-
would be out in the middle of Idaho’s was believed. Instead, they know the country Journal. He’s communications
desert? river’s cool spots and congregate there director for The Nature Conservancy in
In the Owyhees of southwestern during the withering summer heat. Idaho, avid hunter and angler, world trav-
Idaho and eastern Oregon, desert rain- Perfectly adapted to their place: the eler and board member of the Outdoor
bow trout still swim the remote rivers. way trout should be. Writers Association of America. Contact
Unlike native redbands elsewhere, these Alas, even the tough desert redband him at [email protected]

Backcountry Journal, Summer 2011 7

Drifting In
BHA member Barry
Whitehill of Fairbanks,
Alaska, shared a moose
hunt in Interior Alaska
during September 2010
with his friends Ed Ochoa
from Washington and
Randy Howell from Alaska.

8 Backcountry Journal, Summer 2011

 It required eight days to get to where moose hunting could
be feasible.

Ed Ochoa took this bull 140

paces from his sleeping bag.
The bull's widest spread
was 62 inches. Barry reports
seeing an even larger bull
much further from the river,
and was happy it got away.
Grizzly tracks were a common
sighting on the trip. This
group also found a bull moose
carcass that had been cached
by a large grizzly.

See more photos from this

trip on pages 10 and 16.

Backcountry Journal, Summer 2011 9

 Backcountry Hunters & Anglers National News

BHA Tells Congress: Stand up for Hunting and Fishing Habitat

Editor’s Note: On June 21, BHA tion. Over 100 years ago, Presi-
Executive Director Jim Akenson trav- dent Theodore Roosevelt helped
eled to Washington D.C. to testify before create this priceless American
the House of Representatives Natural birthright. He knew this public
Resources Committee. The committee is domain of more than 200 million
considering relaxing rules on national acres would become more and
forests to open more wildlife habitat to more valuable as America grew
motorized traffic and off-road vehicles. and developed. He was right.
Jim implored Congress to think of the In today’s rapid-paced
long term and protect the habitat that society we often forget that
supports hunting and fishing. America’s original wild country
Here is Jim’s testimony: advocates were sportsmen: the
Good morning, Mr. Chairman and likes of Theodore Roosevelt,
Committee members. My name is Jim Gifford Pinchot and Aldo Leo-

Courtesy Barry Whitehill

Akenson. I live in Joseph, Oregon, sur- pold. These men cherished wild-
rounded by the spectacular Wallowa life, wild places, and harvesting
Mountains within the Wallowa-Whitman nature’s bounty through hunting
National Forest. I am representing Back- and fishing. They left behind, for
country Hunters & Anglers, a non-profit us, a legacy and a mission to pro-
conservation group that represents tradi- tect and wisely use our nation’s
tional outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen precious natural resources.
from nearly all 50 states. I serve as ex- Today, we face a very im-
ecutive director of that organization. portant question: how do we
America’s national forests, refuges balance the use of this public We must have big, wild habitat that is completely
and Bureau of Land Management lands treasure in a way that guaran- isolated from noise and disturbance
are treasures to the people of this na- tees clean water and wildlife
habitat in a nation that is now home to rivers and abundant wildlife.
300 million people? But today I would like to focus on
Between new technology like mo- another element: the human element.
torized recreation and industrial uses like I have a unique perspective on the
oil and gas development, our public lands topic of wilderness and our public lands,
are under more and more pressure. The as I have been very privileged to live
USFS has nearly 375,000 miles of offi- deep within the America’s wilderness. I
cial roads (U.S. Forest Service 2006) in spent 21 years in Idaho’s Frank Church-
its inventory and a minimum of 60,000 River of No Return Wilderness. My wife,
miles of unofficial, user created routes Holly, and I managed an educational and
Courtesy Barry Whitehill

(U.S. Forest Service 2001), enough to research facility for the University of
circle the earth 17 times at the equator! Idaho called Taylor Ranch Field Station.
With most of my career spent as a Over two decades, we mentored
wildlife biologist, I can tell you with cer- hundreds of people who came to this re-
tainty that protecting wild, natural places mote wilderness laboratory to experience
from industrial development and motor- and learn about the natural world. They
ized recreation has very real benefits for came from backgrounds ranging from
our wildlife and water resources. Every- city life in Chicago, Illinois, and Seat-
one benefits from natural backcountry, tle, Washington, to rural ranch life right
Sportsmen cherish wildlife, wild places, because the benefits of backcountry lit- in Idaho. These were primarily young
and harvesting nature’s bounty. erally spill out of it in the form of clean adults whose parents’ political views var-
10 Backcountry Journal, Summer 2011
 country.

Courtesy Holly Endersby

Let’s be perfectly clear: There are
The peace, solitude and physical plenty of places to ride off-road vehicles
challenge of the backcountry – includ- on our national forests. These are power-
ing wilderness areas, roadless areas and ful and popular tools. However, we must
well-managed working forests — are also have places – big, wild habitat – that
important for millions of American fami- will remain completely separate from the
lies. My group, Backcountry Hunters noise and disturbance that comes from
& Anglers, was founded by fathers and motorized traffic. Likewise, there are
mothers who know that the great out- places where oil and gas development,
The economic value of wild lands and doors will help shape the character of logging and mining are perfectly appro-
waters in America is huge. their children. They want to make sure priate uses for national forests – but they
their children and grandchildren will be must be balanced with the larger purpose
ied from conservative Republican to lib- free to enjoy the sounds and sights of na- behind our public lands.
eral Democrat. Besides educating these ture, and enjoy clean, free-flowing rivers. Our public lands are owned by all
young Americans in natural resource is- Groups like ours are not working merely Americans. Congress hires profession-
sues and practices, we exposed them to to protect the land and water for next als to manage these resources. Let’s give
the ways of “old Idaho” through putting hunting season or next fishing season. them the leeway and the tools they need
up hay with a mule team and traveling We are working for generations to come to do their mission: serve the greatest
long distances by horse and mule or on — or as TR put it “those still in the womb good, for the greatest number, for the
foot with a backpack. They experienced of time.” long run.
much more than the beauty of wild places The economic value of wild lands Consider this: When Theodore
and wildlife. They experienced that same and waters in America is huge, with bil- Roosevelt was president, there were
sense of self-reliance and accomplish- lions of dollars per year paid to com- about 100 million Americans. When I
ment felt by Theodore Roosevelt when mercial outfitters who take people on was born, there were roughly 200 mil-
he was a young adventurous man experi- float trips on wild rivers of the West, lion. Today, we are somewhere around
encing the vanishing wild west of Dakota Alaska, and the Great Lakes region, and 310 million. This will continue to grow.
Territory. who provide horse and mule pack trips Our public land legacy is a gift to
For Holly and me that rich lifestyle in the mountains and canyon lands on each and every one of them, and those to
is mostly behind us now. We’ve moved our federally owned public lands. These come. We must manage it wisely. Once
back to town. But we constantly get com- high quality experiences are dependent our backcountry is gone, there’s no get-
ments from scores of past students that on wild backcountry that is free from the ting it back.
their most memorable college education noises of man’s machines and high-tech Thank you for considering my testi-
experience was “learning the old ways of devices. As a resident of a “gateway” mony.
America” deep in the Idaho backcountry. community, I assure you that the near Respectfully,
A single visit to the wilderness can shape proximity to Wallowa Lake and the Eagle James Akenson
a life forever. Places affording these types Cap Wilderness Area help bring invest- Executive Director,
of experiences are becoming rare in this ment and jobs to my home town. Backcountry Hunters & Anglers

BHA National Rendezvous

March 2-4, 2012, Missoula, MT Bitterroot River/Greg Munther

Registration and details

will follow in the Fall
Backcountry Journal
and on the web!

Backcountry Journal, Summer 2011 11

 Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Chapter News
Alaska Chapter
Alaska BHA continues our cam-
paign to inform and educate hunters and
anglers about the proposed Chuit River
coal strip mine near Cook Inlet that for
the first time ever would allow mining
right through a salmon-bearing stream.
We recently signed on with several
prominent Alaska fishing conservation
organizations in support of a new Kenai
Peninsula Borough setback ordinance
that would essentially ban strip mining
directly through any salmon-bearing
streams within the borough. We expect
this to be a long-term campaign.
Please visit our website homepage
(www.alaskabackcountryhunters.org) for
more information and please sign the let-
ter to Governor Parnell stating that we
should not trade salmon for coal.
Alaska BHA has submitted a sheep The Colorado Chapter of BHA held its third annual member rendezvous in June.
conservation and allocation proposal to
the Alaska Board of Game for the spring acquainted” weekend with some serious ment plan, which Bob and BHA helped
2012 Region III meeting that addresses conversation and plenty of laughter both overturn recently.
Dall sheep conservation concerns and nights. During the day Saturday, folks BHA co-chair John Gale was quoted
crowding and conflicts in areas where dispersed to go hiking and fishing. The in a Durango Herald story on Colorado
we have general open season (unlim- weather was sunny and warm, and we gas commission make-up. John stood up
ited opportunity) sheep hunts for resi- used BHA Life Member Bill Sustrich’s for sportsmen at the state legislature at
dents and nonresidents and no limits on elk hunting wall tent for shade. Saturday a hearing about House Bill 1223, which
the number of guides who are required evening there was an all-member meet- would change the Colorado Oil and Gas
for nonresident sheep hunters. Read ing, including an open discussion con- Conservation Commission back to its
our proposal via our homepage link to cerning where we’ve been and where we pre-2007 composition of seven members,
learn more about this important issue. want to go as a group, and more. with five from the gas and oil industry.
Co-chair Dave Lyon attended spring Colorado BHA has been active in John attended a committee hearing
Sportsman's shows in Anchorage, Fair- the news, in the field and in the public on the bill, and said: “For the first time
banks, and Kenai for BHA, getting our policy process. Examples of recent pub- in Colorado’s history, we’ve been able
name out there and and informing hunters licity include the following. (For links to to elevate the importance of wildlife and
and anglers about issues we are working these opinion pieces and more, please see habitat as a priority instead of an after-
on, and recruiting new members. Thanks www.backcountryhunters.org) thought.”
to Dave and to the Alaska BHA members “Colorado’s Least Funny Video: John also chimed in on leasing pub-
who helped man our booth and make our Snowmobile Chasing Moose,” Huffing- lic lands for oil shale development, ques-
presence a success. ton Post, March 2011, by Colorado BHA tioning the wisdom of giving industry
Colorado Chapter founder David Petersen. more access to public lands for oil shale
Colorado BHA held its third annual “OHV users ‘must be made aware,’” research when they have access to private
member rendezvous in June. A group of Mountain Mail (Salida, CO), March 2011, lands. “As a ranch kid, my mom used to
over 25 attendees from around the state by BHA Life Member Bill Sustrich. say you’re supposed to finish what’s on
set camp in the San Isabel National For- An article in the Grand Junction your plate before you ask for more,” he
est west of Salida/Poncha Springs. Camp Daily Sentinel quoted Colorado BHA said.
was located in a high-mountain meadow San Juan National Forest Watchman Bob Colorado BHA members also con-
at about 10,000 feet in the Sawatch Range Marion in articles on southwestern Colo- tacted their state legislators, asking them
south of the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness. rado forest plans and San Juan National to vote against HB 1264, which would
It was a relaxed, mostly unstructured “get Forest’s Boggy-Glade travel manage- make driving “quads” and similar OHV’s

12 Backcountry Journal, Summer 2011

legal on all county dirt roads and paved jeopardizing a public fishery. Given that more liberal rules, but a huge improve-
streets with speed limits up to 45 mph un- Lutsen can get all of its snow-making and ment on the existing situation.
less the county takes action to close the other water directly from nearby Lake Currently, Dave Dittloff is work-
paved roads to quads. Superior, the largest freshwater lake in ing to bring other Montana organizations
Dave Lien, co-chair of Colorado the world by surface area, it’s simply ir- up to speed on ORV enforcement issues
BHA, pointed out that allowing all-ter- responsible to put trout at risk in the Pop- and opportunities, and will hopefully
rain vehicles on public roads easily leads lar River. The river supports Minnesota’s build partnerships with BHA to work to-
to uncontrolled access to surrounding native book trout and a steelhead fishery. gether in the future to improve ORV en-
public land. Minnesota now has an official BHA forcement. In addition, Alex Roche has
Craig Gother is Colorado BHA’s chapter with the following chapter lead- worked on a sign-on letter for Montana
newest Forest Watchman for the Un- ers/officers: Darrell Spencer (co-chair: organizations urging the Forest Service
compahgre National Forest. Colorado [email protected]); David Lien (co- and BLM to improve ORV enforcement
still has 15 Forest Watchmen serving as chair: [email protected]); Erik Jensen effectiveness on Montana’s federal pub-
our “eyes and ears” for eight of eleven (vice-chair: progressiveoutdoorsman@ lic lands.
Colorado national forests. We still have gmail.com); Matt Norton (treasurer: Washington Chapter
openings for the following national for- [email protected]). For the past six years, WA BHA
ests: Arapaho, Grand Mesa, Gunnison, Don’t hesitate to contact any of members have been supporting the
Pike, Routt and White River. them with questions. The chapter also Northeast Washington Forestry Coali-
Finally, a big welcome to Steve has its own web page, and welcomes tion and the local effort to create a bal-
Choromanski and Mike Matz, Colorado your backcountry hunting and angling anced plan for managing the 1.1 million
BHA’s newest life members. You can photos. Send your photo submissions to acre Colville National Forest in northeast
read their full bios — and more — at [email protected]. Washington including increased timber
www.coloradobackcountryhunters.org. Montana Chapter management and new wilderness. We
Minnesota Chapter Steve Thompson represented Mon- are currently ramping up our participa-
Minnesota BHA members wrote tana BHA as a panel member at the Mon- tion following a recent meeting with a
their state legislators asking them to op- tana Wildlife Federation Convention staffer for Congresswoman McMorris
pose a house bill that would facilitate joining other organizations to discuss the Rodgers that left us uncertain about her
sulfide mining in watersheds bordering efforts addressing future issues facing commitment to a collaborative solution
the Boundary Waters Canoe Areas Wil- hunters and fishermen in Montana. to longstanding forest management chal-
derness and emptying into the St. Louis Montana BHA provided written lenges in her district. This summer, the
River, which flows into Lake Superior. comments and recommendations to the Colville NF is expected to open a com-
The history of sulfide mining is newly Proposed Forest Service Planning ment period and hold public meetings on
rife with contamination, so much so that Rule, which would be the new frame- its draft forest plan, and we encourage all
Wisconsin enacted a law that forbids any work for any future updated National BHA members who have hunted, fished,
new sulfide mines unless a company can Forest plans and would nullify the 1982 or spent time on the Colville to submit
prove it has operated a mine for 10 years Rule which guided all Montana forest comments to the Forest Service support-
without contamination and was still not plans currently in place. Some Montana ing recommended wilderness for places
polluting ten years after closure. So far, BHA concerns were the lack of specific like the Kettle Crest and Abercrombie
no mining companies have been able to protection for Inventoried Roadless Ar- Mountain and additions to the Salmo
meet that test. Harmful acid mine drain- eas, ambiguous direction for managing Priest Wilderness.
age is an inescapable byproduct of sul- the huge road network and downplaying Email Jeff Holmes or Joe Mirasole at
fide mining. use of enforceable standards in favor of [email protected] for de-
Less than one percent of the miner- weaker guidelines. tails on submitting comments and to send
alized areas contain metals of economic The Fish and Game Commission a message to the Congresswoman let-
value, which means that 99 percent of the tentatively adopted proposed motorized ting her know that hunters support a bal-
rock removed would be stored in tailings watercraft rules upstream and down- anced approach that includes wilderness.
mounds. The waste from copper-nickel stream from Missoula on the Bitterroot Please join us July 29-31 in the Sel-
contains sulfides that combine with water and Clark Fork rivers. Both jet boat kirk Mountains of Northeastern Washing-
and air to form sulfuric acid that’s deadly and jet ski use is increasing, prompting ton for our annual summer meeting and
to fish and other aquatic life. Montana BHA to join forces with Trout work party. This year's habitat projects
Minnesota members wrote their Unlimited, Clark Fork Coalition and the involve restoring and preventing future
state legislators urging them to vote NO Hellgate Hunters and Anglers to urge damage to riparian areas by cows, ATVs,
on legislation that would force anglers to Fish, Wildlife and Parks to take action and weeds. More details on the projects
subsidize the owners of a Lutsen Moun- and recommend rules to protect quiet and the camping spot should be available
tain ski resort by giving away millions of water opportunities while accommodat- by the time you receive this. For the lat-
gallons of water from the Poplar River ing small motors for traditional fall duck est, email Jeff Holmes or Joe Mirasole at
(a designated trout stream), needlessly hunting. MTFWP is proposing somewhat [email protected]
Backcountry Journal, Summer 2011 13
 B.H.A. MEMBER PHOTOS

Idaho BHA member Derrick

Reeves and his son Wyatt,
13, bagged these birds on
Cottonwood Butte.

BHA National
Rendezvous
March 2-4, 2012, Missoula, MT

Registration and details will

follow in the Fall Backcountry
Journal and on the web!

BHA member Tom Sykes of Colorado

took this tom in the San Juan Mountains.

14 Backcountry Journal, Summer 2011

 Ryan Busse and his son, Lander,
are rightfully proud of this
westslope cutthroat trout, caught
in a Montana stream in 2011.

BHA members Larry

Timchak and Greg Munther
enjoyed good luck casting
for rainbow trout on
Montana's Blackfoot Indian
Reservation this spring.

BHA members, we welcome your

photos from our great outdoors.
Please email your favorite to
[email protected]

Check out BHA’s group page on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=45443257820
Backcountry Journal, Summer 2011 15
 Join Backcountry Hunters & Anglers!

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on America’s finest
outdoor traditions
BARRY WHITEHILL

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