YOUR BACKCOUNTRY WHAT IS BHA? BACKCOUNTRY HUNTERS & ANGLERS is a North American conservation nonprofit 501(c)(3) dedicated to the conservation of backcountry fish and wildlife habitat, sustaining and expanding access to important lands and waters, and upholding the principles of fair chase. This is our quarterly magazine. We fight to maintain and enhance the backcountry values that define our passions: challenge, solitude and beauty. Join us. Become part of the sportsmen’s voice for our wild public lands, waters and wildlife. Sign up at www.backcountryhunters.org. STATE CHAPTERS BHA HAS MEMBERS across the continent, with chapters representing 35 states, the District of Columbia and two provinces. Grassroots public lands sportsmen and women are the driving force behind BHA. Learn more about what BHA is doing in your state on page 26. If you are looking for ways to get involved, email your state chapter chair at the following addresses: • alaska@backcountryhunters.org • alberta@backcountryhunters.org • arizona@backcountryhunters.org • britishcolumbia@backcountryhunters.org • california@backcountryhunters.org • capital@backcountryhunters.org • colorado@backcountryhunters.org • idaho@backcountryhunters.org • michigan@backcountryhunters.org • minnesota@backcountryhunters.org • montana@backcountryhunters.org • nevada@backcountryhunters.org • newengland@backcountryhunters.org • newmexico@backcountryhunters.org • newyork@backcountryhunters.org • oregon@backcountryhunters.org • pennsylvania@backcountryhunters.org • southeast@backcountryhunters.org • southdakota@backcountryhunters.org • texas@backcountryhunters.org • utah@backcountryhunters.org • washington@backcountryhunters.org • wisconsin@backcountryhunters.org 4 | BACKCOUNTRY JOURNAL SUMMER 2017 • wyoming@backcountryhunters.org THE SPORTSMEN’S VOICE FOR OUR WILD PUBLIC LANDS, WATERS AND WILDLIFE Ryan Busse (Montana) Chairman Sean Carriere (Idaho) Treasurer Ted Koch (New Mexico) Ben O’Brien (Texas) Rachel Vandevoort (Montana) Michael Beagle (Oregon) President Emeritus President & CEO Land Tawney, tawney@backcountryhunters.org Southwest Chapter Coordinator Jason Amaro, jason@backcountryhunters.org Campus Outreach Coordinator Sawyer Connelly, sawyer@backcountryhunters.org Office Manager Caitlin Frisbie, frisbie@backcountryhunters.org Great Lakes Coordinator Will Jenkins, will@thewilltohunt.com Backcountry Journal Editor Sam Lungren, sam@backcountryhunters.org Central Idaho Coordinator Mike McConnell, whiteh2omac@gmail.com Social Media and Online Advocacy Coordinator Nicole Qualtieri, nicole@backcountryhunters.org Membership Coordinator Ryan Silcox, ryan@backcountryhunters.org Chapter Coordinator Ty Stubblefield, ty@backcountryhunters.org JOURNAL CONTRIBUTORS Mike Adams, Taimur Ahmad, Jason Amaro, Bryan Gregson, Mike Gnatkowski, Ryan Hughes, Jack Hennessy, Scott Johnson, Carson Keys, Zoie Koostra, Kris Millgate, Jim Posewitz, Tim Romano, Craig Springer, Kami Swingle, Dave Terrion, E. Donnall Thomas Jr., Claire Topalian, Maddie Vincent, Lyle Vinson, Isaac Zarecki Cover photo: Kris Millgate, South Fork Snake River, Idaho Backcountry Journal is the quarterly membership publication of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. All rights reserved. Content may not be reproduced in any manner without the consent of the publisher. Writing and photography queries, submissions and advertising questions contact sam@backcountryhunters.org Published July 2017. Volume XII, Issue III Correction: In the Spring 2017 issue story “BHA Goes to College,” we neglected to credit Jim Giese for his excellent images. We apologize for the oversight. BOARD OF DIRECTORS STAFF Ben Bulis (Montana) Vice Chairman Heather Kelly (Alaska) T. Edward Nickens (North Carolina) Mike Schoby (Montana) J.R. Young (California) Joel Webster (Montana) Chairman Emeritus Donor and Corporate Relations Manager Grant Alban, grant@backcountryhunters.org State Policy Director Tim Brass, tim@backcountryhunters.org Collegiate Curriculum and Outreach Assistant Trey Curtiss, trey@backcountryhunters.org Conservation Director John Gale, gale@backcountryhunters.org Montana Chapter Coordinator Jeff Lukas, jeff@bakcountryhunters.org Operations Director Frankie McBurney Olson, frankie@backcountryhunters.org Communications Director Katie McKalip, mckalip@backcountryhunters.org Northwest Outreach Coordinator Jesse Salsberry, jesse@crowfly.cc Merchandise and Membership Specialist Ty Smail, smail@backcountryhunters.org Interns: Ryan Hughes, Carson Keys, Alex Kim, Zoie Koostra, Maddie Vincent, Isaac Zarecki BHA LEGACY PARTNERS The following Legacy Partners have committed $1000 or more to BHA for the next three years. To find out how you can become a Legacy Partner, please contact grant@backcountryhunters.org. Lou and Lila Bahin, Bendrix Bailey, Mike Beagle, Sean Carriere, Dave Cline, Dan Edwards, Todd DeBonis, Blake Fischer, Sarah Foreman, Whit Fosburgh, Stephen Graf, Ryan Huckeby, Richard Kacin, Ted Koch, Peter Lupsha, Robert Magill, Cholly McGlynn, Nick Miller, Nick Nichols, William Rahr, Adam Ratner, Jason Stewart, Robert Tammen, Lynda Tucker, Karl Van Calcar, Michael Verville, Barry Whitehill, J.R. & Renee Young BHA HEADQUARTERS P.O. Box 9257, Missoula, MT 59807 www.backcountryhunters.org admin@backcountryhunters.org (406) 926-1908 JOIN THE CONVERSATION Photo courtesy of the BLM BERRYESSA SNOW MOUNTAIN NATIONAL MONUMENT, CALIFORNIA BY RYAN HUGHES SOLITUDE IS A COMMODITY often hard to come by, especially when living in Sacramento, California. Though it may take some searching to locate that perfect piece of wilderness to hunt and be alone, BHA member Jon Schwedler found his spot somewhere within the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument. Through his exploration, Schwedler found himself surrounded by a dramatic landscape, its vast array of wildlife, and a community that cares deeply for their public lands. In Berryessa Snow Mountain, Jon came to appreciate a form of beauty with which he was not familiar. He describes his favorite hunting spots as barren and dry. He eventually realized the value in this landscape – the ruggedness and challenge kept him coming back. The quail that he hunts are rarely easy to find, and when he does find them, he better be shooting straight. “It plays hard to get,” Jon said. “And even with hustle, limiting out is pretty rare. But I can honestly say I’ve seen as many species here in a day as I have in Yellowstone. That’s the kind of place it is, and I’ve learned to love the land I’m with.” A lifelong angler, Jon didn’t start hunting until he moved to Bozeman, Montana. Upon his return to California, he needed land to continue his pursuit of upland birds and to bring his sons, ages 9 and 11, into the outdoors. As he returned to the monument more and more, Jon found himself crossing paths with many other users of these public lands. One of his most valued interactions was with a BLM employee who was there on his day off. He didn’t come to hunt or fish but to clean the public bathrooms. When Jon asked why, the man said he wanted to maintain the excellent resources they have at their fingertips. “The federal land agencies aren’t perfect,” Jon said. “But whenever I hear people complaining about them, I want to introduce them to that young BLM guy cleaning toilets on his off day.” This wild land is a side of California seldom seen, hiding away in its most desolate canyons, remote rivers and rugged hills. Inhabited by native tribes, explored by Spanish expeditions, trapped by the Hudson Bay Company and prospected by gold rush dreamers, Berryessa Snow Mountain has earned a monument designation well overdue. From the scree and dry, red dirt to the lush hillsides and oldgrowth oak woods, Berryessa offers habitat for a large spectrum of California wildlife, including tule elk, Columbia black-tailed deer, black bears, mountain lions, river otters and bald eagles. The serpentine soil beneath the rugged mountainsides also produces rare plant life, such as McNab cypress and white leaf manzanita. Even the waterways are full of life, with spawning grounds for Chinook salmon and steelhead. Recreationists have unending opportunities for everything from hunting and fishing to mountain biking, kayaking the whitewater of Cache Creek or looking for our national bird. The wide array of uses for this 330,780-acre monument made its designation a common ground for many organizations. From the greenest environmental groups to off-road vehicle enthusiasts, a broad coalition came together to permanently protect this special place. All state and federal representatives from the local region signed on in support, as well as the boards of supervisors of all five counties that house the monument. Schwedler and many other California BHA Chapter members took part in hearings and the public comment period during Berryessa’s scoping process. The hearings began in 2014, and, according to BHA members, attendee support to opposition was roughly 15 to 1, sending a message that the monument would be advancing the community’s interests. Berryessa Snow Mountain was designated a national monument by President Obama on July 10, 2015, followed by the monument’s dedication ceremony in March of 2016. J.R. Young, California chapter co-chairman and BHA national board member, described the designation process as the textbook example of how a monument designation should proceed. “That is what is special about Berryessa – how many different groups signed on in support.” This phenomenal involvement of the community would prove to be a vital asset for Berryessa Snow Mountain, and it continues to be a keystone aspect of the monument’s management plan, currently under development. “We also attended the series of public input meetings for the management planning of the monument,” J.R. said. “We met the various agencies and provided input on the priorities that we thought the management plan should focus on. We made sure that hunting and fishing access was a priority.” In light of the current controversies surrounding national monuments, the designation of Berryessa Snow Mountain demonstrates the value of community involvement. This was a big win for public lands, effected by a diverse assembly of groups. From environmentalists and bird watchers to hunters and anglers, when we collaborate on landscape conservation, the outcomes can be extraordinary. Ryan grew up in Santa Rosa, California near Berryessa. He recently graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno and is spending the summer interning for Backcountry Journal. SUMMER 2017 BACKCOUNTRY JOURNAL | 5