BCJ_FALL17 Digital Edition

The WA Chapter volunteered with the Washington Department of Transportation with the removal of 5.5 miles of fladry fencing. The goal of the project was to remove the
temporary fencing, which was put in place during the winter to stop elk from crossing Interstate 90 near Vantage, WA, where over 20 had already been hit by vehicles.
we hosted two Full Draw Film Tour
screenings. Austin Archery Country in
Austin and Tailwaters Fly Fishing Co. in
Dallas were incredible and allowed the
Chapter to utilize their shop for the Full
Draw events. The “grand finale” of the
summer was a special Storytelling Night
with Jim Shockey at the Yeti Flagship store
in Austin. Shockey spoke to a full house:
He was entertaining, insightful and the
beer was cold.
As a chapter we will continue to build
on this momentum, so please look out for
additional events in the coming months.
We encourage you to connect with us
through our Facebook page – Texas Backcountry
Hunters & Anglers or Instagram
– @texas_bha. It’s a great time to be a
part of the Texas Chapter of BHA, and we
look forward to sharing hunting or fishing
stories with you at an event soon! – Colin
McDermott
UTAH
Utah BHA went huge again this
summer. After circling the wagons for
chapter rendezvous in July, chapter members
participated in the Total Archery
Challenge, Treasure Mountain Archery
Shoot, and marched on the state capitol
in Salt Lake City during the “This Land
Is our Land” public lands rally supported
by the outdoor recreation industry. Land
Tawney and Tim Brass were in attendance,
and chapter members carried the rally after-party
long into the evening.
Utah Chapter leadership also stayed
busy this summer. Central Region Board
Members Jason and Kait West got local
members into the Wasatch Mountains
throughout July and August as part of the
Hike to Hunt Challenge. Southern Region
Board Member Braxton McCoy was
featured in the previous issue of the Backcountry
Journal for his efforts recruiting
and trying to engage rural communities on
public land issues, and chapter Chairman
Joshua Lenart was appointed in August to
the Central Region Advisory Council to
represent sportsmen’s interests in deciding
wildlife legislation within Utah’s Division
of Wildlife Resources.
The Utah chapter is taking a break from
chapter meetings and events in September
but will return to monthly meetings beginning
in October.
The chapter is still looking to recruit
new board members and fill two open
leadership positions. If you have been an
active member during the past year and
are looking to get more involved in the
planning process, consider submitting an
application before the general elections
in January 2018. Please contact the Utah
chapter (bhautahchapter@gmail.com) if
you would like more information on how
to become a board member or how to get
more involved with the individual steering
committees. – Joshua Lenart
WASHINGTON
The Washington Chapter continued
to build capacity this summer, refining
our chapter bylaws and adding dedicated
volunteers across the state. We were involved
in a number of successful events
including a Wild Game Feed near Spokane,
Pint Nights in Twisp, Wenatchee,
Redmond and Issaquah, the Northwest
Mountain Challenge at Stevens Pass,
Full Draw Film Tour screenings, and the
Mutton Buster Archery Shoot at Red’s
Fly Shop in the Yakima Canyon. We also
hosted Land Tawney, Steven Rinella and
over 200 passionate public land owners for
Campfire Stories at the Filson headquarters
in Seattle.
Chapter Board Member Ryan Los
worked with the Washington State Department
of Transportation to organize a
volunteer field day removing fladry (wire
fencing with hanging ribbons) along five
miles of I-90 through important elk and
mule deer winter range in central Washington.
The fladry was installed to reduce
animal-vehicle collisions, and a new fence
will replace it. Wildlife crossings are also
being constructed nearby, and chapter
leaders are supporting that project. Chapter
members spoke up for continued
protections for Hanford Reach National
Monument and discussed public lands issues
with elected representatives including
Congressman Dan Newhouse.
Our chapter also worked to further outline
our conservation objectives for 2017-
2018 focusing on public lands defense,
protection of vital wilderness areas such as
the Methow Headwaters and Skagit River
watershed, promoting sustainable management
of recreation, vehicle travel and other
activities on our public lands, and informing
Washington hunters, recreationists and
outdoor advocates about conservation issues
in the Pacific Northwest relevant to
BHA’s mission and work.
Those wishing to contact the Washington
Chapter or get involved with conservation,
events, education or other volunteer
committees should contact secretary.bha.
wa@gmail.com or join our Washington
Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers
Facebook group. – Chase Gunnell
30 | BACKCOUNTRY JOURNAL FALL 2017