Spring 2020 issue Backcountry Journal

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THE VOICE FOR OUR WILDPUBLIC LANDS, WATERS ANDWILDLIFEPhoto by Jeremiah WattRyan Busse (Montana) ChairmanJ.R. Young (California) Vice ChairmanJeffrey Jones (Alabama) TreasurerTed Koch (Idaho) SecretaryBen Bulis (Montana)NORTH AMERICAN BOARD OF DIRECTORSRyan Callaghan (Montana)Bill Hanlon (British Columbia)Hilary Hutcheson (Montana)Heather Kelly (Alaska)STAFFTom McGraw (Michigan)T. Edward Nickens (North Carolina)Ben O’Brien (Montana)Michael Beagle (Oregon) President EmeritusLand Tawney, President and CEOAliah Adams Knopff, Alberta Public Lands CoordinatorGrant Alban, Development CoordinatorTim Brass, State Policy and Field Operations DirectorWalker Conyngham, Communications CoordinatorTrey Curtiss, R3 CoordinatorKatie DeLorenzo, Southwest Chapter CoordinatorKevin Farron, Montana Chapter CoordinatorCaitlin Frisbie, Operations Associate and Assistant to the PresidentJohn Gale, Conservation DirectorChris Hennessey, Regional ManagerAce Hess, High Divide and Idaho Chapter CoordinatorJosh Kaywood, Southeast and North Carolina Chapter CoordinatorFrankie McBurney Olson, Operations DirectorKatie McKalip, Communications DirectorJason Meekhof, Upper Great Lakes Chapter CoordinatorRob Parkins, Public Access CoordinatorJulia Peebles, Government Relations ManagerJesse Salsberry, Northwest Chapter Coordinator and Video Production AssistantKylie Schumacher, Collegiate Club CoordinatorRyan Silcox, Membership CoordinatorDylan Snyder, Operations AssistantTy Stubblefield, Chapter Coordinator and New Chapter DevelopmentBrien Webster, Program Manager and Colorado and Wyoming Chapter CoordinatorZack Williams, Backcountry Journal EditorRob Yagid, Digital Media CoordinatorInterns: Kincaid Jones, Trenton Kriz, James Lindbloom, Craig Martynn, AtlasMcKinley, Scott Moore, Tyler TurcoContributors in this IssueMoriah Boggess, Tim Brass, Dan Crockett, Cory DeStein, Corey Ellis, Holly Heyser,Brenton Lammers, Charlie Levesque, Harly McAllister, Fisher Neal, Joe O’Brien,Brian O’Keefe, Rob Parkins, Christine Peterson, Andrew Posewitz, Don Rank, WendiRank, Hank Shaw, Emily Stone, David Sumner, Brandyn Thorsen, Garrett Titus,Wade Truong, Garrett VeneKlasen, Craig Watson, Jeremiah Watt, Victor YvellezOn the cover: Somewhere near Mt. Shasta, California. Photo by Jeremiah WattJournal Submissions: williams@backcountryhunters.orgAdvertising and Partnership Inquiries: grant@backcountryhunters.orgGeneral Inquiries: admin@backcountryhunters.org(406) 926-1908P.O. Box 9257, Missoula, MT 59807www.backcountryhunters.orgBHA HEADQUARTERSP.O. Box 9257, Missoula, MT 59807www.backcountryhunters.orgadmin@backcountryhunters.org(406) 926-1908Backcountry Journal is the quarterly membership publication of BackcountryHunters & Anglers, a North American conservation nonprofit 501(c)(3) withchapters in 45 states and the District of Columbia, two Canadian provincesand one Canadian territory. Become part of the voice for our wild publiclands, waters and wildlife. Join us at backcountryhunters.org.All rights reserved. Content may not be reproduced in any manner without theconsent of the publisher.Published March 2020. Volume XV, Issue IIJOIN THE CONVERSATION
TRANQUILITYin the OzarksBY GARRETT TITUSThe crisp turquoise spring water ripples across the front of mycanoe, with the gentle strokes of my paddle and the soothingmelody of stirring songbirds the only sounds as I traverse downstream.Steam is coming from the water like a fire that has almostburned itself out, while the sunlight pierces through the sycamores,providing me a clearer path through the rapids and rootwads. The river bluffs rise high above on either side almost as if topoint my eyes to the heavens. The cliffs, though not long-lived,are magnificent, and I take maybe a moment too long enjoyingthe serenity of my view. I am trapped in the moment, almost unableto continue, until a distant gobble yanks me back to reality.The Eleven Point River stretches over 40 miles in Missouri andis part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, which also includesthe Current and Jacks Fork rivers. This paradise of publicland, which consists of classic karst topography with limestonecliffs, deciduous forest and caves – over 175 miles of river insouth-central Missouri – is all protected by the ONSR. Althoughmanaged by the National Park Service, this area is open to huntingand fishing. Additionally, the rolling hills of the Ozarks providestunning vistas, fall foliage, rafting, camping and are home tosome of the largest freshwater springs in the United States. That’sall why I chose to hunt here. It’s hard, it’s fair and it’s isolated.With my canoe parked safely above the rapids, I first grab myfishing rod and casually toss a Rebel shallow diving crawdad. I dothis a few times trying to entice a local rainbow trout to becomedinner. Unsuccessful in my attempts, I strap on my turkey vest,grab my grandfather’s single-shot 12 gauge from the canoe andattempt to cross the creek that appeared to be an easy obstacle onmy map. This proves to be much more difficult than anticipated;it’s a half mile hike before I can even attempt to cross the nebulouswater. I start the climb up the bank and crawl into hills ofYOUR BACKCOUNTRYthe Irish Wilderness. The cliffs make climbing up from the riverdifficult, but curiosity and excitement drive me farther into Missouri’slargest wilderness area. After a few hours of calling, I amreminded that no matter how hard I try, I will never be as goodas the real thing.A long hike down a ravine, a five-mile float and a few casts later,a rainbow trout finds a cozy home over the brilliant glow of thefire. A consequence of my urban residence for the past four years,I have to be reminded of how the starlight can focus my thoughtson reflection. A lonely whippoorwill assures me that I am notalone in basking under the pale moonlight.I’m not an early riser. After a 4:45 alarm was silenced by deafeningrain, I go after the infamous 10 o’clock gobble. With heavyrains in the forecast and unknowingly floating past my designatedcamp the afternoon before, I could be in for adventure. Yet anothertrek into the hills leaves me with a few minutes of excitement –a tom decides to mimic the storm and let loose a thunderous roarfrom underneath me – and yet still an empty stomach. I am againhumbled by the instincts of such a wary bird, the wily Ozark tomdeciding he wants to see tomorrow’s sunrise more than he wantsto come looking for love.On the hike down off the ridge, the skies open up. With over atwo-mile float to the car, not everyone would have a smile on theirface. As my clothes gain water weight, and I find myself takingon the job of human bilge pump, scooping water from my canoewith a water bottle I cut in half, a wave of happiness overcomesme.BHA member Garrett Titus grew up in the heart of Missouri butnow follows his outdoor passions in western Montana.SPRING 2020 BACKCOUNTRY JOURNAL | 7
Page 1 and 2: BRING MY ASHES HERE: PAGE 54BACKCOU
Page 3 and 4: WETHE PEOPLE!PRESIDENT’S MESSAGES
Page 5: SPRING 2020 BACKCOUNTRY JOURNAL | 5
Page 9 and 10: Email your Backcountry Bounty submi
Page 11 and 12: DepartmentsPresident’s Message 3Y
Page 13 and 14: BHA HEADQUARTERSJOIN THE CONVERSATI
Page 15: SABRINA SCHULERBOISE, IDAHO Vice Pr
Page 18 and 19: SUB-MOAMark V® rifles are guarante
Page 20 and 21: FIELD TO TABLEbutter curryTurkey20
Page 22 and 23: RENDEZVOUSSEE YOU THEREBY WENDI RAN
Page 24 and 25: UA RIDGE REAPERINFIL WINDSTOPPER KI
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Page 28 and 29: PUBLIC LAND OWNERBREAKING DOWN BARR
Page 30 and 31: PUBLIC LAND OWNERE-BIKES and the Ba
Page 32 and 33: INSTRUCTIONALPhoto by Hank ShawMORE
Page 34 and 35: JOIN THE MOVEMENTUse America’s fa
Page 36: for the fish to hold without expend
Page 39 and 40: CHAPTER NEWSALASKA• Southeast Ala
Page 41 and 42: CHAPTER NEWS• Facilitated a new 3
Page 43 and 44: Every Adventure Has Its Rewards@Fat
Page 45 and 46: Photos courtesy of Pennsylvania BHA
Page 47 and 48: RANDY NEWBERGPUBLIC LAND OWNER & AD
Page 50 and 51: Photos by Moriah BoggessBACKCOUNTRY
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Page 54 and 55: BRING MY ASHESHEREBY DAVID SUMNERWe
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of root vegetables and meat. On the
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Photos by Emily StoneHOOKED ON THE
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THE WORLD’S MOSTVERSATILEGRILLJUS
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TRANSCENDINGWATERSBY MICHAEL STEPP
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that peculiar perch.“Ladders!”
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Photos by Cory DeSteinON THE BRINKW
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WORTH THE WAITPhoto by Christine Pe
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BHA SeriesAccess RedefinedForager |
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three scraped together their limite
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Tony Schoonen’sFavoritesFavorite
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OPINIONBackcountryDoesn’t Only Me
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if wetake care ofour future,our fut
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END OF THE LINEReactivatedR3. Since
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