BACKCOUNTRY BOUNTY

Hunter: Josh Yoder, BHA member Species: whitetail State: Wisconsin Method: bow Distance from nearest road: 2 miles Transportation: foot

I’m an old-fashioned fellow – no social media – but I thought this buck deserved to be celebrated. This magnificent public land buck did all the work. Making a living in the deep contiguous forests of northern Wisconsin, avoiding hunters and managing stress on public land. Considering where I harvested this deer, it’s very likely he never had the benefit of agricultural diet, rather gaining his subsistence from logging slash, acorns and whatever else big woods had on the menu.

With all that said, I was more than blessed to capitalize when I caught him on his feet in daylight. I hung a stand an hour before sunrise and he came sauntering by at 7:40 a.m. heading to his bed.

I’m fortunate to live in an area with a lot of public ground and have been archery hunting it for the past 26 years. It wasn’t until the past decade that I realized how lucky I am to have it. If it goes away so does hunting, speaking from my own experience; I probably never would have started without relatively easy access at the age of 13.

Love the work you guys do! -Josh Yoder, Northern WI

Hunter: Chloe Christiansen, BHA member Species: black bear State: Oregon Method: rifle Distance from nearest road: two miles Transportation: foot

Hunters: (left to right) Josh Watts, Cole Watts, BHA members Species: wood duck State: Mississippi Method: shotgun Distance from nearest road: one mile Transportation: foot

Anglers: Jack and Davey Palmisano, BHA members Species: bluegill State: Michigan Method: ice Distance from nearest road: one mile Transportation: little feet Hunter: Mackenzie Jeffress, new BHA life member Species: desert bighorn State: Nevada Method: rifle Distance from nearest road: two miles Transportation: foot

Hunters: (left to right) Gavin Bunn, Ryan Bunn, BHA members Species: pronghorn State: Wyoming Method: rifle Distance from nearest road: one mile Transportation: foot