If you care about stream access or headwaters protection, you probably first think of Trout Unlimited.  Rightfully so; they have been doing great conservation work for decades.

But, another great organization (also focusing on conservation) you may not have heard of is Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. Having worked on and recreated in public lands for years, I drank the #publiclandsproud kool-aid and joined up.

I am the founder and current president of a student chapter at UMass – Amherst. We are holding our inaugural Pint Night at the Hangar in Amherst on March 21.

We are getting up and running have had some sweet swag donated to help us raise funds.  I will be posting pics over the next week to highlight some of the prizes on offer that night on my Instagram @fieldbiojoe.

There will be some great gear to win from Montana Fly Company, FirstLite, TenkaraUSA, Leupold, Mystery Ranch, and YETI.

For example, how about a complete Tenkara setup with the book to tell you how to use it?

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BHA has been pretty front and center with protecting public lands and waters. It is spearheading campaigns to protect and provide access to places like the Boundary Waters, wilderness areas across the country, and places closer to home.

We would love to add your voice to the mix.

More importantly, meet some of your fellow public lands advocates,  talk to some students working on fish and wildlife science, and have a tasty beer with some good folks.

See ya there on March 21!

And, if you can’t make it on the 21st or to Amherst, there will be a 2nd event for Eastern Mass, too, but they won’t have such sweet swag! There will be a March 22 Eastern Mass Pint Night.