How UM Students Fueled a Resurgence in Hunting & Fishing Club

With so many amazing outdoor opportunities right in their own backyard, students are responding to an irresistible call.

UM CHAPTER OF BHA

That's what UM News Service's Jenny Lavey tells us as to why the University of Montana's chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is a popular club on campus, fueled by students seeking community, sustainable food sources, and a deeper relationship with the natural world.

Today, the club’s roster is steadily growing, and draws students from nearly every major at UM, including many newcomers to hunting and fishing who see the group as an entry point into Montana’s public lands and culture.

A DRIVING HUNGER

According to chapter president Amory Kindle,  “Students are hungry for meaningful connection, not only to the land, but to each other. BHA gives them both. It’s a place where you can learn, ask questions and turn curiosity into real experience.”

Club members will tell you its growing popularity stems from its mix of community, skill development and accessible pathways for beginners. The club offers catered experiences from ice fishing, wild game cookouts, fly-fishing and hunting experiences, complete with gear, instruction and mentorship surrounding what it takes to recreate in the backcountry.

OPEN TO ALL

Chapter President Kindle added, “This club is for anyone who is interested in what this place offers. We have members who have been hunting their whole lives and students who don’t hunt but are curious about wild food sources and the environment.”

READ MORE: Montana Teen Wins New Big Game Wildlife Art License Plate Contest

The UM chapter operates with guidance from the national Backcountry Hunters & Anglers organization, headquartered in Missoula, with a mission to ensure North America’s outdoor heritage of hunting and fishing in a natural setting, through education and work on behalf of wild public lands, waters and wildlife.

Check out many more club details in Jenny Lavey's outstanding article here.