Some stories start with a fire.
This one began with a spark of admiration for the people who don’t just enjoy the outdoors but defend it with everything they’ve got.
Before Art for Wild Places ever had a name, I was watching the work of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) with deep respect. They were cleaning up trails, fighting legislative threats, standing up for the voiceless parts of the world, our public lands, waters, and wildlife. And I was called to join the fight in the way I know best, through art.
Art for Wild Places is now a growing series where I interview conservationists and stewards of the land, then create a painting inspired by our conversation. It’s a way of telling their stories through color, texture, and emotion with each piece either donated or used to raise funds for their work.
This conversation with Josh Mills, who leads Corporate Conservation Partnerships for BHA, wasn’t just one chapter, it was the very beginning. And now, a few months later, I’m finally delivering the painting it inspired.
Meet Josh Mills: A Voice for the Wild
Josh grew up chasing pheasants on the Palouse, mule deer in the alpine, and steelhead in the rivers of eastern Washington.
“Fishing and hunting to me can be a somewhat selfish pursuit,” he told me. “And as I got into my 20s, I felt compelled to get involved in conservation work.”
He started volunteering with groups like The Wild Steelhead Coalition and Save Our Wild Salmon. Then in 2015, he discovered BHA.
“Instantly I felt like this was the group I wanted to dive into... It combines my love of wild spaces, wild fish, wild animals with the advocacy of committed people… who show up to defend the rights of everyone to recreate on the millions of public acres across the continent.”
Since 2021, Josh has served as BHA’s corporate partnerships coordinator, connecting with brands that fuel the mission and share their commitment to keeping wild places wild.
What BHA Stands For
BHA was born around a campfire in 2004 when a few people realized that no one was standing up for public lands. Today, the organization has grown to include 30,000 members, chapters in 49 states, three Canadian provinces, and dozens of military installations.
Their mission is to be the voice for North America’s wild public lands, waters, and wildlife through grassroots clean-ups, habitat work, and policy advocacy at both the state and federal level.
“Public lands and waters are vital to the outdoors experience,” Josh said. “They democratize the ability to be outside and recreate. It makes us all stewards, as we are all public land owners.”
But the fight to protect them is far from over
A Current Threat and Why It Matters Now
Just this week, the U.S. Senate introduced a budget reconciliation proposal that would force the sale of roughly 3 million acres of public land across 11 Western states.
According to BHA’s recent statement, this proposal would:
- Bypass the bipartisan Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act
- Funnel $10 million into speeding up those sales
- Greenlight oil and gas leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
- Approve construction of the Ambler Road in Alaska’s Brooks Range
- Reverse protections that prevent speculative leasing on public lands
“This is a betrayal of our public lands legacy,” BHA warned. “These lands belong to ALL of us, not to politicians looking to make a quick buck.”
🔗 Click here to read BHA’s full post and take action.
The Painting: A Voice For Wild Places
In response to Josh’s story and the mission of BHA, I created a painting of a bull elk mid-bugle. His head thrown back, antlers stretched to the sky. His voice is a battle cry, echoing across the land like a call to remember what’s worth protecting.
Around him swirl elements of all four seasons:
Snow, the autumn bugle, arrowleaf Balsomroot blossoms, and summer pines. Each symbol represents the turning of time and the critical role each season plays in the balance of the wild. It’s not just a portrait of an animal, it’s a reflection of how nature itself supports not only wildlife, but our own healing.
“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.” John Muir
This piece reminds me of that truth. When we lose access to wild places, we lose more than scenery, we lose a part of ourselves.
See It at the Rendezvous
This weekend, I’ll be headed to BHA’s Rendezvous event in Missoula, Montana, where the elk painting will be up for auction to support their ongoing conservation work. I’ll be inside at booth 24 with a selection of limited edition prints, many of which are suitcase-sized for those traveling home.
If you're attending, come say hello. Let’s talk art, land, and the stories that connect them both.
How You Can Help
When I asked Josh how people could make a difference, he didn’t hesitate:
“Take the first step and get involved. If not BHA, find a group that makes you feel like you’ve found your place… I promise you won’t regret becoming a member of BHA.”
So here’s your invitation.
📍 Visit www.backcountryhunters.org take action section to notify your representatives
📣 Tell your representatives: No land grabs.
🖼️ Check out all BHA auction items HERE. Your bid helps protect the wild places we all love.
This Is Just the Beginning
This was the first interview I ever recorded for Art for Wild Places, and in so many ways, it’s still the heartbeat of the whole project.
If this story moved you, I hope you’ll stay tuned. More interviews are coming. More paintings. More opportunities to protect the wild places that make us who we are.
Thanks for caring. Thanks for showing up.
And thanks for being part of this wild, beautiful fight.