Backcountry Veterans

05/25/2026

Today, we pause to remember the brave men and women who never made it home.
Memorial Day is not about celebration. It is about remembrance. It is about honoring those who gave everything for this country, for the freedoms we enjoy, and for the brothers and sisters beside them.
For many Veterans, healing is found in the quiet places — the mountains, the rivers, the woods, and the silence that allows reflection. But even in those peaceful moments, we carry the memory of the fallen with us.
Their sacrifice will never be forgotten. Their names will never fade. And their legacy lives on through every life they touched.
From all of us at Backcountry Veterans: We remember. We honor. We carry them with us.

05/25/2026

🇺🇸 Live a life worth their sacrifice 🇺🇸

05/18/2026

Another incredible turkey season in Inkom is officially in the books, and once again we’re walking away with full hearts, new memories, and friendships that will last a lifetime.

This year was especially rewarding as we welcomed several new faces to camp and had the honor of helping multiple Veterans harvest their very first turkey. Watching those moments unfold — the excitement, the camaraderie, the laughs around camp, and the stories shared in the field — is exactly what this is all about.

Every season reminds us that it’s bigger than hunting. It’s about connection, healing, mentorship, and building a community where Veterans can come together and create memories they’ll never forget.

We also want to give a massive shoutout to the Vaughn family. Year after year, they continue to open the gates to their beautiful property and allow Backcountry Veterans the opportunity to bring Veterans out for an experience that truly means the world to us. There honestly aren’t enough words to express how thankful and appreciative we are for your generosity, hospitality, and continued support. None of this would be possible without families like yours.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this season another success. Until next year — stay safe, stay connected, and keep making memories. 🦃🇺🇸

05/16/2026

Please help support a local veteran owned business! 🇺🇸🫡 https://www.idahopress.com/boiseweekly/best_of_boise/ #/gallery/?group=535937

We would be extremely grateful if you could vote for Gentle Paws for Best of Boise 2026. Once you've voted, please let us know so we can include you in our raffle for fantastic prizes. The voting period ends on May 23rd, and you can vote once daily. Please report back each time you vote for additional raffle entries. Thank you for supporting us.

05/10/2026

*** Official Kokanee Tournament Statement ***

After a great deal of discussion and reflection, the Backcountry Veterans team has made the difficult decision that there will not be a 2026 Christopher Akins Memorial Kokanee Tournament, nor do we foresee continuing the event in the future.

This tournament was originally created by Christopher Akins as a fundraiser FOR Backcountry Veterans. Chris poured his heart into building something that brought people together while supporting veterans and our mission. After Chris passed away, we did our best to continue the tournament in his memory and honor what he created.

The reality is, over the years the event has slowly shifted away from its original purpose. Many people now view it primarily as a competitive tournament with cash payouts, rather than a fundraiser supporting Backcountry Veterans. At the same time, hosting the event has become increasingly difficult for our team. None of us are avid Kokanee anglers or tournament-hosting experts, and despite repeated criticism and suggestions on how the event should be run differently, no one has stepped forward to take over or help lead it.

At the end of the day, we cannot justify continuing to host an event that has drifted so far from Chris’s original vision — especially when it has reached a point where it costs the organization money instead of raising it for veterans.

With the closing of Kokanee Tackle, we also feel this is the appropriate time to close this chapter.

This decision was not made lightly, and we sincerely apologize for the late notice. We know this tournament meant a lot to many people because it meant a lot to Chris.

If, someday, someone within the Kokanee community is truly interested in reviving the event in a way that aligns with Chris’s original purpose and values, we encourage you to reach out to the Backcountry Veterans team and we would be open to that conversation.

Thank you to everyone who supported the tournament over the years, helped honor Chris’s memory, and contributed to Backcountry Veterans through this event.

05/09/2026

Can’t wait to party with May 25th at 🇺🇸🫡

Freedom Payments has not only served our country but continues to serve veterans through donations to veteran programs!

05/09/2026

04/21/2026

04/17/2026

More slots have been added for our Veteran Turkey Hunts with .forbes.395 get signed up here: https://m.signupgenius.com/ #!/showSignUp/10C0C4FA4A92DA5F4C07-63339120-veteran?useFullSite=false