In the mountains of Idaho, surrounded by towering pines and the hush of wilderness, Kevin McFarland is setting up bear camp. It’s not just any trip—this one is for a fellow veteran and his wife, traveling from Mississippi to try again at something they missed the last time: a successful bear hunt.
As founder and executive director of Backcountry Veterans, McFarland knows firsthand what the outdoors can do for anyone in the midst of struggle. A medically retired Army tank commander and veteran of two tours in Iraq, he’s well versed in the difficulty many veterans face as they adjust to civilian life.
Backcountry Veterans provides veterans and their families with outdoor adventures—hunting, fishing, rafting, backpacking, and more. A major component, notes McFarland, is the organization’s commitment to building community by showing veterans and their families that people are closer than they think.
“Our goal is to give families their veterans back and give veterans their families back through the outdoors,” he said.
McFarland’s own journey led to founding the organization—his years of struggle with alcohol and mental health eventually led him to the outdoors, where he says hunting, fishing, and being able to unplug helped him reclaim his life.
That experience planted a seed. In the early days of the “22 push-up” challenge—a viral campaign aimed at raising awareness about veteran suicide—McFarland watched as his friends continued to die. So he asked a friend to go fishing, and things grew from there.
From those first few trips, Backcountry Veterans has grown rapidly—from taking 50 veterans out annually to more than 450 each year—across Idaho, Oregon, and beyond. With help from community partners, volunteers, and donors, they offer logistics, gear, and the chance to connect with the land and loved ones.
The therapeutic power of the wilderness isn’t a replacement for clinical care, but for many veterans, it’s more accessible and approachable.
“I never really wanted to talk to a counselor. I never really wanted to talk to somebody just sitting there in a chair in a room about my life and maybe some of the bad things that have happened, but when you’re outside and you’re trying to conquer some challenges, you don’t really even have to think about those problems back home,” McFarland explained.
The outcomes, while difficult to measure, speak for themselves. Backcountry Veterans saves lives, and McFarland does not take that lightly. Sometimes, he’ll hear from a spouse. “And they’ll say, ‘I haven’t seen my vet laugh like that in forever. I’ve never heard these stories, I haven’t heard these jokes before,’” he said. “And I’m always proud to hear that.”
So what’s next for Backcountry Veterans? Big events are on the horizon, including the Chris Akins Memorial Fishing Tournament, held June 21 at Fall Creek Resort near Anderson Ranch Dam. Named after a civilian friend and supporter who passed away, the tournament has grown steadily and now boasts more than 30 boats registered.
Financial support remains a pressing need. “It costs us about $450–$500 per veteran annually,” McFarland said. Or, you can donate land access, gear, food, or other supplies. To learn more, visit www.backcountryveterans.org.
