PO Box 16241
Missoula, MT 59808
501c3 tax-exempt nonprofit
Federal Tax ID Number:
88-1817113
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CEO, Founder – Montana
From the moment her heart-dog, Briar, a spirited German Wirehaired Pointer, delivered a pheasant to her hands, Courtney Bastian knew her life was set to follow the path of feathers and fields. It was 2008, and that poignant gesture from Briar beckoned Courtney away from her camera and into the world of upland hunting with a shotgun and a passion to match the drive of her four-legged companions.
As the Founder and Executive Director of HerUpland, Courtney stands at the forefront of a movement celebrating and fostering the spirit of women and youth in the realm of upland hunting. Her journey, which took a significant turn upon moving to the expansive and wild beauty of Montana in September 2019, has been driven by a quest to connect, share, and grow with fellow upland enthusiasts. As the global pandemic introduced unprecedented challenges to forming in-person bonds, Courtney pivoted with grace and ingenuity, launching The Bird Dog Babe Podcast. This virtual gathering space became the pulse of a burgeoning community, leading to the conception and subsequent blossoming of HerUpland into a nonprofit organization by the end of 2022.
Courtney orchestrates HerUpland events with an unwavering commitment to education, hands-on experiences, and mentorship, offering hunting skills camps, wingshooting clinics, and bird dog training camps. Her vision is carved from the belief that competency and confidence are the wings upon which female and youth hunters will soar.
Her life is a tapestry of adventures alongside her husband William, and their two children, Burke and Blayre. Whether she’s navigating the uplands with her German Wirehaired Pointers, Bracchi Italianos, and a Cocker or savoring the tranquility of her Montana homestead amid chickens, Nigerian Dwarf goats, Kune Kune pigs, and her beloved Tennessee Walking and Paso Fino horses, Courtney lives her ethos of balance and passion.
Courtney’s roots in science, with a B.Sc. in Biology and Animal Science from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, have nourished her methodical approach to conservation and sustainable hunting practices. Currently, she is further sharpening her acumen by pursuing an MBA dual degree in Management and Marketing, fortifying her ability to lead HerUpland with innovative strategies and a clear vision.
A luminary in the upland hunting community, Courtney Bastian is not just forging paths for women and youth in this field but is ensuring that the trails are wide, welcoming, and wonderfully wild.
West Virginia
I’m a mom and attorney in Charleston, West Virginia. My husband and I live on a small farm with our four dogs; Wyatt (Gordon Setter) and Grant (American Black Lab) are our hunting partners and Boone and Chase are enjoying retirement. I’ve always had a passion for dogs, but fell in love with the uplands and shooting sports during the pandemic. I’m so excited to be part of HerUpland and to play a small role in advancing this wonderful mission with such strong and like-minded women. I can’t wait to get in the field with our MembHers!
Texas
Brandy Elrod is a lifelong outdoorswoman, certified wingshooting instructor, and passionate advocate for helping women build confidence in the field. As a member of the HerUpland Board of Directors, Chair of the Communications Committee, and Co-Chair of Partnerships, she is dedicated to expanding opportunities for women through education, mentorship, strategic partnerships, and community.
Professionally, Brandy is an instructional designer and training specialist who develops engaging learning experiences for adult learners. She brings that same passion for education to HerUpland, where she has spent thousands of hours coaching women and youth in shotgun shooting, upland hunting, and gun fit. She is an NSCA Level II and NRA Level II Shotgun instructor, and assistant certifying instructor for the NSCA Level I program.
Brandy believes every woman deserves access to quality instruction, properly fitting equipment, and a welcoming community, regardless of her experience level or budget. Whether she’s introducing a first-time shooter to the sport, mentoring an experienced hunter, developing educational resources, or cultivating partnerships that help advance HerUpland’s mission, her goal remains the same: to empower more women to confidently pursue their passion for upland hunting.
When she’s not working or volunteering with HerUpland, you’ll likely find Brandy in the field with her dogs, Ellie, an energetic English Cocker Spaniel, and Faye, her young Pointing Labrador Retriever, chasing upland birds or training for the next adventure. She also enjoys creating educational outdoor content and sharing her passion for conservation, bird dogs, and the sporting lifestyle with others.
Texas
Rebecca Jones is an adult-onset hunter and a lifelong water woman originally hailing from Australia and currently settled in Dallas, Texas. Rebecca’s initial introductions to firearms and wingshooting were under the guidance of talented confident women who provided incredibly empowering experiences that instilled the confidence to pursue skill training and birds across the country. But even more than the personal fulfillment gained, it ignited a passion in her to ensure that any woman who was willing to learn and immerse themselves in the Uplands (or big game or fishing) was able to access instruction and opportunity to get out there and do it for themselves. When she is not in the great outdoors with her enthusiastic 7-year-old daughter and birds dogs Mango (English Cocker Spaniel), and Del (Pudelpointer), she is a senior executive with Pete & Gerrys Organics, as well as a board member with Dallas Safari Club and the Texas Wildlife Association. She is dedicated to habitat conservation and ensuring generations of connection to the outdoors.
Montana
Hi! I live in Northwest Montana with my husband and three setters. I grew up in rural Virginia with bird dogs, beagles, and coonhounds underfoot.
I love big game hunting and have been upland obsessed since 2018. I am passionate about conservation, public land access, and wild birds in wild places.
My favorite part of HerUpland is our amazing community. I have been volunteering since 2023 and am excited to serve HerUpland as a field mentor and board member.
Box Elder, SD
Kelli was raised in the sport of purebred dogs and is an Irish Setter breeder under the kennel name Quantonas Irish Setters. She stumbled into upland hunting after a deployment and she’s been an addict ever since. She has been mentored into field trialing by a few very special women, and she attributes her successes in large part to them. She and her husband, Clayton, travel full time with their Irish Setters, Pointers, and 3 horses, hunting, training, and competing in field trials all over the country. Kelli has dedicated her life to these dogs, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Kelli volunteered at her first HerUpland event in 2024 and she has loved being involved in the organization. She is honored to become a member of the board and looks forward to contributing as much as possible to this fantastic organization.
Oregon
Carrie Barham lives in central Oregon and discovered shooting sports in her mid-40s, beginning at a local skeet range before being introduced to upland bird hunting—a pursuit that opened an entirely new way to experience the outdoors. Hunting became a natural extension of a lifetime spent outside, complementing years of hiking, fly fishing, cycling, mountaineering, rowing, and triathlon. In addition to upland bird hunting, she is expanding her skills as a novice turkey and big game hunter.
A lifelong conservationist, Carrie has supported habitat and wildlife stewardship for decades, long before becoming a hunter. She is a lifetime member of Pheasants Forever and Trout Unlimited and believes deeply in giving back through volunteer service. Over the years, she has dedicated her time to outdoor athletic events, her local volunteer fire department, and numerous community initiatives.
Carrie was introduced to HerUpland by a friend and attended her first hunt camps in the fall of 2024 and January 2025. Inspired by the organization’s mission and guided by her commitment to service, she volunteered at four HerUpland events in 2025, including dog training camps, wingshooting clinics, and hunt camps. These experiences gave her firsthand insight into the organization’s programs and the impact they have on participants.
In 2026, Carrie joined the HerUpland Board of Directors, where she is excited to help advance the organization’s mission of expanding opportunities for women through hunting education, ethical mentorship, conservation, and community. She is committed to helping more women discover the confidence, skills, and lifelong connections that hunting and the outdoors can provide.
California
Kelsey Gorter is a board member of HerUpland, a winemaker, and a proud resident of California’s Central Coast. She is passionate about building strong communities and creating opportunities for women to learn and grow in the outdoors. Through her involvement with HerUpland, Kelsey supports the organization’s mission of empowering women through mentorship, shared experiences, and authentic relationships.
An avid upland hunter and conservation advocate, Kelsey is a board member of two North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association (NAVHDA) chapters and enjoys training and hunting with her German Shorthaired Pointer and English Setter. Her love of the outdoors, sporting dogs, and conservation complements her commitment to strengthening connections among women who share a passion for the upland lifestyle.
