BASS PRO SHOPS’ ELK COUNTRY CONSERVATION MONTH TO SUPPORT RMEF MISSION

MISSOULA, Mont.—For the seventh year in a row, Bass Pro Shops announced its sponsorship of Elk Country Conservation Month, a fundraising effort to assist the mission of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

Originally launched in 2007, customers taking part in the effort donated a cumulative $318,928, including an all-time high of $65,014 a year ago. Bass Pro Shops further supported RMEF by contributing a 50 percent match of all donations, which raised the overall total to $478,392. 

“We are very appreciative of the efforts of everyone at Bass Pro Shops,” said Steve Decker, RMEF vice president of marketing. “Their commitment to elk, elk country and conservation allows us to accelerate our efforts focused on land protection, habitat stewardship, elk restoration and hunting heritage.”

Customers can make a $2 donation to RMEF which also qualifies them to win a $2,000 Bass Pro Shops gift card or one of six $500 gift cards.

“Seven years ago, Bass Pro founder Johnny Morris established the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation-Elk Country Conservation Month throughout its North American stores,” said Martin MacDonald, Bass Pro Shops director of conservation. “We want to give our customers the opportunity to contribute to the RMEF and its great mission: to ensure the future of elk, other wildlife, their habitat and our hunting heritage. Mr. Morris also established a matching donation program from Bass Pro to RMEF. We donate an additional 50 percent of the cumulative customer donations during the entire month of August.”

 

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:

RMEF is leading a conservation initiative that has protected or enhanced habitat on more than 6.3 million acres—an area larger than Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Glacier, Yosemite, Rocky Mountain and Great Smoky Mountains national parks combined. RMEF also is a strong voice for hunters in access, wildlife management and conservation policy issues. RMEF members, partners and volunteers, working together as Team Elk, are making a difference all across elk country. Join us at http://www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

CHARITY EVALUATOR: RMEF AMONG BEST IN FISCAL MANAGEMENT

MISSOULA, Mont.—For the fifth straight year, America’s leading charity evaluator has given its highest marks to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

Only four percent of the organizations rated by Charity Navigator have achieved five consecutive years with a top 4-star rating for sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency.

Charity Navigator President and CEO Ken Berger wrote, “Only 4 percent of the charities we rate have received at least five consecutive 4-star evaluations, indicating that Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation outperforms most other charities in America. This exceptional designation from Charity Navigator displays to the public that the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is worthy of their trust.”

Donors use such ratings to help them select fiscally efficient, open, ethical conservation organizations for philanthropic support. Charity Navigator estimates that its 2012 ratings influenced approximately $10 billion in charitable gifts.

Data show RMEF spends only 7.7 percent on administrative costs and 2.3 percent on fundraising costs. Therefore, 90 cents of every dollar that RMEF spends go directly into its mission of ensuring the future of elk, other wildlife, their habitat and our hunting heritage.

Details on the RMEF 4-star rating are at the URL below:

http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=4406#.UfFy-xY9jdk

To review ratings of other charitable organizations, visit www.charitynavigator.org.

 

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:

RMEF is leading a conservation initiative that has protected or enhanced habitat on more than 6.3 million acres–an area larger than Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Glacier, Yosemite, Rocky Mountain and Great Smoky Mountains national parks combined. RMEF also is a strong voice for hunters in access, wildlife management and conservation policy issues. RMEF members, partners and volunteers, working together as Team Elk, are making a difference all across elk country. Join us at http://www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

RMEF SECURES 640 ACRES OF KEY ELK HABITAT, PUBLIC ACCESS IN WASHINGTON

MISSOULA, Mont.—The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation worked with several partners to acquire and conserve 640 acres of elk habitat in south-central Washington. The tract of land will be conveyed to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

The Pine Canyon property, previously held by Western Pacific Timber, is an inholding within the Wenas Wildlife Management Area located just north of Wenas, northeast of Yakima and on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains.   

“Not only is this vital winter range now permanently conserved for elk and other wildlife but there is an important public access component to this project,” said Blake Henning, RMEF vice president of Lands and Conservation. “A private landowner could have purchased the property and closed a road running through it to surrounding public land. Now it will remain open providing access to those who want to hunt or otherwise enjoy it.”

Pine Canyon ranges from 3,000 to 4,200 feet in elevation. It is comprised of steep canyons and ridges dominated by shrub-steppe grassland with scattered stands of Douglas fir and ponderosa pine. The property is home to more than 200 elk during the winter. It is also important for mule deer, bighorn sheep, mountain lions, black bears, bobcats, eagles and quail.  

“WDFW had this property targeted as a key conservation project for many years. We are grateful for a partnership that will now permanently protect it,” added Henning.

Funding for the project, in part, came from the Torstenson Family Endowment that is used solely to further RMEF’s core mission programs of permanent land protection, habitat stewardship, elk restoration and hunting heritage.

Since 1986, RMEF carried out more than 300 land protection and habitat enhancement projects in Washington positively affecting more than 319,000 acres of habitat.   

  

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:

RMEF is leading a conservation initiative that has protected or enhanced habitat on more than 6.3 million acres–an area larger than Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Glacier, Yosemite, Rocky Mountain and Great Smoky Mountains national parks combined. RMEF also is a strong voice for hunters in access, wildlife management and conservation policy issues. RMEF members, partners and volunteers, working together as Team Elk, are making a difference all across elk country. Join us at http://www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

 

RMEF, PARTNERS EXPAND PUBLIC ACCESS TO OREGON ELK HABITAT

MISSOULA, Mont.—The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation took part in a successful collaboration to acquire and open 560 acres of key elk habitat in the South Fork of the John Day River in east-central Oregon. The purchase also opens access beyond the property to thousands of acres of land managed by Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service.

“This transaction is vital because it not only protects crucial winter range, aspen stands and scarce water resources for elk and other wildlife, but it increases the availability of public access for hunting and other types of recreation,” said Blake Henning, RMEF vice president of Lands and Conservation. “It also fends off the possibility of development which could have led to new construction, creating habitat loss, fragmentation and the permanent loss of access.”

The property hosts up to 400 head of elk in the winter and is also home to mule deer, antelope, bighorn sheep, bear, mountain lion, raptors and other birds. It supports the Columbian spotted frog, a species of concern under the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) Oregon Conservation Strategy. In addition to aspen stands, abundant native bunchgrass exists along with sage-steppe, juniper and ponderosa pine.

The South Basin Springs project is located south of Dayville in the ODFW’s Ochoco Game Management Unit. The property is an inholding on the ODFW Phillip W. Schneider Wildlife Area where RMEF previously contributed 2,479 acres in 1997.

“We are grateful for conservation-minded landowners like longtime RMEF members Don Moss, Mike Brown and our partners at ODFW. Their vision helps ensure the future of elk, other wildlife and their habitat in Oregon’s Blue Mountains,” added Henning.  

Since 1997, RMEF worked to protect more than 31,000 acres of habitat in the Dayville area. Looking at the bigger picture, RMEF enhanced more than 325,000 acres of prime elk country in the Blue Mountains stretching from Oregon into southern Washington since 1987.

 

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:

RMEF is leading a conservation initiative that has protected or enhanced habitat on more than 6.3 million acres–an area larger than Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Glacier, Yosemite, Rocky Mountain and Great Smoky Mountains national parks combined. RMEF also is a strong voice for hunters in access, wildlife management and conservation policy issues. RMEF members, partners and volunteers, working together as Team Elk, are making a difference all across elk country. Join us at http://www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

RMEF GRANTS TO HELP ELK, HABITAT AND RESEARCH IN COLORADO

MISSOULA, Mont.—The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation will fund 18 projects that positively affect nearly 6,000 acres of Colorado elk habitat and also assist with research efforts, a wounded veterans’ elk hunt and several hunting heritage outreach gatherings. 

RMEF grants for 2013 total $260,769 and directly affect 19 counties: Alamosa, Archuleta, Boulder, Conejos, Eagle, Fremont, Garfield, Grand, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Jackson, Las Animas, Mesa, Mineral, Park, Pitkin, Rio Grande, Routt and Saguache. Two additional projects have statewide interest.

“This latest round of grants further solidifies our longstanding commitment to elk and elk country in Colorado,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “These projects will improve habitat by treating noxious weeds, using prescribed burns and thinning to improve forage, decommissioning old logging roads, and collaring elk to better determine their seasonal movement patterns to assist wildlife managers in dealing with conflict areas.”

From 1985 to 2012, RMEF and its partners completed more than 570 different conservation and hunting heritage outreach projects in Colorado with a combined value of more than $147 million. 

“We can’t thank our Colorado volunteers enough. Funds generated for these projects come from their hard work through banquet fundraising and membership drives to ensure the future of elk and elk country in their state,” added Allen. 

Allen also thanked RMEF chapters and volunteers nationwide for their dedication to conservation all across elk country.

RMEF grants will help fund the following 2013 projects, listed by county:

Boulder County–Provide sponsorship of four-day camp for at-risk youth by offering conservation education and hands-on hunting heritage activities including how to shoot trap, fish by fly and reel, hike and explore the mountains, shoot a bow and arrow and identify tracks.

Conejos County–Provide funding for a study to place radio collars on 20 elk to determine habitat use, seasonal movements, and population estimates to effectively allocate licenses according to elk distribution. Survey methods will determine potential for application throughout Colorado to assist with management decisions (also affects Alamosa, Archuleta, Mineral and Rio Grande counties). 

Eagle County–Burn 1,056 acres to improve forage in the Crystal River and Roaring Fork Valley areas of the White River National Forest. Noxious weed treatment will cover 120 acres. The project is part of a 10-year effort to improve up to 45,600 acres of big game habitat across four major watersheds benefitting elk winter, calving and summer habitat in the Elk Mountains (also affects Pitkin County).

Fremont County–Thin 667 acres of overgrowth and seed 541 acres in the Kerr Gulch and Sand Gulch drainages to promote forage production on public lands for elk, mule deer, turkey, other wildlife, and to alleviate conflicts on nearby agricultural land; and thin 314 acres of woodlands to improve forage conditions for elk and other wildlife and to reduce conflicts on private lands. Work also includes repairs to several guzzlers and installation of a new guzzler to provide water supply to wildlife. 

Garfield County–Use of hydro-axe mulching on dense oakbrush to positively affect 600 acres of mountain shrub, sagebrush and pinyon-juniper growth across elk winter and transition ranges in the Wallace Creek and Hells Gulch areas to help maintain elk on the White River National Forest (also affects Mesa County).

Grand County–Work to decommission 20 miles of roads following timber salvage harvest due to mountain pine beetle epidemic to benefit 200 acres of summer, calving and transition range for 450 elk and moose and bear range. Project includes moving a road away from a wetland to improve hunter access to high elevation terrain, and treatment of 258 acres of backcountry noxious weeds in the headwater areas of Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest. 

Gunnison County–Installation of rock structures to retain water in adjacent stream banks, sediment and restore access to the stream’s floodplain on 1,254 acres to increase water table and riparian vegetation to improve elk winter survival; thin and prune 200 acres and burn 500 acres of lodgepole pine, Douglas fir, and ponderosa pine to improve forage for elk range and to reduce conflicts on adjacent private lands within the Upper Gunnison Basin within the Gunnison National Forest (also affects Saguache County); and provide funding to install 10 GPS radio collars on elk to determine habitat use and movement patterns to assist wildlife managers to better deal with conflict areas impacted by development, grazing, hunting and habitat changes over time (also affects Hinsdale and Saguache counties).  

Jackson County–Sponsorship to expand the Jackson County 4-H Shooting Sports Program to include air rifles and provide funding to purchase five dozen arrows. Other disciplines currently taught include air pistol, .22 and target rifle, muzzleloader, shotgun, archery and outdoor skills.

Las Animas County–Treatment of 311 acres of deciduous shrubs and trees on public land within the Withers Canyon Wildfire area along the Purgatoire River to improve elk habitat for the Chacuaco elk herd; and thin and remove overgrowth on 400 acres of the Bosque del Oso and Spanish Peaks State Wildlife Areas to open forest canopy and improve forage production.

Park County–Thin 30 acres of conifer encroachment to bolster aspen stands, reduce wildfire potential and entice elk to stay and/or return to managed public lands on the James Mark Jones Wildlife Area. 

Routt County–Removal of .78 miles of barbed wire fencing located on wildlife migration corridors on the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest on Lone Spring Butte just east of Yampa.

Statewide–Sponsorship of second annual Brothers in Arms elk hunt for wounded veterans in the Ragged Mountains near Somerset. Grant funds will help cover the cost of food, supplies and travel expenses. RMEF volunteers will co-host the event; and sponsorship of Country Jam USA Military Day in Grand Junction. 

Conservation projects are selected for grants using science-based criteria and a committee of RMEF volunteers and staff along with representatives from partnering agencies and universities. RMEF volunteers and staff select hunting heritage projects for funding.

Partners for 2013 projects in Colorado include the Arapaho and Roosevelt, Grand Mesa, Gunnison, Medicine Bow-Routt, Uncompahgre and White River national forests; Bureau of Land Management, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and other federal, state and local agencies, private landowners, foundations, organizations and universities. 

  

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:

RMEF is leading a conservation initiative that protected or enhanced habitat on more than 6.3 million acres–an area larger than Yellowstone, Great Smoky Mountains, Grand Canyon, Glacier, Yosemite and Rocky Mountain national parks combined. RMEF also is a strong voice for hunters in access, wildlife management and conservation policy issues. RMEF members, partners and volunteers, working together as Team Elk, are making a difference all across elk country. Join us at http://www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

RMEF READY TO PULL THE TRIGGER ON SEASON 3 OF TEAM ELK

MISSOULA, Mont.—The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s award-winning television show, RMEF Team Elk, returns to celebrate a third season of conservation and hunting on Sunday, July 7, at 3:00 p.m. (ET) on Outdoor Channel.

“Team Elk is much more than just a TV show,” said Steve Decker, RMEF vice president of Marketing. “It features the best landscapes in elk country, the wildlife that lives there, demonstrates how we solidify our connection to the land around us, and drives home the fact that Hunting is Conservation.”

The first episode features racing legend Johnny Unser Jr. and longtime RMEF volunteer Mike Baugh as they chase big bulls in the fast-paced, rut-filled Big Sky Country of Montana.

Each week, new episodes of RMEF Team Elk will air every Thursday at 10:00 a.m. (ET), Saturday at 6:00 p.m. (ET) and Sunday at 3:00 p.m. (ET).

Season Three’s weekly episode highlights include how three women of the outdoors successfully “Shoot Like a Girl,” a young hunter who caps his first ever elk hunt in a big way, and more memorable up-close encounters with elk and other wildlife than ever before. 

For a preview of Season Three, click the link below: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=UUfvjBeRMDCsP3-9UkWbY3_A?showinfo=0&feature=player_embedded&v=5QY8CqcBCis 

RMEF Team Elk represents a nationwide RMEF membership of more than 196,000. The series delivers RMEF’s mission of ensuring the future of elk, other wildlife, their habitat and our hunting heritage to 34 million households per week on the Outdoor Channel with a theme of “Hunting is Conservation.” 

“We are excited to bring a new look and format to our third season,” added Decker. “Our production staff works hard to make sure the viewer not only enjoys the show but comes away with a better understanding of the relationship between elk, hunters and conservationists, and the land around us.”

Presented by MidwayUSA, RMEF Team Elk is brought to you by: Browning, Nosler, Weaver, Buck Knives, Danner, PSE Archery, Eberlestock, Hunting GPS Maps, Archer Xtreme, Sitka, DeWalt, Budweiser, PEAK, Yamaha and Montana Decoy.

 

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:

RMEF is leading a conservation initiative that has protected or enhanced habitat on more than 6.3 million acres–an area larger than Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Glacier, Yosemite, Rocky Mountain and Great Smoky Mountains national parks combined. RMEF also is a strong voice for hunters in access, wildlife management and conservation policy issues. RMEF members, partners and volunteers, working together as Team Elk, are making a difference all across elk country. Join us at http://www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

RMEF DONATION TO ASSIST MONTANA WOLF MANAGEMENT

MISSOULA, Mont.—Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) accepted a $25,000 donation from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation this week to assist with its state wolf management efforts.

The focus of the funding is to expand FWP’s wolf collaring program in areas where the impact on elk, deer and other ungulates is particularly severe. Placing more collars on wolves will allow FWP to better expand the science of wolves by furthering the understanding of their territory, home range, the number of wolves in a pack, and helping to implement Montana’s approved wolf management plan. 

“This is a part of a continuing commitment by RMEF to support the ultimate goal of state management, which is to sustain all species on balance with the available habitat and local communities where people live,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. 

“Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks appreciates the partnership it has with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation,” said department director Jeff Hagener. “This donation is another example of RMEF’s long-time commitment to wildlife conservation in Montana.” 

In keeping with the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, RMEF supports state-regulated hunting and trapping as the preferred tools of wolf management. RMEF staunchly supports management to balance and control wolf populations.

“The more collars we can get on wolves, the better understanding we’ll have on how many wolves are really out there, where they go on the landscape, and help to ensure the future of elk and all wildlife,” added Allen.

RMEF also remains committed to learning more about wolves through research efforts. Since 1989, RMEF invested more than $400,000 in research grants to advance scientific understanding of wolves, wolf interactions with other species, and overall wolf management. The total includes more than $200,000 in science grants in just the past five years, more than any other five-year period in RMEF history. Most of the contributions paid for independent research by leading universities, state and federal wildlife conservation agencies and tribes.

Earlier this month, RMEF furthered its commitment to elk and elk country in Montana by announcing grants that total $276,195 that will fund more than 20 habitat projects that will positively affect more than 20,000 acres of habitat in 15 different counties.

 

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:

RMEF is leading a conservation initiative that has protected or enhanced habitat on over 6 million acres–an area larger than Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Glacier, Yosemite, Rocky Mountain and Great Smoky Mountains national parks combined. RMEF also is a strong voice for hunters in access, wildlife management and conservation policy issues. RMEF members, partners and volunteers, working together as Team Elk, are making a difference all across elk country. Join us at http://www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

RMEF GRANTS TO BENEFIT 20,000 ACRES OF WILDLIFE HABITAT IN MONTANA

MISSOULA, Mont.—The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation will fund more than 20 habitat projects in Montana that positively affect more than 20,000 acres of elk country. RMEF will also fund ongoing elk survival and recruitment research and provide hunting heritage outreach to advance Montana’s rich hunting heritage.

RMEF grants for 2013 total $276,195 and directly affect 15 counties: Beaverhead, Broadwater, Flathead, Gallatin, Garfield, Lake, Lewis and Clark, Lincoln, Madison, Missoula, Petroleum, Powell, Ravalli, Sanders and Silver Bow counties. Two other projects provide marketing outreach.

“RMEF’s first ever habitat project as an organization was 25 years ago in Montana. This latest round of grant funding further solidifies our commitment to conserving elk habitat across the state,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “Noxious weed treatment, prescribed burns, forest thinning, and working to restore aspen stands will not only benefit elk but also a wide range of wildlife.”

Since 1985, RMEF and its partners completed 770 different conservation and hunting heritage outreach projects in Montana with a combined value of more than $132.6 million.

“Our volunteers continue to amaze! Their passion and diligent hard work raised the grant money for elk and elk country through local membership drives and banquet fundraising,” added Allen.

Allen also thanked RMEF supporters for their dedication to conservation across the country.

RMEF grants will help fund the following 2013 projects in Montana, listed by county:

Beaverhead County—Thin and burn 5,532 acres to retain sagebrush grassland habitat on elk summer range and calving habitat on Bureau of Land Management land (BLM) in the Medicine Lodge Watershed; aerially treat 430 acres of elk summer range to control spotted knapweed in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest (BDNF); treat 200 acres of BDNF land for noxious weeds and enhance and improve watershed and habitat by removing fencing no longer needed to aid recovering aspen; and enhance big game habitat on 156 acres of the BDNF by removing conifers among mountain mahogany, treating noxious weeds and burning slash piles.   

Broadwater County—Hand slash and burn 702 acres of winter elk range to maintain grasslands and improve aspen in the Elkhorn Mountain Range on the Helena National Forest.

Flathead County—Thin and burn 1,500 acres to increase forage production for elk and other wildlife on the Flathead Indian Reservation (also affects Lake County); implement aerial and ground treatments for noxious weeds on 500 acres to improve prairie habitat for 300 wintering elk on the Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge; treat weed infestations on 460 acres of elk winter range on the Flathead National Forest and Bob Marshall Wilderness; slash and burn 280 acres to stimulate shrub and grass growth in the Flathead National Forest (FNF); implement slash and burn operations to improve 153 acres of year-long elk range in the FNF; and sponsor the Flathead Valley Archers Stumpshooter Youth Development Program.

Gallatin County—Treat 230 acres of noxious weeds on elk winter range on the western edge of Yellowstone National Park in the Gallatin National Forest; and promote RMEF and shooting sports while sponsoring the Montana High School Rodeo Finals. 

Garfield County—Burn 1,875 acres on BLM and private lands to reduce stand density and increase forage on year-round elk habitat.

Lewis and Clark County—Sponsor 7^th Annual Northwest Miniature Bullriding Finals featuring top riders from Idaho, Montana, Utah and Wyoming.

Lincoln County—Treat noxious weeds on 250 miles of roads and release insects on 1,000 acres of elk winter range across swath of private, state and federal lands as part of a three-year project; implement noxious weed treatment on 22 acres on winter elk range in the Kootenai National Forest.

Madison County—Treat 165 acres of invasive weeds to improve forage on elk summer and transitional range in the Ruby Watershed on the BDNF.

Missoula County—Sponsor Forest Discovery Days, a three-day outdoor event attended by nearly 500 fifth graders offering education on career opportunities in the forest industry such as forest ecology, wildlife, wildfire, and wood processing.

Petroleum County—Conduct prescribed burn over 4,400 acres in the Missouri River Breaks as part of continuing partnership with BLM to increase the production and diversity of forbs on elk winter range.

Powell County—Treat 429 acres of noxious weeds in the Marcum Mountain area as part of a multi-year effort on BLM lands to increase forage for elk and other wildlife.

Ravalli County—Provide third year of funding for Bitterroot elk survival and recruitment study which includes additional calf tagging and follow-up to maintain an adequate sample size; and sponsor a workshop supporting a statewide coalition of diverse interests that raise awareness of local wildfire threats and issues.

Sanders County—Reduce encroaching conifers to rejuvenate shrubs, grasses and forbs across 1,098 acres of elk winter range in the Kootenai National Forest; chemically treat noxious weeds on 285 miles of roads (or approximately 900 acres) across private and public lands within the Fisher/Thompson conservation easement (also affects Flathead and Lincoln Counties); use chain saws to conduct pre-burn slash treatments on 75 acres of elk winter range in the Lolo National Forest.

Silver Bow County—Implement noxious weed treatment on 700 acres on BLM lands within the Big Hole River Watershed on critical elk and mule deer winter range and calving habitat.

Conservation projects are selected for grants using science-based criteria and a committee of RMEF volunteers and staff along with representatives from partnering agencies and universities. RMEF volunteers and staff select hunting heritage and marketing projects for funding.

Partners for 2012 projects in Montana include the Bureau of Land Management; Beaverhead-Deerlodge, Flathead, Gallatin, Helena, Kootenai, and Lolo National Forests; Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes; and other state agencies, private landowners, foundations, organizations and universities.

 

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:

RMEF is leading a conservation initiative that protected or enhanced habitat on more than 6.3 million acres—an area larger than Yellowstone, Great Smoky Mountains, Grand Canyon, Glacier, Yosemite and Rocky Mountain national parks combined. RMEF also is a strong voice for hunters in access, wildlife management and conservation policy issues. RMEF members, partners and volunteers, working together as Team Elk, are making a difference all across elk country. Join us at http://www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

RMEF ELK CAMP GETS BIG MAKEOVER!

MISSOULA, Mont.—The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) is making some significant changes to its 2014 annual convention known as Elk Camp. The RMEF Elk Camp will be held Wed., Dec. 3 through Sun., Dec. 7, 2014, in Las Vegas. 

“This is not the traditional time of year for a conservation organization like ours to conduct an annual convention,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “We saw an opportunity to do something different and exciting, and feel that after 28 years it is time to mix things up a bit.”

In the first weekend in December, Las Vegas also plays host to the beginning of one of the largest western lifestyle events in the country, the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR).

“With literally tens of thousands western lifestyle enthusiasts in town we feel this is an opportunity to introduce the RMEF and our mission to a whole new audience that values many of the same things our organization works to protect,” said Allen. 

RMEF also announced it will reassume management of its exhibition hall held in conjunction with Elk Camp. The new show will be called Hunter Christmas and will be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). For many years, Las Vegas Events conducted the very successful Cowboy Christmas exposition in the North Halls of LVCC. In 2014, RMEF, working with Las Vegas Events, will conduct the new Hunter Christmas in the Central Halls of LVCC adjacent to Cowboy Christmas and the NFR Fan Fest.

“We know NFR fans enjoy hunting and the outdoors, we are extremely excited to bring Hunter Christmas, an exhibit hall focused on all things hunting and outdoors, to the NFR fans,” said Allen. “With Cowboy Christmas, NFR Fan Fest and Hunter Christmas all under the LVCC roof in December of 2014, NFR fans and RMEF members are going to have countless opportunities to see and shop a vast array of products they value.”

The RMEF board of directors met in May, and following extensive discussion the board unanimously supported moving Elk Camp to December of 2014. “RMEF has been very fortunate to see significant growth in membership, mission and fundraising over the past several years,” said Lee Swanson, chairman of the RMEF board of directors. “Our board is pleased to see our staff taking initiative to bring that same pattern of growth to our annual Elk Camp. There is little doubt when looking at the whole of these changes Elk Camp is going to reach new levels of success and reach more members with the opportunity to attend.”     

The Mirage Hotel and Casino will again serve as the headquarter property for RMEF Elk Camp evening events. 

“The Mirage is an outstanding property with first class staff. We are proud to partner with them once again,” said Allen. “The Mirage showed its commitment to RMEF by offering Elk Camp attendees extremely favorable Mirage room rates for the 2014 event at just $72 on weeknights and only $119 on Friday and Saturday nights.”

RMEF will be releasing more details on the newly formatted 2014 Elk Camp and Hunter Christmas Exposition in the coming months.

 

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:

RMEF is leading a conservation initiative that protected or enhanced habitat on more than 6.3 million acres–an area larger than Yellowstone, Great Smoky Mountains, Grand Canyon, Glacier, Yosemite and Rocky Mountain national parks combined. RMEF also is a strong voice for hunters in access, wildlife management and conservation policy issues. RMEF members, partners and volunteers, working together as Team Elk, are making a difference all across elk country. Join us at http://www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

RMEF RECEIVES INTERVENOR STATUS IN WYOMING WOLF LAWSUIT, SEEKS SAME IN ANOTHER

MISSOULA, Mont.—A U.S. District Court in Washington D.C. granted the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s request to intervene in a lawsuit by animal rights groups seeking to return federal protection to Wyoming’s wolf population. That means the judge will consider RMEF’s arguments in the case. RMEF also filed to intervene in a similar lawsuit regarding Wyoming wolves based in a Cheyenne, Wyo., U.S District Court.

“This matter is no different than the current case in the Great Lakes or past legal cases in the northern Rocky Mountains,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “Individual states need to be given the opportunity to manage the wildlife species within their borders. These Wyoming lawsuits seek to frustrate the science-based management plan already laid out and approved by the federal government.”

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed Wyoming wolves from the federal list of threatened and endangered species in August 2012 with a minimum population estimate at that time of 328 wolves, including 48 packs and 27 breeding pairs. That total included 224 wolves, 36 packs and 19 breeding pairs outside Yellowstone National Park.

A subsequent hunting season led to the harvesting of 42 wolves in the trophy-hunting zone bordering Yellowstone with 26 taken as unprotected predators elsewhere in the state. Wyoming Game and Fish since proposed reducing wolf hunt quotas by half for the 2013 fall season. Wildlife managers must maintain at least 100 wolves, including 10 breeding pair, outside of the Wind River Reservation and Yellowstone.

Addressing the situation, a spokesman for Wyoming Governor Matt Mead, Renny MacKay, stated, “Wolves in Wyoming are clearly recovered. Our management plan is based on the best available science, committing to the sustainability of the wolf population and genetic connectivity in the Northern Rockies. More importantly, our wolf management since delisting has proven the state’s ability and commitment to responsibly manage wolves.” 

RMEF has a rich heritage of 26 years of work in Wyoming that includes 514 projects that enhanced or protected more than one million acres. RMEF also made contributions of more than $3.7 million to protect and enhance habitat, manage wildlife, and support conservation and hunting heritage outreach programs in Wyoming.

“RMEF invested nearly $7 million in wildlife research efforts around the country to better understand elk habitat use, population dynamics, predation, habitat management and other such issues. We need to strongly consider and abide by these findings and not frustrate science-based management by allowing these lawsuits to go through. They could affect Wyoming’s elk, deer, moose, wild sheep and other big game species from here on out,” added Allen.

RMEF joins a combination of government and sportsmen organizations including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, State of Wyoming, Safari Club International and the National Rifle Association as defendants. RMEF recently received intervenor status in the Great Lakes region wolf lawsuit.

 

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:

RMEF is leading a conservation initiative that protected or enhanced habitat on more than 6.3 million acres–an area larger than Yellowstone, Great Smoky Mountains, Grand Canyon, Glacier, Yosemite and Rocky Mountain national parks combined. RMEF also is a strong voice for hunters in access, wildlife management and conservation policy issues. RMEF members, partners and volunteers, working together as Team Elk, are making a difference all across elk country. Join us at http://www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.