They are now open for all to hunt, fish and otherwise enjoy. Hundreds of thousands of these acres were completely off-limits to the public. Since then,they've grown to over 205,000 members whose support has protected and enhanced more than 6.6 million acres of North American wildlife habitat. Bursting at the seams, they said goodbye to the RMEF’s birthplace and moved to Missoula, Montana.Ī Shining Star. They now had 32,000 members, 2,000 passionate volunteers and 70 chapters, and they had protected and enhanced more than 110,000 acres of elk country. By 1988, the RMEF staff had grown to 12, and offices were spread across a vacant dentist’s office, a mini mall and an abandoned grocery store. That gift helped kick off RMEF's incredible growth and conservation achievements.īursting at the Seams. At the annual convention that year, Ray Goff, former RMEF board member and vice president of Anheuser-Busch, announced a $500,000 gift from the company. In 1988, RMEF facilitated their first land acquisition-the 16,440-acre Robb Creek property in Montana-and received their first ringing endorsement from the corporate community. They also funded their first habitat project that year-a grant to help fund a prescribed burn in a place fittingly named Elk Creek on the Kootenai National Forest near Libby, Montana. In April 1985, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation held their first convention in Spokane, Washington. It took time, hard work and patience, but by the end of 1984, membership had grown to almost 2,500. So they borrowed additional funds and printed 32,000 copies of the premier issue of Bugle magazine, which they mailed out and distributed to grocery stores and gas stations throughout the West. But they believed they'd made a commitment to these people. The team drained their bank accounts and borrowed funds to mail out 43,000 brochures soliciting members, promising a subscription to a magazine about elk and elk hunting, as well as an annual international convention. They set up shop in the back room of a trailer house in Troy, Montana where the four-a pastor, a realtor, a logger and a drive-in owner-created an organization that would directly benefit elk and other wildlife by putting money to work on the ground. In May of that year, they pooled their time, talent and resources and created the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF), an organization dedicated to elk, elk hunting and the habitat they need to thrive. They also recognized there was no group dedicated to North America’s grandest big game animal, elk. In 1984, four hunters from Northwest Montana recognized a handful of organizations doing great work for species like ducks, turkeys and upland birds. The group has over 225,000 members and works to improve public access, fund and advocate for science-based resource management and ensure a future for America's hunting heritage.The history of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. The RMEF was founded over 38 years ago and has conserved almost 8.4 million acres for elk and other wildlife. "We thank our members and especially recognize our volunteers who plan and host banquets and other events to raise this crucial funding," said RMEF President and CEO Kyle Weaver. Projects supported by RMEF's donations include "invasive weed treatment in the Blue Mountains, improving elk habitat in the South Fork Skokomish River watershed, replacing dilapidated fencing with wildlife-friendly fencing in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and several mentored hunting opportunities," according to a statement released by the group. The grants support 14 habitat enhancement and hunting heritage projects across 13 counties as well as four statewide projects. The RMEF donated $315,875 in funds in addition to $748,164 donated by its partners. This effort supports our previously announced $1 million wildfire restoration commitment." "This funding will address invasive weed growth, replant native vegetation and replace fencing and water developments across 2,500 acres. "The Lick Creek and Silcott Wildfires burned more than 50,000 acres in Asotin County alone in 2021, detrimentally impacting critical habitat for elk, mule deer, bighorn sheep and other wildlife," said Blake Henning, chief conservation officer for the RMEF. 21-As part of an effort to protect wildlife habitat, including the restoration of land burned by wildfires, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) and its partners recently allocated $1,064,039 for grants across Washington state.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |