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Jim Zumbo Receives RMEF's Highest Honor

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont. --(Ammoland.com)- Jim Zumbo of Cody, Wyo., has received the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s highest honor, the Wallace Fennell Pate Wildlife Conservation Award.

The award honors special contributions of lasting significance for the benefit of elk, other wildlife and their habitat across North America. A bronze sculpture was presented to Zumbo during the 28th annual RMEF convention, which ended Feb. 4 in Las Vegas.

Zumbo is one of America’s best-known outdoor writers and host of his own television show. He joined RMEF in 1985, a year and a day after it was founded. The outfit was still teetering in infancy and Zumbo gave it only a 50/50 chance of lasting out the year. But he felt the spirit of the founding leaders, wrote a $600 check and became one of RMEF’s earliest life members.

In 1986, he volunteered for duty on the organization’s first board of directors. It was the first of two terms that Zumbo has served on the RMEF board.

Zumbo also was among the earliest contributors to “Bugle” magazine. His byline and endorsement helped build RMEF credibility among its most important audience – elk hunters. He continues to plug the organization at sportsmen shows, magazines, books and on television. For 26 years, Zumbo has helped make RMEF what it is today.

“Few people have done more than Jim to communicate the importance of conservation in elk country,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “But his influence also has helped to keep this outfit grounded. RMEF was founded by average elk hunters and they’re still the core of our membership. Jim never lets us forget that.”

The awards namesake, Wallace Fennell Pate, was RMEF’s first president and chairman of the board, he dedicated his time, energy and financial resources for the betterment of wildlife in North America. Pate, now deceased, became a national role model for groups or individuals concerned with natural resources conservation.

Pate’s son, Jack, attended the recent ceremony and spoke about his father’s devotion to RMEF and conservation overall.

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 www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

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Quality Deer Management Association’s Founder Featured Speaker At Fort Stewart Wildlife Gala

Quality Deer Management Association

FORT STEWART, Ga. --(Ammoland.com)- Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) founder Joe Hamilton was recently the featured speaker at the Fourth Annual Wildlife Gala and Venison Cook Off at Fort Stewart Army Installation in Georgia.

The Wildlife Gala, held at Club Stewart in late January, was organized to promote hunting, fishing and many other outdoor recreation opportunities at Fort Stewart, Hunter Army Airfield (HAAF) and the surrounding areas. Attendees included many active-duty and retired soldiers along with their families, and the event was also open to the public.

Hamilton, a certified wildlife biologist, founder of QDMA and current Director of Development, addressed the crowd of more than 225 people on key issues involving white-tailed deer, Quality Deer Management and the QDMA.

Fort Stewart-HAAF currently has nearly 250,000 acres open for hunting, and the area is home to over 350 species of wildlife. Fort Stewart-HAAF receives approximately 50,000 hunter-attempts annually with most hunters trying to fill a white-tailed deer tag.

In 2003, Fort Stewart-HAAF began implementing QDM by designating a Quality Deer Management Zone (QDMZ). In order to produce an even adult sex ratio, older bucks and healthier deer, the QDMZ includes a greater law-enforcement presence, antler restrictions and an intense food plot regime to include both cool- and warm-season plantings. Additionally, Fort Stewart-HAAF monitors its deer herd through check station data collection and an infrared camera survey.

The Wildlife Gala also featured several vendors, food samples, live animals, a shooting simulator and taxidermy displays. The Venison Cook Off had categories for venison chili, miscellaneous venison dishes and a children’s venison cook off. Prizes were awarded to the top three places in each category.

The event was sponsored by USAA, Bass Pro Shops, Navy Federal Credit Union, Critters, Budweiser and Coca-Cola.

For more information on Fort Stewart visit www.stewart.army.mil. Fort Stewart hunting information can be found by navigating to the “About” tab and selecting “Hunting on Fort Stewart.”

About QDMA
QDMA is dedicated to ensuring the future of white-tailed deer, wildlife habitat and our hunting heritage. Founded in 1988, QDMA is a national nonprofit wildlife conservation organization with nearly 50,000 members in all 50 states and Canada. To learn more about QDMA and why it is the future of deer hunting, call 800-209-3337 or visit www.QDMA.com.

Media members wishing to join QDMA’s Media Outreach Network can contact Tanner Tedeschi at tanner@qdma.com or by calling (800) 209-3337 ext 1017. If you are already subscribed to the Media Outreach Network but wish to be unsubscribed from the list, please inform Tanner and you will be removed.

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