Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont.—-(AmmoLand.com)- Outdoor Life has named two founders of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation to a list of 25 people who’ve had the greatest positive impact on hunting, fishing and conservation.

RMEF icons Bob Munson and Charlie Decker are part of the magazine’s third annual “OL 25” list honoring leaders, innovators, conservationists and unsung heroes.

Photos and bios appear in the December/January 2010 edition of Outdoor Life.

Online voting for fan favorites lasts through late December at www.outdoorlife.com.

Outdoor Life Editor-in-Chief Todd Smith said, “When we step into the woods or wade into a clear mountain stream, we rarely stop to think about the many people who have made enjoying that experience possible. Yet there are thousands who devote their time, talents and energies to building this way of life we call hunting and fishing. Most are just ordinary sportsmen who’ve done extraordinary things—and Bob Munson and Charlie Decker are perfect examples.”

In 1984, Munson and Decker led a charge to launch a conservation organization focused on habitat for elk and other wildlife. Now 25 years later, RMEF is one of the nation’s most effective wildlife outfits, having conserved or enhanced more than 5.6 million acres and helped restore elk herds to historic range across the country.

RMEF has over 150,000 members in 500 chapters nationwide and a volunteer force that donates countless hours each year to fundraising and on-the-ground conservation efforts.

“We owe it all to Charlie and Bob,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “They started this movement, took personal risks and made sacrifices to see it through tough times, and continue to serve on our board.

They are the Elk Foundation’s heart and soul.”

Munson works in sales for MunsonWorks, a Lynnwood, Wash., firm specializing in inclined elevators. Decker owns and operates Decker Logging of Libby, Mont.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.6 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Outdoor Life Honors Elk Foundation Founders

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont.—-(AmmoLand.com)- If you’re a screamer, bugler, grunter or chuckler, you may have what it takes to win the Super Bowl of elk calling, March 4-7, 2010, in Reno, Nev.

Competition is open to the public in the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation/Leupold 2010 World Elk Calling Championships. The event will be held as part of the annual RMEF Elk Camp & Hunting, Fishing and Outdoor Expo at the Reno/Sparks Convention Center.

Featured in recent years by The New York Times and CBS Sunday Morning, the competition will return to Reno following a 2009 stint in Fort Worth, Texas.

“We’re searching for the world’s best elk callers and we think Reno may be the place to find them,” said Beth Shipley, RMEF special events director, who has been involved with the World Elk Calling Championships for 15 years. “No experience is necessary to enter and compete in the prelims, although many serious callers have already qualified for the finals by competing in regional competitions held around the country over the past several months. So, if you’re thinking of entering, start practicing now!”

An RMEF video featuring the natural elk sounds that competitors will be asked to mimic is at www.rmef.org/NewsandMedia/Videos/BullElkSounds.htm.

Competitors must be registered by 5:00 p.m. on Thurs., March 4. Registration forms and rules are available at www.rmef.org.

Entry fees are $10 for Pee Wee (age 10 and under) and Youth (age 11-17) divisions, $35 for Natural Voice (no calling devices allowed), Women’s and Men’s, and $100 for Professional (sponsored competitors). Entry fees also provide contest participants with admission to the expo.

Cash and prizes will be awarded for first- through third-place in all six divisions.

Preliminary rounds of competition begin Fri., March 6, at 9:00 a.m. Finals begin Sat., March 7, at 9:00 a.m., followed by awards and crowning of 2010 world champions.

Judges include naturalists, hunters and former elk calling champions.

A just-for-fun team competition also will be held. Up to three callers can work together in a comedy skit simulating interactions between bulls, cows and calves. Winners are chosen by the audience. There is no registration fee for the team event.

Spectator seating for the elk calling championships is included with daily admission to the expo: $12 per person or $25 per family, and free for kids 5 and under.

Along with the RMEF/Leupold 2010 World Elk Calling Championships, the expo will fill the Reno/Sparks Convention Center with elk hunting seminars, displays of record elk, kids’ activities, auctions and an exhibit hall filled with art, gear, firearms and outfitted hunting and fishing opportunities. It’s all a showcase and fundraiser for one of the nation’s premier conservation organizations. The Elk Foundation recently topped 5.6 million acres of elk habitat conserved or enhanced.

Show hours: Thurs., March 4, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Fri., March 5, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Sat., March 6, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; and Sun., March 7, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.6 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Calling All Screamers: Enter the Super Bowl of Elk Calling

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont.—-(AmmoLand.com)- She used to cry when her father came home with a dead deer.

Now she’s the first woman hunter to bag an elk in Tennessee in at least 144 years. Tami Miller of Franklin, Tenn., hopes her story will inspire other women to take up hunting.

“It’s hard to get a babysitter at 4:30 in the morning but the experience of hunting is worth the trouble,” laughs Miller. “My husband introduced me to hunting. It has definitely enhanced our marriage and our family life. It’s something we can share, something that brings us all together in the outdoors. I wish more women would try it.”

She added, “Hunting is exciting. It’s empowering and it’s beautiful. When you’re out there at sunrise, and it’s so quiet you can hear a leaf falling from a tree, it’s priceless.”

Miller and her husband, both avid conservationists and supporters of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, in October participated in the state’s first elk hunt in modern times.

Elk disappeared from Tennessee in 1865 following years of habitat changes and unregulated hunting. In the 1990s, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and RMEF began an historic effort to restore a wild herd to the Volunteer State. By 2009 the population had expanded enough for hunters to take five surplus bulls. Four permits were awarded via random drawing, one via auction on eBay.

Knowing that auction proceeds would fund elk and habitat conservation, Andrew Miller didn’t mind paying $17,700 for the permit—or giving the permit to Tami as a special gift.

“My husband and I scouted together through September and October and I grew more and more excited about the hunt. The historical aspects were always on my mind. I thought about the women who walked these hills a long time ago, hunting for elk so their families could survive. I felt honored to represent them,” said Miller.

When the hunt day arrived, Miller joined the four other hunters—all male—in a group elk camp co-sponsored by RMEF and staffed by volunteers.

“I was a little worried about being accepted. I wondered if the men would think I was pushing my way into their fraternity. But everyone was supportive and wonderful. I met so many great people who really wanted me to succeed,” she said, adding, “I was actually surprised at how many people were watching to see how the woman hunter would do. In my hometown, girls and women that I didn’t even know were coming up and wishing me luck.”

When all four of the men killed their bull on the first day, but Tami hadn’t even seen an elk yet, anxiety simmered as she worried about letting people down.

“Hunting isn’t all about getting an animal but I didn’t want to be the only hunter who didn’t get an elk. I probably should have prayed for help finding a big bull. But, the next morning, as my husband and I hunted together in a beautiful place, with the colors of fall all around us, the stress melted away and I just thanked God for this day,” she said.

At dusk, after a long stalk, with her husband and two friends by her side, Miller finally steadied crosshairs on a bull elk, an animal many times larger than her. She was nervous. As her husband had taught her years before, she drew two deep breaths, then held the third and squeezed the trigger.

When the rifle spoke, the elk was hers.

“When I started hunting, I knew it would be fun to get outdoors with my husband and watch him doing something he loved, but I wasn’t sure I could kill an animal. Since then, I’ve learned that I can be a provider, too. I can bring food home to my family,” she said.

Miller’s 5×6 certainly wasn’t the biggest bull in the Tennessee woods but it will always symbolize an enormously important part of her life:

“Marriage is about sharing things, and, for us, hunting has become one of those things.”

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.6 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Tennessee Elk Huntress Hopes to Inspire More Women

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont.—-(AmmoLand.com)- Veterans Day, established on Nov. 11 to mark the anniversary of the end of World War I, is our country’s way of honoring those who served in American wars. Saying thanks to these heroes also is an important tradition for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

In just the past three years, RMEF has contributed over $25,000 and countless volunteer hours to provide veterans, many whom are disabled, with special hunting experiences, gear and support.

Funding also helped provide recreational opportunities for families of deployed soldiers.

“There are now more than 23 million veterans in the U.S., including a record 1.8 million female veterans, and I wish we could personally show them all how much we appreciate their service and patriotism,” said David Allen, president and CEO of RMEF. “This fall, as we exercise our freedom to hunt, venture into wild country and share the outdoors with our families and friends, let’s remember that none of it would be possible without our servicemen and women.”

The latest RMEF thank-you came in October when Master Sergeant Jim Shreve, a Purple Heart veteran who suffered a detached retina in both eyes while serving in Iraq, was invited for a special elk hunt near Jackson, Wyo.

The Jackson Hole RMEF chapter had received a Wyoming Game and Fish Commissioner’s tag for auction. Chapter members rallied supporters to purchase the tag especially for a veteran. Questar, EnCana Oil and Gas USA, Ultra Resources and the Wildlife Heritage Foundation of Wyoming contributed. More supporters helped with a reception, camp, gear, taxidermy, meat processing and access to a private ranch.

After several days of hunting, Shreve took an old bull with broken tines and scars from battles with other rutting bulls, it its own way a “wounded warrior.”

RMEF works closely with outdoor writer and former RMEF board member Jim Zumbo on many endeavors for disabled veterans.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.6 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Elk Foundation Proudly Supports America’s Veterans

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont.—-(AmmoLand.com)- Whether they work individually or as part of a group, volunteers are essential to conservation today—even more so tomorrow.

That’s the consensus of conservation professionals who predict that fish, wildlife and habitat, as well as the future of America’s sporting traditions, will depend more and more on devoted souls whose only paycheck is the personal reward of preserving traditional values and passing on a cherished way of life.

Volunteerism spans from teaching a neighbor kid to cast at a nearby pond to serving on a board that directs policy for international wildlife habitat initiatives.

A conservation organization can be an effective channel for many volunteer passions.

Here’s how to get involved:

1. Consider why you’re interested in volunteering. Do you want to make a difference in the world, or in your own corner of the outdoors? Is it about building your own skills and social network? Or are you simply inspired to give something back to a special place, species or heritage? These questions can help you choose the right organization.
2. Select an outfit that represents something special to you. If your pulse quickens at the thought of mallards over decoys, an elk bugling from a golden stand of aspens, a bass exploding on a topwater lure, there’s a group for you. Ditto if you’re concerned about Second Amendment issues. Maybe you believe that youths in your community should know more about handling firearms safely, or how hunting and angling pay for conservation. Or perhaps you’re just worried about the kudzu infestation in the back pasture of your hunting club. Whatever your interest, there’s probably a good fit for you somewhere out there. If not, start something new.
3. Speak with staff or volunteers from the organization and ask what opportunities exist for newcomers as well as experienced volunteers. Attend a meeting to see how the group interacts. At its best, volunteering is a selfless act for a greater good, but everyone wants to feel appropriately appreciated—find out how the outfit says thank you.
4. Seek out volunteer tasks that suit you. Conservation always needs money but if soliciting donations isn’t your cup of tea, consider helping setup for a fundraising event or even a back -office gig stuffing envelopes. Maybe you’d rather install aquatic habitat or remove decrepit fencing from a big-game migration corridor. Of course, it’s fun to learn new things and there’s real satisfaction in completing less pleasant tasks, but it pays to ensure your core duties will be compatible with your time and talent.
5. Start small. If you already have a busy schedule, commitments at home or unpredictable work hours, you can still get involved. In fact, most organizations want volunteers who are busy people because busy people know how to get things done. See about working for only an hour or two per week or perhaps one day per month. Later, if you find you enjoy the work and have more time to pursue it, gradually take on more.
6. Ask, don’t demand. People in charge of organizing volunteers are often volunteers themselves, but, invariably, they’re working to meet certain goals with a bigger mission in mind. Especially if you’re just starting out, the best bet is simply assimilating into their system. Later on, if you see that it could work better, make suggestions on how to fix it.
7. Ask questions and do research, but until you get your feet wet, you won’t know if volunteering for a particular organization is really right for you.

Volunteering allows a person to make a lasting mark on conservation, leave America’s outdoors as—or better than—they found it, and hand down a meaningful personal legacy to their children and grandchildren.

It matters not whether you get involved individually or as part of a group. The important thing is just getting started.

Sooner the better.

About:
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation: Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.6 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

How to Volunteer for a Conservation Organization

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont.—-(AmmoLand.com)- New grants from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation will fund conservation and education projects in eight Michigan counties, and swell total RMEF support for the state’s Pigeon River Habitat Initiative to more than $190,000.

The 2009 RMEF grants will affect Cheboygan, Delta, Montmorency, Muskegon, Oakland, Otsego, Ottawa and Presque Isle counties.

“Our volunteers in Michigan devoted themselves to the 2008 fundraisers that made these grants possible. This is where Elk Foundation banquets, auctions and other events transform into on-the-ground conservation work, and it’s part of the payday for all of our supporters who are passionate about giving something back to the outdoors,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO.

RMEF has been a major supporter of the Pigeon River Habitat Initiative in each of the past four years and in 2003. Contributions have helped secure conservation easements, develop forest stewardship management plans, provide technical assistance for landowners, offer cost-share programs to help with wildlife plantings, and more.

Collectively, these efforts have impacted hundreds of acres for elk and other wildlife.

“RMEF has been a great partner and supporter for this project. There is no way we could accomplish the goals of this project without partners such as RMEF. Funding from RMEF also helps us leverage additional funding for conservation efforts in Pigeon River country,” said Eric Nelson, habitat specialist for Huron Pines, which manages the Pigeon River Habitat Initiative.

Elk Foundation 2009 grants for Michigan, totaling $19,544, will help fund the following projects, listed by county:

• Delta County—Sponsor the Delta Youth Archery Initiative to introduce young people to archery instruction, equipment, competition, safety, sportsmanship, ethics and leadership.
• Montmorency County—Renovate an elk display with a new life-sized mount of a bull elk to be used for educational purposes by the City of Atlanta, “Elk Capital of Michigan.”
• Oakland County—Sponsor the Sherman Middle School National Archery in the Schools Program to introduce youth to archery in a school environment.
• Otsego County—Promote long-term land protection, improve habitat for wildlife, discourage invasive species and develop sustainable forestry management as part of the Pigeon River Habitat Initiative (also affects Cheboygan, Montmorency and Presque Isle counties).
• Ottawa County—Sponsor the Ottawa County 2009 Youth Hunter Safety program (also affects Muskegon County).

Partners for 2009 projects in Michigan include Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Huron Pines, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, other agencies, schools and organizations.

Since 1984, the Elk Foundation and its partners have completed more than 80 conservation projects in Michigan with a value of more than $4.6 million.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.6 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Elk Foundation Funding Tops $190K for Michigan Initiative

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont.—-(AmmoLand.com)- Elk and other wildlife in the nation’s breadbasket will benefit from $31,343 in new grants from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. The grants will help fund conservation and education initiatives in Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma.

Grant amounts are based on RMEF fundraisers held in the respective states.

“Elk Foundation volunteers drove the 2008 banquets, auctions and other fundraising events that made these grants possible. This is where their work begins to transform into on-the-ground conservation benefits, and it’s part of the payday for our supporters who are passionate about giving something back to the outdoors,” said David Allen, Elk Foundation president and CEO.

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

Kansas
Received RMEF 2009 grants totaling $15,250. Projects include reducing depredation on private land by managing about 200 forage plots covering 750 acres for elk and other wildlife at Fort Riley military reservation in Riley County; enhancing riparian habitat by treating noxious weeds and planting cottonwood, willow and native shrubs on 777 acres at Cimarron National Grasslands in Morton County; and sponsoring Becoming an Outdoors-Woman workshops statewide, Big Brothers Big Sisters Pass It On Outdoor Mentors programs statewide, and Ninnescah Valley Archery Club youth education programs in Pratt County. RMEF partners include the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and other conservation groups.

Nebraska
Received RMEF 2009 grants totaling $8,075. Projects include developing methodology for aerial elk surveys in the western panhandle of Nebraska including Dawes and Box Butte counties; and funding two scholarships for wildlife conservation students at Chadron State College. RMEF partners include the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

Oklahoma
Received RMEF 2009 grants totaling $8,018. Projects include creating forage openings for elk, rejuvenating water impoundments and maintaining firebreaks at Spavinaw Wildlife Management Area in Delaware and Mayes counties; and enhancing forage for elk and other wildlife by prescribe burning 8,195 acres at Pushmataha Wildlife Management Area in Pushmataha County. RMEF partners include the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and other conservation groups.

Since 1984 in these three states, the Elk Foundation and its partners have completed 155 conservation and education projects with a value of more than $9.8 million.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.6 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Elk Foundation Grants for Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont.—-(AmmoLand.com)- More than $23,000 in hunting guns, bows and gear will be raffled at five 2010 consumer sports shows in the Ultimate Elk Hunter’s Raffle presented by International Sportsmen’s Expositions (ISE) and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

Raffle monies will be used for RMEF habitat projects in the respective ISE show states.

In 2009, RMEF passed 5.6 million acres of habitat conserved or enhanced, and over a half-million acres opened or secured for public access.

Five prizes valued at $4,500 total will be raffled at each 2010 ISE show, including:

• Denver, Colo.—Jan. 7-10
• San Mateo, Calif.—Jan. 14-15
• Sacramento, Calif.—Jan. 21-24
• Phoenix, Ariz.—Feb. 26-28
• Salt Lake City, Utah—March 18-21

To enter the raffle, show attendees may purchase tickets at the RMEF booth. Each ticket represents one chance to win a prize in a drawing. Purchasers can place their tickets into different hoppers for a chance at different prizes, or all tickets into one hopper to increase their odds for a special item.

At each ISE show, separate drawings will be held for each of the following items:

• Browning ultimate hunters package including Browning X-Bolt Composite Stalker in .325 WSM, gun case, X-Cellerator sling, Storm Gore-Tex parka and pant, XPO big game gloves and camo Buckmark cap. Value: $1,590.
• Remington XHR 700 in 7mm Rem Mag. Value: $905.
• Winchester Model 70 Featherweight in .325 WSM. Value: $859.
• BowTech 2010 flagship bow (not yet released but promises to be another industry changer). Value: $850.
• Sitka Gear ultimate clothing package including Ascent pant, Core top, Jetstream jacket and cap. Value: $540.

See complete rules and drawing schedules at the RMEF booth at each ISE show, or go online Nov. 1 to www.sportsexpos.com for details and photos of prizes.

In addition to the Ultimate Elk Hunter’s Raffle, RMEF and ISE are partnering on several new ventures in 2010. RMEF is adding to ISE show attractions with its popular Great Elk Tour featuring a traveling display of world-class trophies designed to show that “great elk need great habitat.” RMEF also is sponsoring ISE’s Adventure Theater, and Best of the West Elk Calling Contest hosted by former world champion Chad Schearer.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.6 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

About International Sportsmen’s Expositions:
For nearly 35 years ISE has produced America’s premier hunting, fishing and travel shows. Featuring as many as 500 exhibiting companies including leading manufacturers and retailers, guides and outfitters, resorts and lodges, and nonprofit outdoor organizations and groups, each ISE also offers hundreds of seminars, contests, hands-on special features, plus a huge Youth Outdoor Sports Fair that’s dedicated to creating the next generation of responsible outdoor enthusiasts.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

RMEF to Raffle $23K in Guns, Gear at ISE Consumer Shows

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont.—-(AmmoLand.com)- Flu is on everyone’s mind this autumn. So for hunters who start feeling lousy upon arrival in elk camp, the diagnosis may seem obvious.

But, like skiers and mountain climbers, elk hunters at high elevations also are prone to altitude sickness with symptoms that look and feel like the flu—headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, coughing, shortness of breath and trouble sleeping.

Ways to prevent the flu are well publicized, and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is offering the following tips for avoiding altitude sickness.

Altitude sickness is caused by thin air at high elevations. Your body must work harder to maintain normal oxygen levels in the blood. Breathing and pulse rates increase. Still, the lack of oxygen can knock a hunter down especially if they go too hard too soon.

“Most of us live at a much lower elevation than elk do. That alone puts many hunters at a disadvantage even before they begin their first stalk,” said Cameron Hanes, a fitness and bowhunting authority as well as TV show host and columnist for RMEF.

Hanes says most sufferers adapt to high altitude by the fourth day. The following tips can help you make better use of your first three days in elk country.

• When you arrive in high country, avoid physical exertion for the first 24 hours. This can be tough when you’ve been looking forward to the hunt all year, so if you can’t or won’t take a full day to adjust, be smart. Don’t go full bore right out of the gate.
• Hunt high, sleep low. At elevations above 5,000 feet, try to gain no more than 2,000 feet per day. You can hunt higher as long as you go back down 2,000 feet to sleep.
• Ascend very slowly past 8,000 feet. Acclimatize yourself. Acclimatization helps cells get along on a smaller oxygen budget. By gaining altitude slowly, your body will adjust gradually with few if any symptoms of altitude sickness.
• If traveling by air to a hunt above 8,000 feet, try to incorporate a layover of one to two days at an intermediate altitude.
• Drink water copiously and constantly.
• • Avoid alcohol for the first few days. Alcohol dehydrates you and drinking at high altitudes amplifies its affect.
• Consume a high-carbohydrate diet. Lots of granola bars, trail mix, etc.
• The prescription drug acetazolamide (Diamox) can be helpful as a preventive treatment but always consult with your doctor first.
• Fitness at sea level doesn’t guarantee an easier time when you’re at 10,000 feet, but being in good shape makes it more likely that your lungs can cope with the challenges of the high life.

If these tips don’t work, and if your symptoms persist even at lower altitudes, you may indeed have the flu.

Hanes serves RMEF as host of “Elk Chronicles” on Outdoor Channel and as a columnist for “Bugle” magazine. His second book, “Backcountry Bowhunting, A Guide to the Wild Side,” is currently in its fifth printing and is available at www.cameronhanes.com.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.6 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Elk Hunters with Flu Symptoms It May be Altitude Sickness

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont.—-(AmmoLand.com)- Elk and other wildlife on the parched Arizona landscape now have six new, reliable watering sources thanks to a landmark pipeline project spearheaded by the Arizona Game and Fish Department and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

The partly buried 1½-inch pipe, 12 miles long, delivers useable wastewater from the City of Tusayan to areas south of the Grand Canyon—Arizona’s famous Unit 9 hunting area.

As part of this project, seven stand-alone water catchments also were built in the area.

The Elk Foundation expended $348,000 on this project using contributions from donors, proceeds from Arizona hunting permit raffles and grants from RMEF banquets and other fundraisers across the state. The Arizona Game and Fish Department provided $520,000. Other groups supported the project with volunteer labor and in-kind services.

Across the Southwest, water often is the missing ingredient for healthy habitat. In an average year, conservation agencies and organizations in Arizona annually spend over $100,000 hauling water into elk country. Severe drought can drive expenses way up.

“It took six years to design, facilitate and build this pipeline system but the valves are now open and water is flowing. From now on, in all but the most extreme drought years, we shouldn’t have to haul water into this region,” said Clair Harris, an RMEF member from Flagstaff, Ariz., who helped organize volunteer labor for the project.

Harris said more than 100 volunteers from every RMEF chapter in Arizona helped build the pipeline and catchments.

Over the years, RMEF funds and volunteers have been involved in the construction or renovation of over 30 watering sources across Unit 9. With the new additions, biologists agree the area now has a good minimum supply of water.

“Wildlife in this area is absolutely tied to these water developments and the new pipeline provides an efficient, reliable distribution system that will be beneficial for many species including elk, deer and other big game,” said John Goodwin, habitat specialist with the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

Goodwin said the pipeline is supplied from a runoff pond at the Tusayan water treatment plant, supplemented with reclaimed effluent, snowmelt and rain. The pond is heavily used by local wildlife. A pump moves surplus water through high-density plastic pipe that won’t crush beneath vehicles, break from freezing or degrade in sunlight. The line is buried where soils are deep and runs along the surface where the ground is rocky. Water flows into six strategically located, fiberglass storage tanks averaging about 7,000 gallons each. Each tank is then connected to an auto-fill drinking device accessible to wildlife.

Stand-alone catchments are designed to collect rain and snowmelt on site, store water in 20,000-gallon holding tanks, and dispense water into drinkers.

The Kaibab National Forest approved the project after lengthy environmental analyses.

Goodwin credited the Elk Foundation and especially Harris as “a tremendous asset for coordinating progress on the ground and rallying volunteer labor so the project didn’t have to rely on contractors or paid employees.”

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.6 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

New Pipeline Delivers Water to Arizona Elk Country

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont.—-(AmmoLand.com)-Your crosshairs shift undecidedly between a raghorn bull and a big cow, both standing broadside at 60 yards.

The elk tag in your pocket makes both animals legal.

Which one do you shoot?

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation offers 5 reasons to consider taking the cow:

1. Reducing a herd to fit the carrying capacity of its winter range is a form of habitat
   conservation. Culling a calf-producer is more effective population control. Wildlife agencies
   issue either-sex tags specifically to encourage hunter harvest of cows.
2. Letting young bulls walk improves your odds for a big, mature bull next year.
3. A more abundant bull population tends to be older which can improve efficiency of the rut.
   Result: more bulls surviving winter, higher pregnancy rates in cows, fewer late calves and
   better overall herd health.
4. A less abundant cow population tends to be younger, more vigorous and resistant to diseases.
5. As tablefare, cows and calves are generally better.

Hunting remains the primary wildlife management tool today, vital for balancing elk populations within biological and cultural tolerances, says David Allen, Elk Foundation president and CEO.

“Habitat conservation, sound management, good hunting, healthy wildlife—they’re all tied together. And, more and more, adequate harvest of cow elk is becoming a factor. If you have an either-sex elk tag this fall, consider letting young bulls go and filling your freezer with a fat cow,” he said.

RMEF this summer passed the 5.6 million acre mark in habitat conserved or enhanced.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.6 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Five Reasons to Take a Cow Elk While Hunting

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont.—-(AmmoLand.com)- With construction well underway and a grand opening scheduled for summer 2010, a planned state-of-the-art conservation education facility is now wholly owned by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) following a transfer from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

The 7,000 square-foot Elk Country Visitor Center will sit on a 245-acre site in Benezette Township, Elk County. When completed, it will be the largest elk watching and conservation education facility in the eastern U.S.

The project began as a public-private partnership between the Commonwealth and RMEF. The Elk Foundation conveyed its share of the facility to DCNR on Sept. 15.

“The Elk Foundation has been a great partner in open-space protection and restoring the elk herd in the Pennsylvania Wilds, and we thank them for their help getting the Elk Center project off the ground. This project would not have been possible without their early partnership with DCNR,” said John Quigley, acting secretary of DCNR.

RMEF landed major support for the project from the Richard King Mellon Foundation, Dominion Foundation, Thoreson Foundation, Safari Club International, Eastern Chapter Foundation for North American Wild Sheep and many individual donors.

Additionally, Elk Foundation chapters across the country made special contributions toward the new facility.

“As it turns out, this project worked much like a land protection project—we facilitate and fundraise, then transfer the asset to a public agency that is better equipped to manage in perpetuity. We’ve never applied this model to a conservation education facility before but we’re pleased with the outcome,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO.

Going forward, RMEF will help promote the Elk Country Visitor Center and use it for special conservation and education events.

As RMEF conveyed its share of the visitor center, DCNR announced a new partnership with the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation (PPFF).

Allen said, “We’re confident that this important project is in good hands and that the new partnership is well positioned to help this landmark facility accomplish its goals.”

Marci Mowery, PPFF president, said, “The Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation appreciates the work that the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has done to restore elk habitat and educate the public about elk. We look forward to working with the DCNR through the Elk Country Visitor Center to reach out to new visitors, give them a wonderful outdoor experience and share the story of the conservation efforts that have restored many of the natural and wild areas in Pennsylvania.”

Allen said Elk Foundation volunteers tackled fundraising for this project with the same gusto that annually supports traditional RMEF projects. Since 1984, RMEF and its partners have spent $14.4 million to complete 199 conservation and education projects that have protected or enhanced more than 14,800 acres of wildlife habitat in Pennsylvania.

DCNR will erect a bronze elk statue, acquired through the efforts of the Pittsburgh RMEF chapter, dedicated to the passion of all Elk Foundation volunteers.

The center also will include educational exhibits, trails, story theater, wildlife viewing blinds, meeting rooms and display areas.

Allen said the Elk Foundation remains focused on its core mission of habitat conservation for elk and other wildlife.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.6 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

RMEF Conveys Share of Visitor Center to Pennsylvania

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont.—-(AmmoLand.com)- Eight counties in California are slated for wildlife habitat conservation projects using $227,571 in new grants from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

The 2009 RMEF grants will affect Colusa, Humboldt, Inyo, Modoc, San Luis Obispo, Shasta, Siskiyou and Trinity counties.

Another project has statewide interest.

“California is the only state with three subspecies of elk—Rocky Mountain, Roosevelt’s and tule—but that’s only part of what makes this state special. Our volunteers all across The Golden State absolutely devoted themselves to the 2008 fundraisers that made these grants possible. This is where Elk Foundation banquets, auctions and other events transform into on-the-ground conservation work, and it’s part of the payday for supporters who are passionate about giving something back to the outdoors,” said David Allen, Elk Foundation president and CEO.

Elk Foundation grants will help fund the following California projects, listed by county:

Colusa County—Restore riparian zone native vegetation to improve habitat for elk and other wildlife on BLM land in Payne Ranch area. RMEF helped purchase the Payne Ranch several years ago and remains heavily involved in habitat protection and enhancement projects in the area.

Humboldt County—Improve forage for elk and other wildlife by removing encroaching conifers from oak woodlands and native prairies on BLM Lack’s Creek Management Area.

Inyo County—Using a helicopter, capture 18 elk and fit them with radio collars to research movement patterns, population status and herd composition in Owens Valley.

Modoc County—Continue prescribe burn program to improve forage for elk on Devil’s Garden area, and install four guzzlers to improve water sources for wildlife, in Modoc National Forest.

San Luis Obispo County—Install larger water tank to improve water source for wildlife and livestock on Gifford Ranch state lands; construct tanks and troughs for a year-round water supply in South Chimineas Ranch area of Los Padres National Forest.

Shasta County—Using a helicopter, capture elk and fit them with radio collars to research movement patterns, population status and habitat use across northern California (also affects Siskiyou and Trinity counties).

Siskiyou County—Use specialized tools to remove taproot and treat perennial, noxious weeds to improve forage for elk and other wildlife on 42 acres near South Fork Salmon River in Klamath National Forest.

Statewide—Assist California Department of Fish and Game with construction of panel traps to capture elk for management research and translocation.

Partners for 2009 projects in California include California Department of Fish and Game, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, other agencies, landowners and organizations.

Since 1984, the Elk Foundation and its partners have completed more than 350 conservation projects in California with a value of more than $20.5 million.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.6 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Elk Foundation Grants to Benefit 8 California Counties

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont.—-(AmmoLand.com)- Two counties in Nevada are slated for wildlife habitat conservation projects using $77,500 in new grants from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

The 2009 RMEF grants will affect Lincoln and White Pine counties.

“Our volunteers across Nevada helped drive the 2008 fundraisers that made these grants possible. This is where Elk Foundation banquets, auctions and other events transform into on-the-ground conservation work, and it’s part of the payday for supporters who are passionate about giving something back to the outdoors,” said David Allen, Elk Foundation president and CEO.

Elk Foundation grants will help fund the following Nevada projects, listed by county:

Lincoln County—Thin encroaching pinion and juniper from 1,000 acres of grasslands to improve forage for elk in Burnt Canyon area of BLM lands; research habitat use and migration corridors by installing GPS and satellite radio collars on 5 elk in Clover/Delamar Mountains area.

White Pine County—Mow and seed 200 acres to rejuvenate sagebrush, bitterbrush and grass to improve habitat for elk, mule deer, sage grouse and other wildlife in the White River/Ellison Creek area of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest; thin encroaching pinion and juniper from 1,000 acres to rejuvenate forage grasses and forbs in the White Pine Mountains area of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest; sponsor Great Basin 2009 Educators Workshop to provide teachers with experiences and tools to teach outdoor and ecosystem concepts.

A committee of Elk Foundation volunteers and staff select projects for grants. Additional projects are being reviewed and supplemental grants could be announced later this year.

To date, partners for 2009 projects in Nevada include Bureau of Land Management, Nevada Department of Wildlife, Eastern Nevada Landscape Coalition, Great Basin National Park, U.S. Forest Service, other agencies, corporations, landowners and organizations.

Since 1984, the Elk Foundation and its partners have completed more than 170 conservation projects in Nevada with a value of more than $14.3 million.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.6 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Elk Foundation Grants to Benefit 2 Nevada Counties

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont.—-(AmmoLand.com)- Kentucky’s elk herd runneth over, and Virginia has decided to welcome the overflow and build a sustainable, huntable population of its own.

In August, the governing board of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) voted unanimously to end unmanaged harvest of elk by state deer hunters. For years, any Virginian with a deer permit could shoot an elk wandering across the state line from Kentucky. That practice is expected to officially end this fall.

Additionally, the VDGIF board also moved toward an official elk reintroduction and management plan for southwestern Virginia.

“Kudos to conservation leaders in Virginia. Restoring a native game species to management levels is one of the highest achievements in conservation, and it’s great to see Virginia aspiring to that goal for elk,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO.

He added, “The Elk Foundation is extremely proud of the role we played in restoring elk to neighboring Kentucky. With a lot of money, technical assistance from our staff and support from our volunteers, we helped relocate over 1,500 elk to Kentucky between 1997 and 2002. Today that herd has more than 11,000 animals and offers incredible hunting opportunities with legitimate chances to take world-class bulls.”

Research shows that Kentucky elk have dispersed into four neighboring states with varying degrees of hospitality. Virginians originally wanted to keep elk out but now the culture appears to be changing, said Allen.

As an extension of its mission to ensure the future of elk, other wildlife and their habitat, RMEF promotes sound management of wild, free-ranging elk, which may be hunted or otherwise enjoyed.

A YouTube video clip of the VDGIF board discussion and vote is available at HuntingLife.com

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.6 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Virginia Moves Toward Restoring Elk Population

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont.—-(AmmoLand.com)- U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy on Friday granted a motion allowing the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation to enter an amicus curiae brief supporting state-regulated wolf hunting in Idaho and Montana.

The move means RMEF positions will be considered against an emergency injunction filed by 13 environmental groups asking the judge to stop a planned hunt and return gray wolves to the endangered species list.

A hearing is scheduled for Monday and Molloy’s ruling could follow soon afterward.

The Elk Foundation’s amicus curiae brief is posted at www.rmef.org.

“We’re grateful that Judge Molloy has agreed to hear our side of this issue,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “Once you cut away the hysterics and hyperbole, this is a straightforward wildlife management issue. State wildlife agencies have proven their professionalism and capability to balance predators with other resident species. They’ve been successfully managing wildlife for decades and we have total confidence in them.”

The Elk Foundation’s brief reinforces four main points:

• • Historic success of modern, hunter-based conservation in North America.
• • Viewpoints of hunters who continue to pay for the big-game resources that made wolf recovery possible.
• • RMEF-funded research, along with other scientific and anecdotal evidence, showing that wolf populations are fully recovered and that, where wolves are present with elk, wolves are having detrimental impacts on elk.
• • State wildlife agencies are best suited to manage wolves alongside other species.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.6 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Judge Will Consider RMEF Support of Wolf Hunting

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont.—-(AmmoLand.com)- The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has filed a motion in Missoula federal court to enter an amicus curiae brief supporting state-regulated wolf hunting in Idaho and Montana. If the motion is granted by U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy, RMEF documents will be considered in Molloy’s decision on whether to allow or sto

p the hunt.

A hearing is scheduled for Monday and a ruling could follow soon afterward.

A coalition of 13 environmental groups filed an emergency injunction asking Molloy to stop the planned hunt and return wolves to the endangered species list.

“Long gone are the days when species like elk, bears and wolves can go completely unmanaged. We don’t live in a zoo and this isn’t the old West. It is frustrating that America’s wildlife conservation system, which has worked wonderfully well since the time of Theodore Roosevelt, has been reduced to a legal chess match,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO.

Allen said the Elk Foundation’s brief reinforces four main points:

• • Historic success of modern, hunter-based conservation in North America.
• • Viewpoints of hunters who continue to pay for the big-game resources that made wolf recovery possible.
• • RMEF-funded research, along with other scientific and anecdotal evidence, showing that wolf populations are fully recovered and that, where wolves are present with elk, wolves are having detrimental impacts on elk.
• • State wildlife agencies are best suited to manage wolves alongside other species.

Allen urged Wyoming and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to work together on a mutually agreeable wolf management plan to help clear a legal path to regulated wolf hunting in The Cowboy State.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.6 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Elk Foundation Files Motion to Intervene in Wolf Litigation

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont.—-(AmmoLand.com)- Through the ages, many cultures developed special rituals meant to bring good luck to hunters. For today’s elk hunter, no sendoff conveys best wishes and confidence like The New Elk Hunter’s Cookbook and Meat Care Guide from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

The 292-page book is a collection of favorite recipes from members of the habitat conservation organization, which has conserved more than 5.6 million acres for elk and other wildlife.

Different versions of elk chili, stew, roast, steak, stroganoff, meat loaf and casseroles are included along with many unique and wonderful recipes such as:

Elk Henley in Puffed Pastry

• 1 stick butter (1/2 cup)
• 2 pounds elk meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 4 slices bacon, diced
• 2 large onions, chunked
• 1 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 1 cup port wine
• 6 juniper berries
• 1 can beef broth
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 sheet puffed pastry
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon water

Melt butter in deep skillet. Add elk meat a few pieces at a time and brown. Remove from pan and set aside. Fry bacon until crisp. Set aside with elk. Add onions and mushrooms to pan and cook until golden brown. Stir in flour. Add port, juniper berries, broth and thyme. Bring to a boil. Add elk and bacon and simmer for about 30 minutes. With a slotted spoon, place elk in a greased, deep-sided casserole dish. Continue cooking sauce on medium heat until sauce thickens. Salt and pepper to taste. Pour sauce over elk. Roll out pastry to fit casserole dish and place atop meat mixture. Glaze with an egg glaze, made by beating an egg with tablespoon water. Bake at 400 degrees until crust is golden brown. Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.

The Elk Foundation cookbook also includes tips on caring for elk meat from field to freezer, aging instructions, essays on enjoying the bounty of a successful hunt, and recipes for various other game and meats plus everything from salads to desserts.

The New Elk Hunter’s Cookbook and Meat Care Guide is $19.95 plus shipping (next-day delivery is available). Order online at www.rmef.org. From the homepage, click “Shop Elk Country,” then “Elk Country Trading Post,” then “Books.”

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.6 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Cookbook is Good Luck Charm for Elk Hunters

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont.—-(AmmoLand.com)- Seven counties in New Mexico are slated for wildlife habitat conservation projects using $65,358 in new grants from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

The 2009 RMEF grants will affect Catron, Lincoln, Mora, Otero, Sierra, Socorro and Taos counties.

“Our volunteers across New Mexico helped drive the 2008 fundraisers that made these grants possible. This is where Elk Foundation banquets, auctions and other events transform into on-the-ground conservation work, and it’s part of the payday for supporters who are passionate about giving something back to the outdoors,” said David Allen, Elk Foundation president and CEO.

Elk Foundation grants will help fund the following New Mexico projects, listed by county:

Catron County—Improve forage for elk by mechanically thinning 750 acres of pinion and juniper to rejuvenate grasses, forbs and shrubs in the Pelona Mountain Area on BLM lands.

Lincoln County—Thin 1,100 acres of encroaching pinion and juniper to stimulate browse for elk in the Lincoln National Forest.

Mora County—Restore riparian, wet meadow and grassland habitat for elk and other wildlife in the Wagon Mound area.

Otero County—Develop 30 maintenance-free water catchment devices and wildlife drinking locations to improve habitat for elk, mule deer, pronghorn, javelina, scaled and Gambel’s quail, and other species in Otero Mesa area on BLM Lands.

Sierra County—Prescribe burn 9,078 acres of ponderosa pine, mixed conifer, pinion and juniper to enhance forage for elk in Gila National Forest.

Socorro County—Restore grassland and aspen habitat by thinning 1,600 acres and prescribe burning 8,433 acres of decadent conifer in Cibola National Forest.

Taos County—Re-seed native grasses on 2,243 acres to replace exotic pasture grasses and restore habitat for elk and other wildlife in Ute Mountain area on BLM lands.

Partners for 2009 projects in New Mexico include Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, U.S. Forest Service, other agencies, corporations, landowners and organizations.

Since 1984, the Elk Foundation and its partners have completed more than 220 conservation projects in New Mexico with a value of more than $18.4 million.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.6 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Elk Foundation Grants to Benefit 7 New Mexico Counties

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont.— -(AmmoLand.com)- Elk and elk hunting opportunities are plentiful across the U.S. and Canada, and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has just released its annual roundup of hunt forecasts for 27 states and provinces, newly posted at www.rmef.org.

“Elk herds are in great shape across most of the West, thanks to a mild winter and normal moisture. And, of course, the ongoing habitat stewardship projects supported by our members and volunteers have helped, too,” said David Allen, president and CEO of the Elk Foundation.

This summer, RMEF passed the 5.6 million acre mark for elk habitat conserved or enhanced.

Storylines within the Elk Foundation’s 2009 elk hunt forecast include the amazing herd growth following elk restoration efforts in Kentucky, wolf impacts on elk and hunting in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, massive elk populations in Colorado and the trophy bull reputations of Arizona and Utah.

Here’s a condensed look at forecasts from top states and provinces for total elk populations. To see all the reports in their entirety, including contact information for respective conservation agencies, visit www.rmef.org. For even more hutning including sidebars, see the Sept./Oct. 2009 edition of the RMEF member magazine, Bugle.

Alberta
Elk Population: 20,000
Bull/Cow Ratios: N/A
Nonresidents: $298 and must be accompanied by an Alberta resident Hunter Host or licensed guide.
Southwestern Alberta has a reputation for big bulls where elk are managed to ensure that plenty of bulls live long enough to reach their full potential. A little farther north, some impressive bulls are killed each year in the Peace River area. Warmer and drier than normal conditions over most of the province brought elk through the winter in great shape. Expect good hunting prospects this season for trophy bulls and cows.

Arizona
Elk Population: 25,000
Bull/Cow Ratios: 35 to 40/100
Nonresidents: $151 hunting license (nonrefundable to enter drawing) plus $595 elk permit.
Arizona has one of the finest reputations in the nation as a trophy-producing destination. Any unit has potential for big bulls. More specifically, the units surrounding Flagstaff have been good. Units 1 and 27 on the east side, and 3A, 3B and 3C around Pine Top are units to consider as well. Arizona has seen favorable conditions for elk over the past several years and elk populations are stable in most regions. Elk numbers are increasing in the east-central portion of the state but additional antlerless tags are not being issued because biologists want more elk in this area.

British Columbia
Elk Population: 50,000
Bull/Cow Ratios: 20/100
Nonresidents: $189 hunting license, plus $277 elk tag. Must hire a licensed guide, or in certain cases may be accompanied by a resident hunter.
Coastal British Columbia saw significant snowpack but nothing terribly out of the ordinary for wintering elk. Over the central and southern portions of the province, snowfall was normal to slightly below normal. Elk herds are burgeoning in productive habitat. Elk are especially abundant in the Kootenay region, an attractive area for trophy hunters where bull harvest is limited to animals carrying at least six tines on at least one antler. Many trophy areas in British Columbia offer rifle hunting during the rut, an option that has become increasingly rare in North America, with a few notable exceptions.

California
Elk Population: 1,500 Rocky Mountain Elk,
6,000 Roosevelt’s, 3,900 Tule
Bull/Cow Ratios: 20 to 90/100
Nonresidents: $143 nonrefundable hunting license plus $1,163 elk tag.
The state’s coveted elk tags are in short supply, making general drawing odds slim. There are three auction tags: one for Grizzly Island, one for Owens Valley and one multiple-zone tag in which recipients can choose to hunt one of the three sub-species. A proposal is afoot to allow nonresidents to purchase landowner tags for 2010, a move that could increase access for those who can afford an outfitter. Lucky residents who pull an elk tag can expect excellent conditions this fall. Elk populations are stable to increasing in all areas. Elk are also increasing in the Lake Pillsbury region, where a new hunting area may be opened next fall.

Colorado
Elk Population: 280,000
Bull/Cow Ratios: 25/100
Nonresidents: $546 bull tag, $251 antlerless.
Colorado offers a bit of everything. Limited-entry, tough-to-draw tags provide a legitimate shot at a world-class bull in some units, such as those in the northwest corner of the state, but hunters need 15 to 20 preference points to draw. Over-the-counter tags are widely available, giving hunters a shot at a bull. Most will be spikes and raghorns but mature bulls can be found in these hard-hunted units. The state also allots a plethora of antlerless licenses—though around 10,000 less than last year—giving meat hunters excellent odds. Hunters should have more opportunity at mature bulls this year as the harvest was generally down last year because of weather.

Idaho
Elk Population: 107,000
Bull/Cow Ratios: 10 to 50/100
Nonresidents: $142 hunting license plus $373 elk tag.
Have wolves eaten all the elk in Idaho? Not even close, says Brad Compton of Idaho Fish and Game. “We still have some good elk hunting. Wolves have had an impact on our herds in some parts of the state, but they’ve not been decimated like it’s been publicized.” Elk populations are fairly stable statewide with areas of western Idaho trending upward, while wolves have had the biggest impact on the Lolo and Sawtooth zones on the Idaho/Montana border. For 2009, caps will occur on tags offered in the Sawtooth and Diamond Creek elk zones. Idaho elk hunters enjoy around a 20 percent success rate on average. In an area such as the Lolo zone, elk are holing up more often in security cover. Compton suggests hunters who enjoy hunting whitetails in cover should try the same tactics for elk.

Kentucky
Elk Population: 10,000
Bull/Cow Ratios: 35 to 40/100 (branch-antlered)
Nonresidents: $130 hunting license plus $365 elk tag.
Kentucky’s herd in the 16-county elk restoration zone could soon hit 11,000 animals. Giant typical and nontypical bulls are killed each season, making the state’s elk hunt wildly popular. With such robust numbers, Kentucky is upping its tag offerings by a large portion this season, boosting available licenses by more than 50 percent. The state will offer 250 bull permits and 750 antlerless permits, with 10 percent of the tags going to out of staters. Those who don’t draw can look to landowners who auction their permits or to auctioned Commissioner Tags.

Montana
Elk Population: 150,000
Bull/Cow Ratios: 5 to 25/100
Nonresidents: $593 for regular drawing, $1,500 for outfitter sponsored tags.
Elk populations in Montana remain at or above management objectives in most areas, but many hunters will have to work harder to find elk this fall. Quentin Kujala of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks says tough wintering conditions in portions of western Montana decreased the number of yearling animals. Some areas will no longer offer over the counter, either-sex tags. Wolf impacts near Yellowstone National Park appear to be stressing elk populations. Anecdotal evidence from popular hunting grounds in the Snowcrest, Ruby, Centennial and Gravelly ranges suggest that wolves are dispersing elk in ways that make for tougher hunting. Finding a mature bull will remain tough in the region between Butte and Boulder, where extensive road access keeps bull/cow ratios extremely low. All in all, though, Treasure State hunters can expect a fine season.

Nevada
Elk Population: 11,000
Bull/Cow Ratio: 40/100
Nonresidents: $142 hunting license plus $1,200 bull tag or $500 antlerless tag.
With a 14 percent increase in adult elk numbers and a slight boost in bull/cow ratios from 2008, Nevada’s elk are thriving. Most areas have seen modest herd expansion with fairly rapid growth in Elko County. About 75 percent of the state’s elk are located in the eastern part of the state, where massive fires have converted brushlands to grasslands, hurting mule deer but boosting elk numbers. All of the state’s elk tags are issued by lottery. No matter where you hunt, the outlook is as good this season as it’s been in years.

New Mexico
Elk Population: 80,000
Bull/Cow Ratio: 45/100
Nonresidents: $547 standard bull tag, $772 quality bull tag.
For elk hunters, the “Land of Enchantment” lives up to its nickname with great opportunities to hunt elk in unique habitat, with potential for big bulls. From a management perspective, units fall into two categories: “quality” units that are managed for bigger bulls with low hunter densities, and “opportunity” units that have higher tag allotments to give more people a shot at an elk. Hunter success rates typically run from 35 to 50 percent in the quality units with many of the bulls killed being 6 years old or older. But hunters in the opportunity units do very well by most standards. Success rates run from about 12-30 percent. Overall, the state’s elk population is stable to slightly increasing.

Oregon
Elk Population: 120,000
Bull/Cow Ratios: 12 to 30/100
Nonresidents: $439.
Oregon’s elk population trend has been stable over the past decade. The state’s herd is split almost equally between the Roosevelt’s sub-species in the west and Rocky Mountain to the east, groups that see notably different management. For the most part, general season hunting with over-the-counter licenses reigns in the west, while limited-entry regulations dominate in the east. Bowhunting is the exception, with most areas open to archers carrying a general tag. “Conditions should be fair to good, similar to last year,” says Test. Success rates are higher in limited entry units, but hover around 10 percent for general season hunting.

Saskatchewan
Elk Population: 15,000
Bull/Cow Ratio: 20/100
No nonresident tags available.
Saskatchewan’s elk fared well last winter. Snowpack across the province was variable but didn’t adversely affect elk populations. During the winter of 2008, two elk in the Nipawin area were found dead. Both tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD), the first confirmed cases of the disease in free-ranging elk in the province. However, wildlife officials have been monitoring CWD for nearly 10 years after a mule deer in the Manitou Hills tested positive. Although the disease has the potential to adversely affect elk numbers, massive die-offs aren’t likely. CWD has plagued elk in several states, including parts of Colorado, without the disastrous effects some biologists predicted when it was discovered. Elk populations remain healthy and growing across the province, with a fine hunting season predicted for this fall.

Utah
Elk Population: 67,000
Bull/Cow Ratios: 15 to 80/100
Nonresidents: $65 hunting license, plus $388 general tag, $795 limited entry tag, or $1,500 premium limited entry tag (allows hunting in all weapon seasons within a unit).
Utah is viewed by many hunters as one of the top destinations for trophy bulls, especially after last fall’s “Spider Bull” became the new world’s record nontypical. Elk enjoy rich habitat with populations stable or trending upward across the state. Permits are limited but over-the-counter bull tags are available if you’re willing to take a spike. New for 2009 is a regulation change that also allows the harvest of spike bulls in limited-entry units with an over-the-counter tag. Fewer unlimited areas allow hunting for any bull. Most of these are found in designated wilderness areas on the north and south slopes of the Uinta Mountains, where success rates run around 15 percent.

Washington
Elk Population: 58,000
Bull/Cow Ratios: 12 to 20/100 in most units
Nonresidents: $396.
Bull/cow ratios are at management objectives nearly everywhere. Couple that with a snowy but manageable winter where no areas suffered above average mortality, and hunters should expect a favorable hunting season. Bull/cow ratios in some Blue Mountains areas are running the highest in the state. Overall elk numbers remain stable in the Evergreen State with slight increases in the northeast and some decreases in the southwest where managers have moved aggressively to trim the herd in the Mt. St. Helens area. Washington still offers over the counter bull tags for Roosevelt’s elk in the west and Rocky Mountain elk in the east. Bulls in the west must have at least three points on one antler, while spikes-only can be taken on a general tag in the east.

Wyoming
Elk Population: 105,000
Bull/Cow Ratios: 11 to 40/100
Nonresidents: $577 for regular drawing, $1057 for special drawing, $288 for cow/calf.
Cowboy State elk populations are at or above objective and elk hunting opportunities have never been higher. Antlerless tags are abundant. Hunters can anticipate an exceptional elk season, with a few exceptions. Jeff Obrecht of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department cautions that access to the elk-factory Laramie Peak area is problematic with public lands highly fragmented and private lands heavily leased. Reduced forage on winter range left elk struggling in the southwest. Bull-to-cow ratios remain low east of Jackson where biologists are observing just 11 bulls to 100 cows. Leftover tags (after the drawing in 2009) went on sale on a first-come, first-served basis in early July.

One of the most notable changes in elk country for 2009 could be a wolf hunt in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. Stay tuned to the respective state wildlife agencies for news and details. RMEF is a vocal supporter of state-regulated hunting to manage restored populations of gray wolves. For more info, visit www.rmef.org.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.6 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Elk Hunt Forecast for 2009

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont.— -(AmmoLand.com)- Five counties in Arizona are slated for wildlife habitat conservation projects using $99,820 in new grants from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

The 2009 RMEF grants will affect Apache, Coconino, Navajo, Yavapai and Yuma counties.

“Thanks to our volunteers across Arizona who helped drive the 2008 fundraisers that made these grants possible. When Elk Foundation banquets, auctions and other events transform into on-the-ground conservation work, it’s payday for all of our supporters who are passionate about giving something back to the outdoors,” said David Allen, Elk Foundation president and CEO.

Elk Foundation grants will help fund the following Arizona projects, listed by county:

Apache County—Thin trees and shrubs to restore 8,339 acres of grasslands, and install 6 miles of pipeline for wildlife watering devices, to improve winter range for elk, mule deer, pronghorn and other wildlife in the North Escudilla area; sponsor White Mountain Youth Hunter Camps to introduce young people to hunting skills and ethics in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest (also affects Navajo County).

Coconino County—Research elk movements to locate potential sites for wildlife underpasses along Interstate 40 between Williams and Winona.

Yavapai County—Sponsor National Archery in the Schools program to introduce Prescott Valley Charter School students to competitive archery skills.

Yuma County—Sponsor Scholastic Clay Target Program in Yuma to introduce young people to trap and skeet shooting.

A committee of Elk Foundation volunteers and staff select projects for grants. Additional projects are being reviewed and supplemental grants could be announced later this year.

To date, partners for 2009 projects in Arizona include Arizona Game and Fish Department, Arizona Department of Transportation, Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Forest Service, other agencies, corporations, landowners and organizations.

Since 1984, the Elk Foundation and its partners have completed more than 360 conservation projects in Arizona with a value of more than $28 million.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.6 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Elk Foundation Grants to Benefit 5 Arizona Counties

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont.- -(AmmoLand.com)- Black bears, grizzlies, cougars, wolves, coyotes—just some of the potential looters you may find skulking around the scene of your next successful elk hunt. These tips from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation will help keep meat stealers away from your elk carcass.

“Deterring predators ensures all that hard-won protein ends up in your freezer, but personal safety is a factor, too. If you hunt in grizzly country, for example, it’s worth minimizing the risk of surprising a bear that has claimed your kill,” said P.J. DelHomme, hunting editor of the Elk Foundation’s member magazine, Bugle.

Here are five tips for discouraging marauding carnivores:

1. Hang quarters at an unreachable height 100 yards or more from the entrails, etc. Parachute chord works well; it’s small, light, cheap and strong enough for the job. Bring way more than you think you need. Try to select a hanging tree in a relatively open area that can be glassed from at least 300 yards away. If no trees are available, you can hang quarters off a rimrock ledge, too. Prime cuts of meat should get the first trip out.

2. When safe and legal, build a fire next to the quarters. Burn damp, pitchy wood that produces a good plume of smoke. This detracts predators and helps you locate the site on your return trip. Remember to mark the site in your GPS and take compass bearings as a backup.

3. Leave an article of clothing with the quarters, preferably something that’s been close to your skin and absorbed your scent. A brightly colored item also helps you locate the site. Urinate nearby to further saturate the area with human smell.

4. Many hunters won’t carry their rifle or bow once their elk tag has been punched. However, when returning to a carcass, consider carrying a handgun or bear spray for personal protection in case you encounter a defiant critter. Be as noisy and obnoxious as possible as you approach the site. Clap your hands. Sing as loud as you can.

5. Be ready to back off. An elk carcass is never worth fighting over. If a looter is adamant that it needs the meat more than you do, or has rendered your elk unsalvageable, check the state’s hunting regulations. A game warden may issue you a new elk permit.

Additionally, if legal, you may have an opportunity to add the predator to your game bag. Remember that many predator populations need management via state-regulated hunting, same as elk. The Elk Foundation is a vocal supporter of this system for managing restored populations of gray wolves in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, too.

Bugle magazine is a wealth of elk hunting and conservation information. An annual subscription is included with a $35 membership to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. For details, visit www.rmef.org.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.6 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Keep Predators Away From Your Elk Carcass

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont.— -(AmmoLand.com)- Wild elk haven’t roamed the Maryland countryside in over a century, but the species remains an inspiration to the state’s Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation members. These devoted conservationists raise money to ensure the future of elk in other states—and fund public education efforts at home.

Nine Maryland counties including Anne Arundel, Baltimore City, Caroline, Cecil, Charles, Garrett, Hartford, Montgomery and Queen Anne’s are slated for conservation education events using $10,158 in new grants from the Elk Foundation.

Four additional projects have statewide interest.

David Allen, president and CEO of the Montana-based Elk Foundation, said, “Our volunteers and members in Maryland helped drive the 2008 fundraisers that made these grants possible. This is where Elk Foundation banquets, auctions and other events transform into on-the-ground conservation and education work, and it’s part of the payday for supporters who are passionate about giving something back to the outdoors.”

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

Anne Arundel County—Sponsor Kids & Cops 2009 Youth Field Day in Pasadena to introduce youths to safe hunting and fishing.

Baltimore City—Sponsor Upper Bay Greenwing Youth Event hosted by Ducks Unlimited in Baltimore to build interest in conservation and outdoor recreation.

Caroline County—Sponsor Maryland 2009 National Hunting and Fishing Day celebration at Schrader’s Bridgetown Manor in Henderson to introduce the public to hunting, fishing, sport shooting and conservation.

Cecil County—Sponsor Northern Chesapeake Sportsmen for Kids 2009 Field Day in North East to introduce youths to hunting, fishing, sport shooting and conservation.

Charles County—Sponsor Patuxent Sportsmen for Kids 2009 Youth Field Day in Waldorf to introduce youths to conservation and outdoor recreation.

Garrett County—Sponsor Cecil County Forest Conservancy college-credit conference in Sudlersville for high school students interested in a career in forestry or natural resource management (also affects Montgomery and Garrett counties).

Hartford County—Sponsor Mason-Dixon Outfitters 2009 Youth Hunt Day in Pylesville to introduce youths to conservation and hunting, including an actual bird hunt.

Montgomery County—Sponsor Maryland 2009 National Hunting and Fishing Day celebration in Germantown to introduce the public to outdoor recreation and conservation.

Queen Anne’s County—Sponsor Maryland 2009 Junior Hunter Field Day in Sudlersville to provide youths with opportunities to learn from Maryland Department of Natural Resources professionals (also affects Montgomery and Garrett counties).

Statewide—Sponsor the Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Foundation, which assists the Maryland Legislative Caucus in advancing issues related to hunting, fishing, sport shooting and conservation; sponsor Maryland Natural Resource Police Wildlife Display, a mobile exhibit that will appear at fairs and other events to educate the public about native species; sponsor Maryland National Archery in the Schools for 2009-2010 to introduce students to archery; provide support for redesigned Maryland RMEF Web site as a resource for hunters and conservationists.

Since 1984, the Elk Foundation and its partners have completed more than 54 education and conservation projects in Maryland with a value of more than $440,000.

Partners for 2009 projects in Maryland include the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, local sportsmen associations, retailers and conservation organizations.

Support from Maryland RMEF members helped reintroduce elk into parts of their historic range in Kentucky, Tennessee and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Those herds are now expanding into Virginia and West Virginia. Pennsylvania also has a thriving elk herd. Funding from Maryland is currently helping to build a new Elk Country Visitor Center in central Pennsylvania, which will be the largest elk viewing and conservation education facility in the eastern U.S.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.6 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Maryland Events and Projects Draw Elk Foundation Grants

California Waterfowl

California - -(AmmoLand.com)- California Waterfowl has a variety of camps and clinics designed to get the whole family ready for the coming waterfowl hunting season. From aspiring hunter camps for women and youth to a waterfowl calling clinic designed to help everyone call in the ducks, California Waterfowl’s low-cost events offer entry to adventure and a chance to put delicious local food on the table this fall.

These camps and clinics are co-sponsored by Cabela’s, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, National Shooting Sports Foundation and the Community Youth Center of Concord.

Below is a list of upcoming opportunities to get out and get ready for the season. For more information and to register, visit www.calwaterfowl.org or call 916-275-0961.

California Waterfowl Women and Children Shoot First Skills Clinic
Date: August 16, 2009
Location: Coyote Valley Sporting Clays, Morgan Hill, Santa Clara County, CA

Cost: $30
California Waterfowl is offering women and children an opportunity to learn gun safety, archery and recreational shooting. This is your chance to enjoy archery, .22 rifle, and shotgun shooting with experienced safety instructors. Only $30 and includes targets, shells, shooting equipment, Cabela’s goodies, lunch and California Waterfowl membership. Dads and drivers, shoot the regular course (cost separate) and join us for lunch for $5.

California Waterfowl Youth Shooting Clinics
Dates: Two to choose from, August 22 or September 19, 2009
Location: Grizzly Island Ranch, Suisun, Solano County, CA

Cost: $20
California Waterfowl is offering youth hunters (age 9-17) the chance to get ready for the 2009-10 hunting seasons by practicing their safe shooting skills. Certified trained instruction in will be offered at two clinics offered in late August and September prior to the hunting season. The cost is only $20 and includes targets, shells and archery equipment. Bring your own gun or we will provide them.

California Waterfowl Duck and Goose Calling Clinic
Date: August 29, 2009
Location: Rancho Esquon in Durham, Butte County, CA

Cost: $25
California Waterfowl invites everyone (aged 10+) to perfect their calling skills for ducks and geese with coaching by expert callers. Classes are designed for beginning and intermediate callers and practice calls will be provided. Spaces are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. The cost is only $25 and includes lunch and California Waterfowl membership.

California Waterfowl Women’s Pheasant Hunt Weekend
Date: September 26-27, 2009
Location: Birds Landing Hunting Preserve, Birds Landing, Solano County, CA

Cost is $150.00
California Waterfowl is offering its first ever camp for the aspiring huntress to finish hunter education class, and get a license, gun safety training, and then go on a pheasant hunt with an experienced guide and a dog. Cost is only $150 and includes a hunting license, upland game stamp, firearms instruction, and lunch both days. Friends and family already licensed can come and shoot the regular sporting clays or 5-stand range while the aspiring huntress gets ready for the coming season.

California Waterfowl Youth Hunters Camps
Dates: Two weekends to choose from, Sept. 26 – 27 or Oct. 3 – 4, 2009
Location: Grizzly Island Ranch, Suisun, Solano County, CA

Cost is $100 per camp
Youth hunters (age 10-15) get ready for the 2009-10 hunting seasons by participating in the CWA Hunters Camps. Hunter Education, shotgun practice, shotgun patterning and archery shooting will get you certified and ready to head afield this fall. Cost is only $100 with all meals, lodging, targets, shells and guns provided.

About:
California Waterfowl is an award winning nonprofit, hunter-supported conservation organization with a mission to conserve the state’s waterfowl, wetlands, and hunting heritage. In the last 20 years we’ve restored, protected or enhanced more than 360,000 acres, providing habitat for millions of birds and animals, and introduced more than 250,000 children to the wonders of the great outdoors. Visit us online at www.calwaterfowl.org.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Get the Whole Family Ready for California Waterfowl Season

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont.— -(AmmoLand.com)- Wilderness elk hunting is an athletic endeavor but you don’t need to kill yourself getting in shape. Cameron Hanes, fitness and bowhunting authority as well as TV show host and columnist for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, says moderation in exercise is a key for most hunters.

“You don’t have to be a world-class athlete to build up amazing endurance, but you do have to get started with some sort of workout regimen. Every day you spend in inactivity, you get weaker. Every day that elk move through high country, they get stronger. And the longer you wait to exercise, the wider the gap grows,” said Hanes.

Here are five ways to start closing the gap.

1. Try a “commercial workout” when you’re sitting around watching TV. Do push-ups and sit-ups during the commercials. Over the summer months, this exercise can make a big difference.

2. If you’ve been doing nothing recently, there’s no point in running. Going overboard right out of the gate will only make you too sore, cause you to hurt yourself or burnout quickly. Go for a brisk walk instead. Walk for 10 minutes and slowly jog for five. Do this back-to-back for 30 minutes, four times a week, for a couple of weeks. Slowly begin to lengthen the overall workout, then start increasing the jogging time.

3. You needn’t spend tons of time. If you’re at your ideal weight, you need just 30 minutes per day of exercise, minimum. If weight loss is a concern, experts say it takes an hour of exercise each day to lose weight without going on a diet. Thirty minutes will do for weight loss if you both diet and exercise.

4. Hard workouts are not always better. Some of the world’s greatest athletes exercise at “conversation pace,” meaning their pace is easy enough to have a conversation while running. Even many Olympians workout at a comfortable pace 90 percent of the time. As you get into shape, try long (45 minutes or more) comfortable workouts three or four days a week. Then, one day a week, do a harder fast-paced workout.

5. Mix it up. Add some variety to your walking and jogging with cross-training and lifting weights—but keep in mind that almost everything you do in elk hunting begins and ends with your legs. Throw on your pack and climb hills or bleachers. Get on a bike. In the weight room, emphasize squats and lunges. Lots of reps are more important than heavy weights, because for elk hunting you need lean muscle, not size.

When hunting season arrives, Hanes says, remember to pace yourself. The endurance you’ve built over the summer will allow you hunt longer, not necessarily faster or harder. Many hunters tend to overexert at first and hit the wall quickly. Slow, steady hunting for longer periods gives you your best chance to take an elk.

While he admits it’s not for everyone, Hanes prepares for elk season by training for and competing in ultramarathons, races up to 100 miles or more across high-elevation trails. His advice on workouts for hunters spans from basic suggestions for average people to highly technical info for elite athletes in elk country.

Hanes serves RMEF as host of “Elk Chronicles” on Outdoor Channel and as a columnist for “Bugle” magazine. His second book, “Backcountry Bowhunting, A Guide to the Wild Side,” is available at www.cameronhanes.com and is currently in its fifth printing.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.6 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Elk Country Athlete: 5 Ways to Train for Better Hunting

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont.—-(AmmoLand.com)- Thirteen counties in Pennsylvania are slated for conservation education and wildlife habitat projects using $146,996 in new grants from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

The 2009 RMEF grants will affect Armstrong, Blair, Clarion, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Jefferson, Lehigh, Lycoming, Mercer, Potter, Sullivan and Washington counties.

Three additional projects have statewide interest.

“Our volunteers across Pennsylvania helped drive the 2008 fundraisers that made these grants possible. This is where Elk Foundation banquets, auctions and other events transform into on-the-ground conservation work, and it’s part of the payday for supporters who are passionate about giving something back to the outdoors,” said David Allen, Elk Foundation president and CEO.

Elk Foundation grants will help fund the following Pennsylvania projects, listed by county:

Armstrong County—Sponsor Armstrong County Sportsmen and Conservation League Youth Field Day to introduce youths to hunting, fishing, shooting and conservation; sponsor Keystone Junior Sportsmen’s Club project to develop forage plots to enhance wildlife habitat.

Blair County—Sponsor Blair County 2009 Youth Field Day to introduce youths to hunting, fishing, shooting and conservation.

Clarion County—Sponsor Clarion County 2009 Youth Field Day to introduce youths to hunting, fishing, shooting and conservation.

Elk County—Assist with funding for Pennsylvania Elk Country Visitor Center (under construction), a $12.4 million partnership project between the commonwealth and RMEF; plant forage plots to enhance wildlife habitat at the above site; assist with St. Marys Area Middle School 2009 Helping Hands for Habitat with habitat stewardship projects for elk.

Erie County—Sponsor Erie County Youth Field Day to introduce youths to hunting, fishing, shooting and conservation.

Fayette County—Sponsor Fayette Gun Club 2009 Shooting and Conservation Program to introduce youths to hunting, fishing, shooting and conservation.

Jefferson County—Sponsor Camp Friendship Fishing Derby to introduce youths to outdoor recreation and conservation.

Lehigh County—Sponsor Camp Compass Academy 2009 Shooting Program to introduce youths to outdoor recreation and conservation.

Lycoming County—Sponsor Muncy Creek Sportsmen 2009 Youth Outdoor Education project to introduce youths to outdoor recreation and conservation (also affects Sullivan County).

Mercer County—Sponsor Mercer County 2009 Youth Conservation Camp to introduce youths to conservation and related outdoor issues.

Potter County—Sponsor Keith Kelligan Kids Fishing Derby to introduce youths to outdoor recreation and conservation.

Statewide—Sponsor Pennsylvania Institute for Conservation Education Teacher Workshops to educate teachers about wildlife, habitat and conservation; sponsor Pennsylvania 2009 Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus to education lawmakers about conservation issues; sponsor Pennsylvania Hunters Sharing the Harvest which provides hunter-harvested venison to underprivileged families.

Sullivan County— Sponsor East Lycoming and Sullivan County School Districts 2009 Outdoor Education to introduce youths to hunting, fishing, shooting and conservation (also affects Lycoming County); sponsor North Mountain Sportsmen’s Association 2009 Youth Field Day; sponsor Sullivan County High School 2009 Shooting Sports.

Washington County— Sponsor Western Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors to provide hunting and fishing opportunities for disabled veterans; sponsor Allenport Rod and Gun Club Children’s Annual Fishing Contest; sponsor Roscoe Sportsmen’s Association Junior Trap League and Roscoe Sportsmen’s Association 2009 Youth Field Day; sponsor California Hill Gun Club 2009 Scholastic Clay Target Program.

Since 1984, the Elk Foundation and its partners have completed more than 175 education and conservation projects in Pennsylvania with a value of more than $14.4 million.

Partners for 2009 projects in Pennsylvania include the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Richard King Mellon Foundation, Dominion Foundation, Thoresen Foundation, Safari Club International, Eastern Chapter Foundation for North American Wild Sheep and many individual donors, local sportsmen associations, landowners and conservation organizations.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.6 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Elk Foundation Grants to Benefit 13 Pennsylvania Counties

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont.— -(AmmoLand.com)- Sixteen counties in Wisconsin are slated for wildlife habitat conservation and education projects using $53,172 in new grants from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

The 2009 RMEF grants will affect Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Door, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Iowa, La Crosse, Marathon, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Ozaukee, Price, Sawyer and Washington counties.

“Our volunteers across Wisconsin helped drive the 2008 fundraisers that made these grants possible. This is where Elk Foundation banquets, auctions and other events transform into on-the-ground conservation work, and it’s part of the payday for supporters who are passionate about giving something back to the outdoors,” said David Allen, Elk Foundation president and CEO.

Elk Foundation grants will help fund the following Wisconsin projects, listed by county:

Ashland County—Provide funding for radio telemetry equipment operated by students from Glidden High School to research elk habitat use and movement patterns in the Clam Lake area (also affects Price County).

Burnett County—Sponsor Coyland Creek Youth in the Outdoors Day to educate area youths about conservation.

Door County—Sponsor RMEF Door County Chapter 2009 Youth Sporting Event to introduce young people to conservation and outdoor recreation.

Green Lake County—Sponsor Green Lake County Hunter Education Outdoor Skills Day to introduce youths to conservation and outdoor recreation (also affects Fond du Lac County).

Iowa County—Sponsor West Park Youth Fishing Day to introduce young people to outdoor recreation.

La Crosse County—Sponsor Kicking Bear Youth Event to introduce young people to conservation and outdoor recreation.

Marathon County—Sponsor Marathon County 2009 Sporting Heritage Youth Day to introduce young people to conservation and outdoor recreation.

Monroe County—Sponsor Monroe County Hunter Education Program to teach safety, ethics and stewardship.

Oconto County—Sponsor Boy Scouts of America Bay-Lakes Council Hunter Education course to teach safety, ethics and stewardship.

Oneida County—Sponsor Oneida County Sheriff’s Department 2009 Gun Safety Program to teach hunter safety and education.

Ozaukee County—Sponsor Ozaukee County 2009 Hunter Education Program to teach hunter safety and education.

Price County—Sponsor Phillips Area 2009 Youth Field Day to introduce youths and others to conservation and outdoor recreation.

Sawyer County—Provide funding for highway warning systems, including a warning light, triggered by the radio collars on many elk in the area, to reduce vehicle collisions with elk (also affects Ashland, Bayfield and Price counties); provide funding for research on genetic variability and health of elk in Clam Lake area (also affects Ashland, Bayfield and Price counties); mow 55 acres, hand cut trees and shrubs on 30 acres and prescribe burn 5 acres to improve forage habitat for elk and other wildlife in Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest (also affects Ashland and Bayfield counties); sponsor Hayward Middle School National Archery in the Schools Program; sponsor Hayward High School David Brinkman 2009 Memorial Scholarship; sponsor Hayward 2009 Outdoor Youth Day.

Statewide—Sponsor Wisconsin 2009 Outdoor Education Expo for 3,500 youths; sponsor a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources biologist’s attendance at 2009 Eastern Elk Management Workshop; provide funding to Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for printing the state hunting regulations booklets.

Washington County—Sponsor Daniel Boone Conservation League Hunter Safety Education program to teach hunter safety and education.

Partners for 2009 projects in Wisconsin include Glidden High School, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, U.S. Forest Service, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, other agencies, corporations, landowners and organizations.

Since 1984, the Elk Foundation and its partners have completed more than 160 conservation projects in Wisconsin with a value of more than $5.3 million.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.6 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Elk Foundation Grants to Benefit 16 Wisconsin Counties

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont.— -(AmmoLand.com)- Fifteen counties in Wyoming are slated for wildlife habitat conservation projects using $352,547 in new grants from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

The 2009 RMEF grants will affect Albany, Bighorn, Carbon, Converse, Laramie, Lincoln, Natrona, Park, Sheridan, Sublette, Sweetwater, Teton, Uinta, Washakie and Weston counties.

Additional projects have statewide interest.

“Our volunteers across Wyoming helped drive the 2008 fundraisers that made these grants possible. This is where Elk Foundation banquets, auctions and other events transform into on-the-ground conservation work, and it’s part of the payday for supporters who are passionate about giving something back to the outdoors,” said David Allen, Elk Foundation president and CEO.

Elk Foundation grants will help fund the following Wyoming projects, listed by county:

Bighorn County—Prescribe burn 300 acres of juniper and mountain sagebrush to improve forage for elk, bighorn sheep, mule deer, sage grouse and antelope in BLM Devil’s Canyon area.

Carbon County—Continue efforts to secure 1,561-acre conservation easement on a private ranch containing elk habitat surrounded by subdivision and energy developments; prescribe burn 2,775 acres to improve elk winter range in Medicine Bow National Forest Big Sandstone area; thin and prescribe burn to improve habitat in Sierra Madre/Little Snake River area of Medicine Bow National Forest; clean ditches and install 1,500 feet of pipeline to improve and expand irrigation and forage on elk winter range at Pennock Mountain Wildlife Management Area; install wildlife friendly fencing and water troughs at two springs to improve use by livestock and elk in BLM Romios Spring area.

Converse County—Using prescribed fire, restore grasses, forbs, aspen and water availability for elk and other wildlife on the North Laramie Range (also affects Albany, Natrona and Converse counties); sponsored deer/antelope hunts with Paralyzed Veterans of America; sponsored Wyoming State 4-H Shooting Sports Competition for about 500 youths competing in pistol, rifle, archery, muzzleloader and shotgun skills.

Laramie County—Install three fence-exclosures around spring water sources to restore riparian areas for elk along BLM North Crow Creek area.

Lincoln County—Utilize biological and chemical control mechanisms, control weed infestations to enhance forage for elk in Bridger-Teton National Forest.

Natrona County—Thin and prescribe burn encroaching conifer and sagebrush to improve aspen communities and forage for elk in Bates Creek watershed; remove overgrown conifer on 215 acres of curl leaf mahogany habitat in BLM Lost Creek area.

Park County—Support research project to study elk migration timing and routes in relationship to private lands, and study habitat use by elk and wolves in Absaroka Mountains.

Sheridan County—Thin 200 acres of encroaching forest to improve elk habitat in Bighorn National Forest; install weed-catchers to enhance structural support for beaver dams, which will restore stream morphology and riparian meadows along Big Willow Creek in Bighorn National Forest.

Sublette County—As part of a continuing stewardship project, thin overgrown forest to restore aspen and grasslands habitat for elk and other wildlife on privately owned, publicly accessibly timberlands.

Statewide—Sponsor Hunting and Fishing Heritage Expo, firearms handling and shooting clinics for youth and women, and Access Yes programs with Wyoming Game and Fish Department; newspaper advertising across Wyoming to celebrate RMEF achievements in conjunction with National Hunting and Fishing Day; radio advertising to build public awareness of RMEF achievements.

Sweetwater County—Develop water source with solar power to ensure water for livestock, elk and other wildlife on BLM lands.

Teton County—Prescribe burn 3,264 acres of elk winter and transition range to improve forage and aspen along Lower Gros Ventre area in Bridger-Teton National Forest; provide funding for “Don’t Poach the Powder” campaign to help protect elk winter range near Jackson Hole (also affects Lincoln County); sponsored Great Elk Tour at Jackson Hole ElkFest.

Uinta County—Prescribe burn 455 acres of conifer slash to open habitat for aspen and grasslands habitat preferred by elk in Wasatch National Forest.

Washakie County—Thin 800 acres of juniper encroachment and restore sagebrush and grassland on elk winter range in BLM Rome Hill area.

Weston County—Seed 100 acres of native grass in a cleared, aspen regeneration project area for elk and other wildlife in Parmlee Canyon.

Partners for 2009 projects in Wyoming include Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, other agencies, corporations, landowners and organizations.

Since 1984, the Elk Foundation and its partners have completed more than 380 conservation projects in Wyoming with a value of more than $36.3 million.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.6 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Elk Foundation Grants to Benefit 15 Wyoming Counties

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont.— -(AmmoLand.com)- If you’re a tenderfoot looking to use horses for your elk hunt this fall, do yourself—and your horse—a favor. Follow these 10 tips from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and longtime supporter Smoke Elser, who’s been guiding and outfitting in Montana’s Bob Marshall Wilderness for more than 50 years.

1. Consider taking a riding lesson before your hunt. Learn the basics of mounting and dismounting, reins, leg cues, proper balance and body position. A horse is not an easy chair—a little preparation and skill are required.

2. Be realistic. Even though your horse can carry you over difficult terrain, it cannot carry you over impossible terrain. You’ll need to hike across the steepest, roughest areas. Hopefully, you’re in shape.

3. Stirrup length should be adjusted at the trailhead. Don’t be bashful about insisting on a comfortable fit that allows you to stand up slightly in the stirrups. Having your knees hunched up can be miserable for you and your horse.

4. Horses are a means of transportation from point A to point B, not to the elk. Don’t expect to shoot from atop your pony like Buffalo Bill. In fact, firing a rifle anywhere near horses can be disastrous. Your actual hunt will need to be on foot.

5. Think about clothing. Bring boots that fit easily into stirrups and wear clothing that allows you to mount and dismount easily. For example, coveralls constrict motion and should be avoided. Keeping quiet and warm are factors, too, and wool clothing is both even when wet. Also bring a broad-brimmed hat to help ward off branches to the face and snow down the neck.

6. Let your guide do the saddling and unsaddling. Often hunters want to help but end up improperly cinching, dragging saddles through mud, disassembling bridles down to the last buckle, etc., causing extra work for the guide. Don’t pretend knowledge of horses and tack if you have none.

7. Always let your guide tie up your horse for you. Improper tying can result in a dead or injured horse if they get choked or tangled. More commonly, hunters return to find only the guide’s horse still there. That could mean a long hike back for one of you.

8. Bring a rifle that fits easily into a scabbard. Oversized scopes or Bipods will require disassembly and are impractical. If in doubt, ask your outfitter to recommend appropriate rifles and other gear.

9. Bring what you need, but you don’t need the kitchen sink. Nearly every elk outfitter has funny stories about hunters who insisted on packing things like ice skates, bowling balls, bathrobes, business suits and other nonessentials. But it’s really not funny—overloading is hard on a horse’s loins and kidneys.

10. Wallets in pants pockets tend to work themselves out when you’re riding a horse. Keep your elk tags and personal identification inside your shirt pocket.

Information and tips about elk hunting are regular features inside the Elk Foundation’s bi-monthly member magazine, Bugle. An annual membership, which includes a subscription and base-level support for RMEF habitat conservation efforts, is $35. To join, call 800-CALL ELK or visit www.rmef.org.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.6 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Horse Riding Packing Tips for Greenhorn Elk Hunters

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont.— -(AmmoLand.com)- For the first time in almost 150 years, Tennessee will host an elk hunt this autumn. Five lucky hunters will participate. Four Tennesseans received tags in a special drawing and one remaining tag will be auctioned on eBay July 16-25.

All auction proceeds will support Tennessee’s elk restoration program.

“This hunt is one of the rewards for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s hard work in helping to restore a wild elk herd that was missing in Tennessee for a very long time,” said David Allen, president and CEO of the Montana-based conservation organization. “We hope our supporters will register on eBay and bid enthusiastically as a continuation of our support for this program.”

The hunt will take place at east Tennessee’s North Cumberland WMA Oct. 19-23, 2009.

All five hunters will be invited to an elk camp complete with wall tents, campfires, meals and entertainment. The camp will be held at the property of Terry Lewis near the North Cumberland WMA Elk Viewing Tower. Camp sponsors include the Elk Foundation, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Tennessee Wildlife Federation and Campbell Outdoor Recreation Association. Several of these groups are also partnering to promote the sale of the tag.

Tag recipients in the drawing were announced in June. Winners include Craig Gardner, of Parrotsville, Charles Ray Flynn of Rockford, Ronald L. Woodard of Oak Ridge, and Jeffrey L. Moses of Cleveland.

For more information visit www.twrf.net.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.6 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Tennessee Elk Tag for Auction on eBay

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont.— -(AmmoLand.com)- Several partners including the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation have completed a 2,675-acre first phase of a three-year project to protect wildlife habitat and public access in the Cascade Mountains near the Naches River in Washington.

By 2011, the entire project will transfer more than 10,000 acres in Kittitas County from Plum Creek Timber Co. to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

First-phase partners included The Nature Conservancy, Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, WDFW and RMEF. A broad coalition, including the Kittitas County Commissioners, Yakama Nation, U.S. Forest Service and Washington Department of Natural Resources, supported the project.

“We’re proud to be a part of this unique partnership that is generating permanent benefits for wildlife and sportsmen. The first phase of this project has moved a significant piece of critical elk range and calving grounds into public ownership,” said David Allen, president and CEO of the Elk Foundation.

Habitat includes alpine areas home to mountain goats, shrub-steppe and basalt cliffs for elk, mule deer and bighorn sheep, and streams used by bull, cutthroat and rainbow trout as well as salmon. The diverse landscape hosts a wide variety of other species including several classified as sensitive or threatened.

The area, called Rock Creek, also is a popular recreation and scenic destination.

The newly protected lands were listed for sale and on the open market. The area has a checkerboard ownership pattern with private sections interspersed with tracts owned by the Wenatchee National Forest. Piecemeal purchases by small timber operations or rural residential developers could have compromised wildlife values as well as public access.

“Consolidating this checkerboard has been a top priority for us,” said WDFW south-central regional director Jeff Tayer. “Without this acquisition, the property could end up in fragmented ownerships limiting recreational access and the ability to use prescribed fire and tree thinning to reduce the risk of wildfire, disease and insect outbreaks. Our partners at The Nature Conservancy and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation made this happen.”

“By bringing this area into public ownership, we’ll be able to work together to maintain a healthy forest landscape, to lower the danger of catastrophic wildfire, and preserve habitat for the wildlife we all love,” said Karen Anderson, state director for The Nature Conservancy.

“This region provides both crucial wildlife habitat and unique opportunities for outdoor recreation. WWRP funds will preserve this land, benefiting both people and the environment,” said Joanna Grist, executive director of the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition.

“Plum Creek recognizes the public benefits of this project and is pleased to participate in the partnership that achieved this important outcome,” said Rick Holley, president and chief executive officer, Plum Creek.

The purchase price of $3.27 million was provided in grants from the state Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program ($1.8 million) and from a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service fund designed to protect habitat for endangered species ($1.47 million).

The newly protected lands are north of the Naches River and northwest of the town of Naches, reachable by Bald Mountain, Rock Creek and Milk Lake roads. The area will be managed as part of WDFW’s Oak Creek Wildlife Area.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.6 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Partners Protect 2,675 Acres of Habitat and Access in Washington

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont.— -(AmmoLand.com)- Science-based field research, funded in part by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, is yielding solid data on why gray wolves in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming should be managed by state wildlife agencies.

Wolves have been on and off endangered species lists in recent months. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has repeatedly announced at least partial delisting and state-based management via regulated wolf hunting. But, each time, anti-hunting groups have blocked the effort with lawsuits.

“List, delist, repeat. It’s become an endless cycle driven by those who profit from legal uncertainty over gray wolves,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “Tying up this issue in courts defies a proven conservation system that is extremely successful at balancing predatory species within biological and social tolerances.”

The Elk Foundation has long funded scientific research on topics surrounding elk and habitat. Universities and state and federal agencies apply for RMEF research grants and conduct the projects. Researchers present results to peers at professional conferences. New understanding leads to better management strategies for all wildlife in elk country.

Here’s a sample of findings, from many different research projects, that support the Elk Foundation’s position that wolves should be managed this fall via state-regulated hunting.

1. In the northern Rockies, original wolf recovery goals for population size and breeding pair estimates are now exceeded by over 500 percent and 333 percent, respectively.
2. Wolf populations in Montana are increasing 10-34 percent annually.
3. Wolves are the top predator on adult elk, especially bulls. Bears take more calves, but at least black bears can be scientifically managed via hunting.
4. Cow-calf ratios are commonly lower in areas with both bears and wolves.
5. Between November and April, wolf packs in Montana kill 7-23 elk per wolf.
6. Since 2000, elk numbers across non-wolf western states have held relatively stable, while elk populations across Idaho, Montana and Wyoming have dropped a combined 4.2 percent. In many local areas, elk reductions have been dramatic and significant. Wolves are a factor, affecting not only elk numbers, but also their distribution, movement and behavior.
7. Elk hunting adds nearly $1 billion per year to the U.S. economy.
8. Hunter opportunity is being reduced to counter declining elk populations in Idaho.
9. A fully restored—but still federally protected—population of keystone predators is complicating and hindering elk management, as well as conservation itself.
10. In 1907, only 41,000 elk could be counted in the U.S. Leadership, stewardship and funding from hunters restored elk to their current population of more than 1 million. It’s this resource that made wolf recovery possible. Yet hunters and state conservation agencies are being victimized by continuous delays in wolf management.

Allen encouraged Wyoming and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to work together on a mutually agreeable wolf management plan. This would remove one of the obstacles that conservationists can actually control, enabling regulated wolf hunting alongside Idaho and Montana, he said.

RMEF Official Policy Statement on Gray Wolf Restoration: Updated March 2009

Background
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) supports the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) decision to remove gray wolves from protection under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA). In the case of the subject of gray wolf populations, ESA protection is no longer legally required or necessary. The recovery plan biological goals for wolves in the Rocky Mountains were attained in 2002. Both population size and breeding pair estimates now exceed recovery goals by 500 percent and 333 percent, respectively. The western Great Lakes population has also exceeded its population goals for several years.

The RMEF supports sound, science-based wildlife management that maintains a sustainable balance between predator and big-game species. We encourage the use of the best available science to finalize this delisting. Biologists, hunters, land managers, private landowners, and other citizens across the nation have worked hard and made sacrifices to achieve recovery for wolves.

Policy
RMEF and its primary support base, hunters and anglers, have always supported the legal protection of fish and wildlife species that require protection to survive and flourish.

We believe the following:

When wolf populations meet scientific viability criteria for recovery, they no longer require federal protection under ESA. They should be de-listed if recovery plan goals are met and where regulatory mechanisms are in place to adequately manage the species.

After the wolf is de-listed, scientifically sound wolf management programs administered by state wildlife agencies should maintain sustainable wolf populations to preclude the need to re-list under the ESA.

Reflecting the success of other historic hunter/conservationist-led species recovery programs based on the North American Model for Wildlife Conservation, the management of wolves as game animals should occur in areas designated for wolf occupancy, and wolf seasons should be regulated by the states.

Where and when hunting is deemed appropriate under state regulations, methods used by hunters must conform to Fair Chase principles.

When classified as game animals, wolf populations should be maintained in accordance with the biological and cultural carrying capacities of the habitats they occupy.

Also, management of individual wolves and wolf populations should recognize the need to balance management objectives with respect for private property and human safety.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.6 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Since When Do We Question Science-based Managment of Wolves

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont.— By thinning encroaching conifer and opening aspen and grassland habitat on 91 acres, Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI) has launched a Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation initiative to enhance 33,700 acres in California’s Shasta-Trinity National Forest.

The giant area near Burney, Calif., called McCloud Flats, is Roosevelt elk range. However, habitat quality has declined as overgrown forests choke out forage vegetation.

Together, the Elk Foundation and U.S. Forest Service developed a long-term agreement to restore wildlife values at McCloud Flats. Through its Habitat Stewardship Services Program, RMEF will help facilitate projects to swap habitat work for the value of forest products harvested. SPI earned the bid for the inaugural project.

Al Christophersen, who directs this effort for the Elk Foundation, explained, “In this deal, the Forest Service got a cost effective way to manage its forestlands, conservationists got a more natural and productive landscape for wildlife, and the forest products industry got a supply of logs to keep local mills running.”

SPI removed all conifers within 100 feet of aspen clones. Some timber produced lumber. Other timber was chipped for biomass power generation. The area is now fenced for approximately three years while aspen and native grasses are reestablishing.

“We hope to see more of these projects come our way. These stewardship contracts and agreements can be useful tools for us under the right circumstances. We hope to work closely with RMEF on future projects,” said SPI Division Forester Robert Hoover.

Hoover also complimented the careful, quality work of SPI’s local subcontractors, Dell Logging and fence-builder Clifford Cunningham.

RMEF and SPI have partnered on numerous conservation efforts in California, and the Elk Foundation’s Habitat Stewardship Services Program is active in other states, but the recent project in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest is a first for California.

“We grateful for the partnership between Shasta-Trinity National Forest and our Habitat Stewardship Services Program. We envision this cooperation leading to landscape-scale improvements for elk and other wildlife, as well as forest health,” said Christophersen.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.6 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

RMEF & SPI Work to Improve California Forest for Elk

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont.— -(AmmoLand.com)- Heavy construction has begun, even as fundraising continues, for central Pennsylvania’s Elk Country Visitor Center, a partnership project of the commonwealth and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

The center is designed be the largest elk watching and conservation education facility in the eastern U.S. The 8,420 square-foot building and 245 acres on Winslow Hill in Benezette Township, Elk County, will include educational exhibits, trails, story theater, wildlife viewing blinds, meeting rooms and display areas.

Ceremonial groundbreaking was last fall but construction began in earnest in late May.

“Total cost for completing and opening the center is $12.4 million. Under the partnership agreement, the commonwealth is paying for design and construction, while the Elk Foundation is raising money for exhibits and operation. We’re still working with donors who are interested in helping fulfill this commitment,” said Rawley Cogan, who is directing fundraising efforts for the Elk Foundation.

RMEF has raised $10.1 million and is working to secure the final $2.3 million to close out its fundraising campaign. Financial supporters to date include the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Richard King Mellon Foundation, Dominion Foundation, Thoreson Foundation, Safari Club International, Eastern Chapter Foundation for North American Wild Sheep and many individual donors. For more information, visit www.pennsylvaniaRMEF.org or call RMEF at 800-CALL ELK.

The building will include green features such as rainwater collection and reuse, night-sky friendly light fixtures, use of locally available materials and sustainably harvested timber, and use of low emitting paints, adhesives and carpets. The building will be eligible for Gold LEED certification.

Construction completion is projected for spring 2010.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.5 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Construction, Fundraising for Elk Country Visitor Center PA

JASPER AR - -(AmmoLand.com)- Buffalo River Elk Festival in Jasper and Newton County residents are busy preparing for their annual Buffalo River Elk Festival. The festival is scheduled to begin Friday, June 26, and continue through Saturday, June 27. This year, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will hold an elk summit workshop during the celebration. The award winning festival began in 1998 to celebrate the successful reintroduction of elk to Newton County and has been an annual event every year since.

The highlight of the festival is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission drawing for elk hunting permits. The drawings and most of the activities will be at the courthouse square in Jasper with a kids’ fishing derby on the banks of the Little Buffalo River. This year the elk summit workshop will be held at the festival. It will be the culmination of the months-long effort to design a management plan for Arkansas’s elk herd. The elk summit workshop will be held at the Arkansas House in Jasper from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.

Thousands of hopeful elk hunters applied for the permits for this year’s hunt. The public land elk hunt dates are Zones 1, 2, 3, 4: Sept. 21-25 and Dec. 7-11, Private land elk hunts are Zones A, Sept. 21-25 and Dec. 7-11, Zone B and Zone 4, Dec. 7-11.

The drawing for the public land permits will be on Saturday, June 27 at the Newton County Courthouse Square in Jasper, near the Buffalo River and center of Arkansas’s elk country. Persons applying for permits don’t have to be present, but many attend each year, joining in the festivities and activities.

One of the more popular events returns to the festival again this year – the on-site drawing for a permit. One permit will be issued to someone who applies at the Elk Festival in Jasper. Sign up, stick around and you may win a permit. For this permit, the lucky hunter must be present. Just like the other public land elk permits to be drawn, entrants must be an Arkansas resident.

The elk hunting permits will be issued for specific zones along and near the Buffalo River.

About:
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation will be present with several educational programs. For the hunting enthusiasts, drawings for elk permits will be held each hour starting at noon on Saturday.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Buffalo River Elk Festival Features Elk Management Summit Workshop

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont.— Twelve counties in Colorado are slated for wildlife habitat conservation and public education projects using $205,497 in new grants from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

The 2009 RMEF grants will affect Boulder, Clear Creek, El Paso, Grand, Huerfano, La Plata, Mesa, Park, Rio Blanco, Routt, Saguache and San Miguel counties.

“Our volunteers across Colorado helped drive the 2008 fundraisers that made these grants possible. This is where Elk Foundation banquets, auctions and other events transform into on-the-ground conservation work, and it’s part of the payday for supporters who are passionate about giving something back to the outdoors,” said David Allen, Elk Foundation president and CEO.

Elk Foundation grants will help fund the following Colorado conservation projects, listed by county:

Boulder County—Rehabilitate aspen stands and other elk habitat damaged by motorized vehicle abuse, install signs and fences in an area of Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest; sponsor 4-H shooting sports program in Longmont, Colo.

Clear Creek County—Prescribe burn 710 acres to enhance forage for elk at James M. Jones and Mount Evans state wildlife areas (also affects Park County).

El Paso County—Sponsor hunter safety program for 500 youth and military personnel in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Grand County—Remove six miles of unneeded fencing, one corral and 10 miles of decommissioned logging road to enhance elk migration routes in Routt National Forest.

Huerfano County—Minimize elk winter-range disturbance in a portion of San Isabel National Forest by installing six seasonal gates and signs to reduce motorized traffic.

La Plata County—Improve forage for elk and other wildlife by mowing and hand-thinning encroaching conifers on 128 acres in San Juan National Forest.

Mesa County—Mechanically thin and hand-clear 120 acres, then re-seed native grasses, to improve elk forage in Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison national forests; participate and exhibit at 2nd Annual Colorado Outdoor Heritage Day for 900 youths in Palisade, Colo.

Rio Blanco County—Treat 300 acres of noxious weeds (primarily yellow toadflax) to improve forage quality for elk and other wildlife in Routt National Forest; treat 100 acres of weeds at White River National Forest.

Routt County—Prescribe burn and mechanically thin 1,090 acres to improve elk habitat in Routt National Forest.

Saguache County—Thin 450 acres of encroaching pinion and juniper in Rio Grande National Forest.

San Miguel County—Mechanically treat 1,000 acres to remove encroaching pinion and juniper from elk habitat on BLM land near Dolores, Colo.

Since 1984, the Elk Foundation and its partners have completed more than 470 conservation projects in Colorado with a value of more than $111.2 million.

Partners for 2009 projects in Colorado include Bureau of Land Management, Colorado Division of Wildlife, U.S. Forest Service, other agencies, corporations, landowners and organizations.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.5 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Elk Foundation Grants Benefit 12 Colorado Counties

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont.— -(AmmoLand.com)- A Montana couple has challenged the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation to raise an extra $500,000 for its habitat work. As an incentive, the couple has also offered to match those additional funds.

“In this economy, investors don’t get many chances to double their money, but here’s an opportunity,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO.

Allen accepted the challenge gift from Rick and Penney Oncken of Missoula, Mont.

“The Onckens are great supporters of the Elk Foundation and they believe our mission is too important to risk a slowdown due to the recession. Their generosity is a chance for a combined extra $1 million worth of conservation in elk country. We intend to make the most of it,” said Allen.

Contributions, in any amount, over and above the RMEF 2009-10 budget for gifts will be matched through the Onckens’ $500,000 challenge. For details, call 800-CALL ELK.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.5 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Montana Donors Challenge Elk Foundation

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont. - -(AmmoLand.com)- Vineyards ain’t elk habitat, but one conservationist can make them both a whole lot better.

Immediate past chairman of the board for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, California winegrape farmer and vinter Andrew Hoxsey has been named the 2009 Napa Grower of the Year by the Napa Valley Grapegrowers.

The award recognizes leadership in sustainable farming techniques and land stewardship.

Napa County Agricultural Commissioner Dave Whitmer described Hoxsey as “simply a great farmer. He brings an innovative approach to his business and has always placed a high priority on farming with environmental stewardship and with his neighbors in mind.”

David Allen, Elk Foundation president and CEO, said, “Andrew took care of business at the Elk Foundation in exactly the same way. As our lead volunteer for the past two years, he presided over conservation efforts that helped enhance or protect over 600,000 acres of habitat for elk and other wildlife.”

He added, “Andrew served as our board chairman at a critical time in our history. His passion for RMEF and elk country has taken us to a new level of strategic focus. For that, we will be forever indebted.”

Hoxsey’s family owns a custom crush facility, Napa Wine Company in Oakville, where they crush grapes for their own wine. Andrew heads the 105-year-old farming operation, which is among the largest organic vineyards in the county. Of all the components of the family business, which was started by Hoxsey’s grandfather, Andrew said he’s most comfortable as a grower because “it is much more fulfilling to be with the soil. Conservation and sustainable farming are where my heart is.”

He said his 2009 Napa Grower of the Year award is recognition to every generation of his family that has passed the land down in better shape than when they took it over.

A life member and devoted supporter of RMEF, Hoxsey’s term as board chairman ended in March, when Joe Treadway of Asheville, N.C., succeeded him.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.5 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Vineyards, Elk Habitat and a Conservationist

MISSOULA, Mont.— -(AmmoLand.com)- An award honoring the science-based conservation legacy of Olaus J. Murie, the late biologist remembered as the father of modern elk management, has been presented by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation to Dr. John G. Cook of La Grande, Ore.

Cook is a research biologist with the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, an independent nonprofit research institute that focuses on environmental topics of interest to the forest products industry. He is stationed at the U.S. Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest Forestry and Range Sciences Laboratory.

Much of Cook’s career has concentrated on elk.

“Dr. Cook’s body of work has challenged the wildlife and forestry professions to change the way we perceive habitat quality for elk. His research on nutritional requirements has inspired a ‘rethinking’ that has moved our profession toward an integrated approach to habitat planning and management. He has been a catalyst for new techniques in elk management and his work will influence conservation for decades to come,” said Tom Toman, director of conservation for the Elk Foundation.

Approximately 65 percent of Cook’s 55 printed works and 80 percent of his 34 peer publications deal with elk.

“Few biologists can demonstrate such a record of sustained and productive focus,” said Toman. “Equally important, Dr. Cook is tirelessly committed to making this research accessible to managers and the public, giving formal and informal presentations to virtually anyone interested in learning about elk.”

Cook graduated from the University of Idaho in 1981, then completed M.S. and Ph.D. programs at the University of Wyoming. While in Wyoming he developed and tested habitat suitability models for pronghorn antelope, evaluated factors in declining populations of bighorn sheep, and compiled a database and literature review for over 300 rare, threatened and endangered species in the National Park System.

In 1996, he moved to La Grande to begin his elk research.

The 2009 Olaus J. Murie Award was presented April 29 at the 8th Western States and Provinces Deer and Elk Workshop held in Spokane, Wash.

The award is based on five criteria:

1. Relevance of work to the conservation of wild, free-ranging elk
2. Application of work “on the ground” to benefit wild, free-ranging elk
3. Dedication to his or her profession
4. Commitment to the conservation of wild, free-ranging elk
5. Credibility and respect among peers

Murie was educated at the University of Michigan. He was the first to conduct elk and habitat research at the National Elk Refuge in Jackson Hole, Wyo. His detailed work led to the classic book, The Elk of North America, published in 1951. He promoted sound stewardship and protection of wildlife habitat, receiving numerous honors and awards. Murie died in 1963.

The Elk Foundation’s award honors Murie’s legacy while recognizing those who have become conservation leaders in their own right. Past recipients include Jack Ward Thomas, Jim Peek, L. Jack Lyon, Valerius Geist and Robert D. Nelson.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.5 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Elk Foundation Honors Oregon Researcher Dr. John Cook

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont.— -(AmmoLand.com)- A partnership between the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has reached the $1 million mark in projects for elk, other wildlife and their habitat in Wyoming.

Trust funds are generated by a tax on oil exploration in Wyoming. A nine-member, governor-appointed board of directors administers contributions to groups like RMEF.

Since 2006, the Trust has supported Elk Foundation habitat projects such as prescribed burns, aspen restorations, water developments and more. Eleven counties in Wyoming have benefitted including Big Horn, Carbon, Converse, Crook, Hot Springs, Laramie, Lincoln, Natrona, Park, Sublette and Weston. Most of the work has enhanced Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service lands.

Additional funding commitments to RMEF have expanded the slate of projects for 2009.

Trust Executive Director Bob Budd said, “Habitat-based groups like the Elk Foundation are highly effective in a variety of ways, from building support for conservation to actually putting the torch to invasive conifers. We really enjoy seeing the passion of sportsmen translate to better habitat on the landscapes of Wyoming. It is an honor for us to work with this great organization.”

RMEF supplements Trust contributions through its own granting program, which is based in banquets and other fundraisers held across Wyoming. Partners like the Wyoming Game and Fish Department are often involved, too.

Jack Blackwell, vice president of lands and conservation for the Elk Foundation, said, “Bob Budd and everyone at the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust are among the most engaged people that we work with. Under board chairman Delaine Roberts’ leadership, they carefully review each project application and at least one board member visits every project to build their understanding of what we’re trying to accomplish. It’s very rewarding when they provide support and enable us to accomplish our mission. As an organization, we can’t thank them enough.”

At an April meeting, Blackwell and RMEF colleagues presented plaques recognizing the successful partnership with Budd and the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.5 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

RMEF Partnership Reaches $1 Million in Conservation for Wyoming