Wyoming wildlife just got a major boost from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF). RMEF and its partners are providing a whopping $10,764,859 in grant funding to go toward 33 projects across the state to support elk, mule deer, antelope and other wildlife, according to a news release.
“There continues to be a great need to restore aspen, fight noxious weeds, establish wildlife-friendly fencing and create public access for hunting and other recreational activities,” said Blake Henning, RMEF chief conservation officer. “This funding will help all those efforts while also bolstering scientific research and advancing Wyoming’s traditional hunting lifestyle.”
Specifically, 23 conservation projects will provide land protection and public access to 17,643 acres of habitat and 10 other projects will focus on outdoor and hunting heritage efforts. Funding will also go towards two Wyoming wildfire restoration projects.
“Despite living in the state with the smallest population in America, our volunteers in Wyoming continue to do big things,” said Kyle Weaver, RMEF president and CEO. “It is because of their passion and fundraising efforts that these dollars go on the ground to help elk and many other wildlife species.”
Projects will be completed across 15 counties. Funding will also be used to support statewide wildlife projects like the Wyoming Migration Initiative, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s Access Yes program, the First Hunt Foundation and Wyoming Disabled Hunters.
For a complete list of projects, click here.
4 Comments
Gary H
8/9/2023, 12:36:40 PM
I wonder how much of that money was raised in Wyoming. And this is why I don't donate to RMEF. Wyoming has done everything but put the 100% screws to NRs over the years, but they are more than willing to hold their hand out and accept money from every NR who donates to RMEF. You know, the same NR's who they prohibit from hunting their wilderness areas and the same NR's that they put the screws to for the big 5. Ya....some of us haven't forgotten about that yet.
Gary H
8/10/2023, 4:09:52 PM
What I am getting at is that RMEF should be pushing for fair treatment of NR hunters just as much as they should be pushing for habitat restoration. BECAUSE the money that is donated for these projects MOSTLY comes from NR's. Why would NR hunters want to keep donating to the RMEF if NR hunters arnt even getting a fair shake of the tags in the states where the RMEF is spending their money? And it's getting worse year by year. It's time for the RESIENTS of the western states to start putting up more funding for these projects. Currently the only thing I see happening is them accepting money from the generous RMEF while slamming doors in the faces of NR's who are paying the bills. Pretty standard practice across the west from what I can tell. Serious question. How long will NR hunters continue to donate to these organizations while sitting on the sidelines waiting for tags and watching NR tag cuts happen across the west while residents are the ones reaping the rewards? lol
Matthew Ellis
8/11/2023, 1:43:49 PM
Your issues are with Wyoming, not RMEF. If there are more elk for everyone, there would be more tags. RMEF's mission is not to ensure more NR tags in any given state. Straight from their website: "The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Inc. (RMEF) is a national nonprofit, wildlife conservation organization. RMEF's mission is to ensure the future of elk, other wildlife, their habitat and our hunting heritage by protecting, conserving, restoring, and enhancing natural habitat." There is no organization on the planet that has done more to ensure that we have a sustainable, and growing, elk population in this country. Do you begrudge the money they send to Missouri with their 5 total elk tags to residents only? What about Kentucky? Virginia? The ONLY reason those states have elk is because of RMEF, and they did it without your contributions. The point is, you getting a tag in Wyoming is not on RMEF's radar screen. Ensuring the future of elk populations and habitat is. Wyoming is home to a large percentage of the nation's elk, so it stands to reason that RMEF is going to spend some money there. Wyoming is also the least populous state, so the funding generated in the state would naturally be less than elsewhere. I would be willing to bet, however, that the per capita contribution to RMEF is much higher from Wyoming residents than it is from those in your home state.