| The purpose:
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is an international, non-profit
conservation organization dedicated to the promotion of the Elk
resource and the preservation and improvement of Elk habitat in
North America.
The foundation's objectives are to:
1. Perpetuate wild, free-ranging, Elk populations, balanced in
age and sex, which may be hunted and otherwise enjoyed by people.
2. Encourage sound management of Elk and Elk habitat based on
objective, scientifically based data.
3. Foster co-operation amoung federal, state, provincial and private
organizations in managing Elk.
4. Inform sports men and women about general and specific topics
affecting Elk hunting, management and habitat preservation.
The RMEF's primary course of action is to raise funds from private
sources to support on-the-ground projects which benefit Elk and
Elk habitat. Examples include management-related research, Elk
transplants to areas of suitable habitat, habitat acquisitions and
habitat improvement projects.
It is neither the intent nor the purpose of the RMEF to replace,
supplant or divert the efforts of other sports men and women or
conservation organizations.
The mission:
The mission of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is to raise funds
from private sources to support on-the-ground projects which benefit
Elk, other wildlife and their habitat.
General information:
The RMEF was incorporated in Montana in May, 1984 as a fully
tax-deductible charitable organization as approved under IRS Statutes
501(c)(3) and 509(a)(2). Membership is made up of sports men and
women from all 50 states, 9 Canadian provinces and several foreign
countries.
There are chapters in almost all of the major cities (and many smaller
cities and towns) through the western states. There are many chapters
throughout the mid-west and east as well.
Our main fund raising activity is our Big Game Banquet. Each chapter
puts one of these on each year. We have a social hour, a nice dinner
and then a raffle/auction. We raffle and auction many fine items
such as: Guided hunts (Elk, Bear, Antelope, Deer, Mountain Lion,
etc.), guided fishing trips (river floats, mountain lakes via horse
pack, etc.), engraved and standard rifles, pistols, and bows, puppy
dogs, fine prints, water colors, oil paintings, bronzes, camping
gear, fur coats, jewelery, etc,etc,etc.
Once a year we have a national convention which draws a crowd of over
50,000 people. There are all kinds of activities running day and
night for four days. Dinner raffles/auctions, a convention hall
with displays from guides, gun/bow manufactures, artists, etc.,
calling contest, dances, etc. Just alot of fun for the entire family.
The funds that are generated from these activities are matched with
federal matching programs and then turned over to Game and Fish
Departments and Forestry Services for research and project use.
From 1985 to 1988 the RMEF was able to put $976,507.55 into the
ground in North America. We in Arizona are proud of the fact that
we have raised more funds than anyother state or province. We have
raised and put into the ground in Arizona $292,206.53.
In note .2 I will tell you about the Phoenix Chapter's program.
If you have any questions or want to get involved, please let me
know using this note or send me a e-mail message to PNO::HORN.
|
| The Phoenix Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has a little
over 900 members. Arizona has over 2000 members.
We have monthly meetings (weekly when planning our banquet). We
have speakers at our meetings that talk about anything from Elk
and their ways, to their habitat, to research, to cleaning and
caring for your meat and trophy, etc.
We hold our banquet in June. This year we had 302 people attend,
grossed 52+k and had a 21+k net. Along with the many fine hunts,
furs, jewelery, guns, bows, etc. that were raffled and auctioned
off, we had a basket ball signed by the Phoenix Suns and a bronze
medallion and autographed photo's donated by President Bush and
Vice-President Quayle (this was real neat! I wrote a letter to
the President asking for a donation and sure enough I got this call
one day at work from the White House to tell me that a donation was
on the way. The next day I received a package with a letter to me from
Lee Atwater thanking me for our efforts and stating that the President
has donated the enclosed medallion and photographs.)
We also do several projects throughout the year. Together, with
the law enforcement division of the Game and Fish Department, we
put on a unit watch during an Elk hunt. This is like a neighborhood
watch. We set up a base camp and check stations. We are there
to help people pack out their Elk (oh my ach'n back, last year
I helped pack-out 4 Elk in 2 days.), skin their ELk, give first-aid,
help in emergencies, pull your truck out of the mud, etc. We also
ask the hunters in the unit to report violations to our camp. We
then pass this information on to the officers in our camp (we do
not get involved in law enforcement matters). We did one last year
during a cow hunt near Flagstaff. We received alot of good press
and favorable responses. The Game and Fish Department told us that
our efforts significantly reduced violations and that for the first
time officers were able to go home and have a hot meal. Just knowing
that we were there and our asking hunters to be more ethical helped
alot. This year we are planning to do two unit watches. We are
also going to put on a seminar the night before the hunt with topics
such as: the ethics of hunting, laws, cleaning and care of meat
and trophies.
We also have several other projects that we will do this fall, winter
and spring. Such as, re-stringing fences (using a non-barb wire
on top and bottom), building water catches and improving others,
building meadows, etc.
If you would like further information, please ask using this note
or e-mail PNO::HORN.
GOOD HUNTING and support your wildlife.
Scott
|
| I figured I would put this in hear to show what the other side of the
equation can be.
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ELK POACHING SUSPECTS ARRESTED
MEACHAM - State police say they raided the headquarters of a major
commercial elk poaching ring in this small northeastern Oregon mountain
town Friday. Investigators said the operation was killing and selling
as many as 20 elk each week during the winter. Three people were taken
into custory at the Blue Mountain Lodge about 10 a.m. Those arrested
included Carl Gene Lewis, 46, owner of the lodge, a log building that
houses a tavern, grocery store and service station. Also arrested were
Sandra Dee Peterson, 45, and Tom Serdy, 33, both of Meacham.
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This place is where I hunt!!!!! My cabin is about 4 miles from there.
The nearest place, besides Meacham, is Pendleton at about 25 miles. No
wonder the elk herd is down. D*mn that irritates me!!!
Ken
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