Month: February 2023

RMEF Weighs In on Wisconsin Wolf Plan, Submit Your Public Comment by 2/28

https://www.rmef.org/elk-network/rmef-weighs-in-on-wisconsin-wolf-plan-submit-your-public-comment-by-2-28/

With more than 4,000 wolves in the Great Lakes States, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation contends that the wolf population is fully recovered and should be delisted with management returned to state authority. RMEF submitted specific comments related to Wisconsin’s proposed wolf management plan.

Among other things, RMEF suggested reinstituting numeric population goals once the species is delisted and expressed concern about wolf predation, particularly on the northern elk herd.

The plan proposes several changes to align the DNR’s wolf management strategy with the current state of the wolf population, the available science and the perspectives of a diverse public, such as:

• Moving away from a single numeric population goal and instead using an adaptive management process focused on balancing the three main objectives (above).
• Reducing harvest registration times and issuing zone-specific wolf harvest permits to improve the department’s ability to effectively meet harvest quotas.
• Adding mechanisms to address localized concerns, including wolf harvest concerns near tribal reservation boundaries and focused wolf harvest in areas with a history of wolf-livestock conflict.
• Revising wolf management zone boundaries to better reflect current wolf distribution and habitat.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will accept comments through the Online Comment Tool, email (DNRWildlifeSwitchboard@wisconsin.gov) or through the mail until 11:59 p.m. on February 28, 2023.

(Photo credit: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources)

Below is RMEF’s official comment letter.

Attn: Wolf Management Plan Comments Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

101 S. Webster St.

PO Box 7921 Madison, WI 53707-7921

Submitted via email: DNRWildlifeSwitchboard@wisconsin.gov

Dear Secretary Payne,

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) appreciates the opportunity to comment on the Wisconsin Wolf Management Plan (Plan). RMEF’s mission is to ensure the future of elk, other wildlife, their habitat and our hunting heritage. We represent more than 225,000 members nationwide with 23 chapters in Wisconsin. Since inception in 1984, RMEF has conserved or enhanced more than 8.6 million acres of North America’s most vital habitat for elk and other wildlife, including nearly 10,000 acres in Wisconsin.

RMEF remains a long-time advocate for state management of wolves, which is in line with the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. More than 1,100 wolves occupy Wisconsin, stretching across the northern and central portions of the state. Wolves continuously emigrate and immigrate to/from Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan, resulting in a self-sustaining regional population now numbering more than 4,000 and connected to the larger wolf population in Canada. RMEF agrees that the wolf population is fully recovered and encourages additional advocacy to delist wolves and bring them back under state management authority.

With significant interest in helping maintain healthy elk populations in Wisconsin, RMEF offers the following comments specific to the Plan components:

• RMEF appreciates Wisconsin’s strong research program to ensure sound management that supports a wolf season framework.
• RMEF understands the approach to avoid numeric population goals in the current plan. However, RMEF suggests continued monitoring to help keep tabs on the distribution and population trajectory of wolves. In addition, following delisting of the species, RMEF recommends revisiting this approach to consider population thresholds for management.
• RMEF recommends consideration of the healthy regional population of wolves when setting objectives and in estimating populations; the Wisconsin wolf population is not isolated.
• RMEF expresses concern about the wolf predation pressure experienced by elk, particularly the northern herd. In managing the ecological and social impacts of wolves on prey species, RMEF recommends including information on how elk population demographics and distribution may be altered by wolf behavior.
• RMEF supports inclusion of the post-delisting framework for a future wolf season, in anticipation that hunting will again be available as a management tool.

Thank you for the opportunity to review the draft Wisconsin Wolf Management Plan.

Sincerely,

Karie Decker

Director of Wildlife & Habitat

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Supporting an ‘Historic Opportunity for Kentucky’ Elk and Elk Hunting

https://www.rmef.org/elk-network/supporting-an-historic-opportunity-for-kentucky-elk-and-elk-hunting/

“This is truly an historic opportunity for Kentucky!”

Those words came from Steven Dobey, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation senior conservation program-eastern U.S., during recent testimony (39:40 mark) given before the Kentucky Senate Standing Committee – Natural Resources & Energy.

He was referring to the Cumberland Forest (CF) – Ataya Voluntary Conservation and Access Agreement, an RMEF 2023 priority project in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy and Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources that would not only protect the wildlife values of 54,556 acres of land in Kentucky’s elk zone, but also provide perpetual public access to it.

The project lies within the Cumberland Plateau in Bell, Leslie, and Knox Counties in the Central Appalachians. It supplies important habitat for elk, whitetail deer, black bears, upland birds and scores of other game and nongame species. It also features vital riparian habitat for fish, songbirds and other species since about 140 miles of streams cross the property, including key waterways that feed the Cumberland and Kentucky Rivers.

As of today, there is access to the Ataya landscape because of a public access agreement but that could change if a future landowner insists upon a 30-day out clause.

“This property will be sold in the coming years and without this easement, or an easement like it in place, a future landowner with no interest in public access…it’s going to be lost. That would be devastating in terms of public access. Currently it accounts for nine percent of the public land entirely within the eastern elk zone,” said Dobey. “Under the current strategy with this easement, that scenario would not come to fruition.”

“If we run out of public access –this is a problem throughout the nation- we’re killing our own fish and wildlife agency that is at the forefront of conservation,” said Senator Robin Webb (52:15 mark).

RMEF has a long and rich conservation history in Kentucky. Dating back to 1995, it teamed with its partners to complete 196 conservation and hunting heritage outreach projects across the state with a combined value of more than $9.9 million. These projects conserved and enhanced 7,349 acres of habitat and opened or improved public access to 745 acres. As part of that work, RMEF supplied critical funding that led to the restoration of elk in the Bluegrass State. That initial 1997 release of seven elk, combined with others over the years, grew the population to more than 11,000, the largest elk herd east of the Mississippi.

“Despite all of our financial commitments to date and all of our successes and accomplishments to date, this CF Ataya project is the most impactful eastern project that we’ve been involved with since our organization was founded in 1984,” said Dobey.

In addition to providing public access for hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing and other recreational activities in perpetuity, the agreement limits subdivision and commercial development on the property, while continuing to allow economic revenue streams related to natural resources such as timber harvest, natural gas, and coal.

“I appreciate you and would urge sportsmen and women to support the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation in what they do because we’re getting a return on that investment. Those of us who have and do, are now getting a return on that investment. It is an investment,” said Senator Webb.

Senator Webb since introduced a bill that clarifies the process, hopefully leading to a successful closure and implementation of the project.

(Photo credit: Ben Childers)

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RMEF to Host Visitor Center Grand Reopening Celebration

https://www.rmef.org/elk-network/rmef-to-host-visitor-center-grand-reopening-celebration/

MISSOULA, Mont. — The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is welcoming back guests to its redesigned Elk Country Visitor Center with exclusive one-day specials. The grand reopening celebration on Friday, March 17, 2023, will include unique gear drops, hourly retail deals, giveaways, membership specials, raffles and even live podcasts.

“We are thrilled to be opening our doors and welcoming back the community and supporters of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation,” said Kyle Weaver, RMEF president and CEO. “We invite everyone to join us and see the new look of our educational visitor center combined with our new retail space featuring all the gear needed to enjoy elk country, hunting and to support conservation.”

An official ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. at 5705 Grant Creek Road in Missoula, Montana. Local food trucks will be on hand over the lunch hour and the grand reopening celebration will conclude with a happy hour fundraiser at 4 p.m. A special limited-edition t-shirt will be available to the first 100 people at the happy hour.

The redesigned retail space within the visitor center showcases hunting gear and apparel from five RMEF conservation partners – Browning, Eberlestock, Kenetrek, Leupold and the Montana Knife Company, in addition to RMEF products and apparel. Other RMEF partners participating at the grand reopening include Glock, Kimber, Nosler, onX and the Total Archery Challenge.

Visitors to RMEF will notice a more spacious rotunda and educational opportunities include viewing virtual OutdoorClass hunting modules, short films of RMEF projects, hands-on displays, picturesque backdrops, elk mounts and a diorama. There is also a trail with informational signage that winds its way through the property next to Grant Creek.

COVID-19 restrictions sandwiched by two different broken sprinkler pipes and subsequent flooding episodes, further combined with construction and supply chain delays triggered the visitor center’s closure in the spring of 2020.

The Elk Country Visitor Center is open on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:

Founded more than 38 years ago and fueled by hunters, RMEF maintains more than 225,000 members and has conserved more than 8.6 million acres for elk and other wildlife. RMEF also works to open and improve public access, fund and advocate for science-based resource management, and ensure the future of America’s hunting heritage. Discover why “Hunting Is Conservation” at rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

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RMEF Testifies In Favor of Conservation, Opposes Montana Bill

https://www.rmef.org/elk-network/rmef-testifies-in-favor-of-conservation-opposes-montana-bill/

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined landowners, ranchers, wildlife and forest groups – nearly two dozen total from across Montana – to testify against a bill that limits the lengths of voluntary conservation agreements (conservation easements) using state funds.

“RMEF opposes efforts to ban perpetual easements,” Jennifer Doherty, RMEF director of lands and access, testified before the Montana Senate Fish and Game Committee on February 21. “Conservation and development are both perpetual.”

RMEF holds 41 such agreements that protect thousands of acres of habitat used by elk and other wildlife in Montana.

Voluntary conservation agreements (VCAs) are exactly that – voluntary. Landowners willingly work with RMEF and other groups to protect the wildlife values of their land while keeping it in private ownership. Added benefits include keeping working lands in production and providing access or wildlife habitat benefits to all Montanans.

VCAs also help family ranchers pass land from one generation to the next. Short-term leases are a good tool for some private landowners, however perpetual agreements assure landowners generational exchanges and security.

“In the United States, property owners have the right to make long-term decision about their property and I would ask why we would limit those choices that are available to Montana landowners,” added Doherty.

After lengthy testimony and discussion, the committee did not vote whether to advance the bill but stated it will take executive action at a later date.

(Photo credit: Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation)

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RMEF Offers Comment on Colorado Wolf Management Plan

https://www.rmef.org/elk-network/rmef-offers-comment-on-colorado-wolf-management-plan/

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation strongly encourages the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Commission to follow the proven and sustainable North American Model of Wildlife Management in the management of wolves. A scientifically managed harvest season for wolves has proven sustainable in the Northern Rocky Mountain region, as well as in the Great Lakes States when hunter-harvest was allowed.

“RMEF appreciates the plan’s acknowledgement that elk and other ungulates are socially, ecologically and economically important to Colorado in general and CPW in particular. Maintaining robust ungulate populations to support these existing priorities and the additional predation by wolves will require increased monitoring by CPW,” testified Susanne Roller, RMEF senior conservation program manager.

Among other points, RMEF emphasizes that introducing wolves will likely have an impact on the currently declining elk calf/cow ratios in the southern half of the state. If wolf predation leads to elk and deer populations falling below objective, active wolf management must be a viable response.

RMEF also supports establishing the five breeding pair/50 wolf count for four years and 15 breeding pair/150 wolf count for two years as per federally mandated recovery plans in other states. RMEF also calls on the commission to resist efforts by others to increase these thresholds.

Lastly, lethal removal to address depredation conflict must be a part of the plan as a management possibility.

Go to the 35:10 mark of this link to view the entire recent testimony given by Roller. See RMEF’s official public comment letter below.

The final scheduled public hearing will take place on Wednesday, February 22 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Adams County Fairgrounds (Waymire Dome – 9755 Henderson Road in Brighton, approximately 20 miles northeast of Denver.

Go here to view the agenda. A broadcast is only available once the meeting begins.

The comment period closes on February 22. RMEF urges its members and all other hunters and interested parties to go to its issues and advocacy page to learn more about the issue, submit a public comment and sign on to RMEF’s petition before the deadline that will be submitted with its official public comment. Thus far, hundreds have done so.

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has a long, rich conservation history in Colorado. Dating back to 1987, RMEF and its partners completed 843 conservation and hunting heritage outreach projects in the state with a combined value of more than $201.8 million. These projects conserved and enhanced 501,957 acres of habitat and opened or improved public access to 119,587 acres.

(Photo credit: Colorado Parks and Wildlife)

Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission

6060 Broadway

Denver, CO 80216

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) appreciates the opportunity to comment on the Colorado Wolf Restoration and Management Plan.

The mission of RMEF mission is to ensure the future of elk, other wildlife, their habitat and our hunting heritage. We represent more than 225,000 members nationwide and over 14,500 members in Colorado. Since its inception in 1984, RMEF has permanently conserved or enhanced more than 8.6 million acres of North America’s most vital habitat for elk and other wildlife, including over 500,000 acres in Colorado. As such, RMEF has a vested interest in ensuring the sustained productivity of elk and other wildlife in Colorado.

RMEF, like 49% of Colorado voters, did not support the ballot measure that mandated reintroduction of gray wolves in Colorado. After its adoption in 2020, RMEF and our members have participated in the public stakeholder process to the extent that we were allowed, and the professionalism of the biologists within what has been a largely political process is commendable. The narrow margin by which the measure passed indicates that radical and non-traditional approaches to managing wolves do not have widespread support. RMEF encourages the commission to follow the proven and sustainable North American Model of Wildlife Management in the management of wolves.

It is RMEF’s contention that gray wolves are recovered in the lower 48 and should be fully delisted, but federal courts disagreed in 2022 when they were listed everywhere except in the Northern Rocky Mountains. RMEF submitted extensive comments to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in August of 2022 regarding CPW’s application for the establishment of a nonessential experimental population of gray wolves in the state of Colorado under section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act. If the state can receive federal approval, a 10(j) nonessential designation will provide Colorado the greatest flexibility.

• RMEF appreciates the plan’s acknowledgement that elk and other ungulates are socially, ecologically and economically important to Colorado in general and CPW in particular. Maintaining robust ungulate populations to support these existing priorities and the additional predation by wolves will require increased monitoring by CPW.
• Declining elk calf/cow ratios in the southern half of the state is an existing problem that is likely to be exacerbated by the introduction of wolves.
• Active forest management, particularly in National Forests, is important to improved habitat for ungulates and therefore important to gray wolves.
• If wolf predation leads to deer and elk populations falling below objective, then active wolf population management must remain a viable response, particularly in Phase 3. Reducing big game hunter quotas should not be the only response to declining elk and deer populations.
• RMEF supports the proposed 4-Phase approach for establishing the status of wolf management. The 5 breeding pair/ 50 wolf count for 4 years; 15 breeding pair/150 wolf count for 2 years is consistent with other federally mandated recovery plans. The commission should resist efforts to raise these thresholds.
• Lethal removal to address depredation conflict must be included as a management option.
• RMEF would prefer the plan outline how successfully meeting the phase 3 threshold would result in wolves being reclassified as a game species. A scientifically managed harvest season for wolves has proven sustainable in the Northern Rocky Mountain region, as well as in the Great Lakes States when hunter-harvest was allowed prior to judicially mandated ESA closures. RMEF supports the reference to a phase 4 where game status is a possibility.

RMEF appreciates the opportunity to review and comment on the Colorado Wolf Restoration and Management Plan.

Sincerely,

Blake L. Henning

Chief Conservation Officer

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Gear 101 – Silencer Central Banish Backcountry

https://www.rmef.org/elk-network/gear-101-silencer-central-banish-backcountry/

The two most important factors for picking a suppressor for a backcountry hunt are sound suppression and weight, and the .30 caliber Banish Backcountry suppressor was built with those factors in mind.

The entire Banish lineup prides itself on being quiet and lightweight, but the Backcountry recently reviewed on AllOutdoor.com takes things to a different level. You get the same unmatched sound suppression and durable titanium construction as the flagship Banish 30 suppressor, but in a package that’s shorter and lighter than ever before.

The Backcountry is a fixed-length suppressor that measures 5.5” in length (5.7 with mount) and weighs just 7.8 ounces. That’s a full 1.3” shorter and 2.2 ounces lighter than the Banish 30 in its short configuration. That may not sound like much, but it makes a world of difference for backcountry adventurers who carefully pack their gear with size and weight in mind.

Rated for calibers up to the .300 Remington Ultra Magnum (RUM), the Banish Backcountry utilizes six baffles that drop the decibel level down to 135 dB for .308 Winchester, 137 dB for .300 Win Mag, and 138 dB for .300 RUM at the ear – all of which fall below the hearing-safe threshold.

Utilizing a 1.375×24 Universal Mount, the Banish Backcountry is a direct-thread suppressor designed to eliminate any extra weight associated with a muzzle device method of attachment, but it is also available with an optional muzzle brake attachment.

When size, weight, and sound suppression are of the utmost concern, the Banish Backcountry suppressor allows you to pack in ounces, shoot at hearing-safe levels, and pack out pounds.

All silencers require the purchase of a $200 Federal Tax Stamp.

Learn more at: Silencer Central

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RMEF Programmatic Partners Help Move Mission Forward

https://www.rmef.org/elk-network/rmef-programmatic-partners-help-move-mission-forward/

MISSOULA, Mont. — There are a lot of spokes in the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s ever-advancing wheel of conservation. Among them are RMEF members and volunteers, state wildlife agencies, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, conservation and sportsmen groups, and many outdoor industry partners, including those in RMEF’s Elk Country Legacy and Access Elk Country programs.

“We’re grateful for all of our conservation partners for the leadership they show while collaborating with us,” said Riza Lesser, RMEF managing director of marketing. “Specific to our programmatic outdoor industry partners, they are examples by word and deed thanks to their valued support of our programmatic approach of land conservation and access, habitat stewardship, wildlife management and hunting heritage.”

RMEF’s Elk Country Legacy program reflects all aspects of RMEF’s mission. Its sponsors are Benelli, Browning, Fiocchi, Grand View Outdoors, SCHEELS and Winchester.

RMEF’s Access Elk Country program looks to open or improve public access to elk habitat. Sponsors include ALPS OutdoorZ, Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s, Kimber, Warne Scope Mounts and Yamaha.

Below are a few examples of RMEF’s 2022 conservation successes.

Wyoming – conserved and opened access to 6,659 acres of wildlife habitat

Montana – conserved and opened access to 5,668 acres of habitat

Oregon – continued to raise funds for a two-phase project to conserve and open public access to more than 15,000 acres

Kentucky – helped expand the state’s elk range

Virginia – witnessed the state’s first managed elk hunt and helped raised conservation funding from it

Colorado – conserved 11,752 acres of elk habitat and a key mule deer migration corridor

Nevada – conserved 12,122 acres of habitat

Southern Appalachians – allotted more than $1.45 million to benefit elk and elk habitat in five states

Western States – committed more than $1 million for wildfire restoration

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:

Founded more than 38 years ago and fueled by hunters, RMEF maintains more than 225,000 members and has conserved more than 8.6 million acres for elk and other wildlife. RMEF also works to open and improve public access, fund and advocate for science-based resource management, and ensure the future of America’s hunting heritage. Discover why “Hunting Is Conservation” at rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

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Joel Maxfield New Mexico Archery Elk Hunt

https://www.rmef.org/elk-network/joel-maxfield-new-mexico-archery-elk-hunt/

Joel Maxfield is a lifelong bowhunter and an accomplished one at that, he’s been apart of the Mathews team since its inception.

Joel has helped propel the brand to the industry leader they are today.

Follow along as Joel chases rutting bulls with bow and broadhead in Northern New Mexico.

RMEF Films in total are produced by support from:

Mathews Archery — http://mathewsinc.com/
Browning Firearms — https://www.browning.com/
Bass Pro Shops/Cabelas — https://www.basspro.com/shop/en
Volcon ePowersports — htthttps://www.volcon.com/
Leupold Optics – https://www.leupold.com/
Stihl – https://www.stihlusa.com/
Buck Knives — https://www.buckknives.com/
Danner — https://www.danner.com/
Yeti — https://www.yeti.com/
Eberlestock — https://www.eberlestock.com/
Pendleton Whisky – https://pendletonwhisky.com/
Nosler — https://www.nosler.com/
Silencer Central – https://www.silencercentral.com/
Warn Winches – www.warn.com

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Study Monitors Elk Calf Survival in Tennessee Elk Range

https://www.rmef.org/elk-network/study-monitors-elk-calf-survival-in-tennessee-elk-range/

Aerial crews recently took to the skies of northeast Tennessee to shoot nets on elk out of a helicopter. The goal is to help biologists estimate populations and calf survival to better improve overall elk management.

“We know what our pregnancy rates are but once a calf is born, what’s the likelihood it will survive six months or a year,” said Brad Miller, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency elk program coordinator. “We worked with Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. They provided funding for elk helicopter captures for a crew to come in and capture adult calves. We’re able to put GPS collars on them – special transmitters that will allow us to find the calves when they’re born and then we’ll go out and put radio collars on those calves and be able to track those over time to see what that survival rate would be.”

Crews also tested the animals for disease and parasite testing before releasing them back into the wild.

Once completed, this research combined with a recent three-year University of Tennessee study will shine more of a spotlight on various aspects of the elk population.

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation helped with the successful restoration of elk to their historic Tennessee range in 2000. Since 1990, RMEF and its partners completed 110 conservation and hunting heritage outreach projects in Tennessee with a combined value of more than $4.2 million. These projects conserved and enhanced 79,396 acres of habitat and opened or improved public access to 78,388 acres.

The application period for Tennessee’s 2023 elk hunt closes on February 22.

(Video source: Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

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Weigh In on Colorado Big Game License Distribution

https://www.rmef.org/elk-network/weigh-in-on-colorado-big-game-license-distribution/

Colorado introduced legislation in 2022 to reduce nonresident license allocations. While this bill did not pass, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Commission started a process that may change how licenses are distributed. It is taking public comments until February 20, and will address the proposals in a March commission meeting.

Allocations are currently 65/35 (resident/nonresident) in regular draw units, 80/20 in high demand units (six preference points).

A detailed explanation of the proposed changes can be found here.

The changes being considered include:

• A preference point banking system
• Averaging group applicant preference points
• Updating the high-demand hunt code split from 80% to residents and 20% to nonresidents to 90% for residents and 10% for nonresidents
• An across-the-board license allocation of 75% to residents and 25% to nonresidents

For more information visit the CPW website here.

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation encourages all hunters with an interest in Colorado’s license allocation system to make your voices heard by submitting comments here.

(Photo credit: Colorado Parks and Wildlife)

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