Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation facts for kids
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) is a group in the United States that works to protect nature and supports hunting. It was started in 1984 by four hunters from Troy, Montana: Bob Munson, Bill Munson, Dan Bull, and Charlie Decker. Their main goal is to make sure that elk, other wild animals, and their homes (habitats) are safe for the future. They also want to protect the tradition of hunting in America.
To achieve their goals, the RMEF focuses on several key areas:
- They work to protect, fix, and improve natural places where animals live.
- They help manage wild elk populations so they can live freely and be enjoyed by people, including hunters.
- They encourage different groups, like government agencies and private citizens, to work together on wildlife and habitat conservation.
- They teach people about protecting habitats, why hunting can be good for wildlife, how to hunt responsibly, and how to manage wildlife.
Since 1984, the RMEF has helped protect over 6.7 million acres (about 26,700 square kilometers) of land for wildlife. They have also helped bring elk back to areas where they had disappeared. Elk herds have been successfully reintroduced in places like Kentucky, North Carolina, Ontario (Canada), Tennessee, Missouri, Virginia, and Wisconsin. The RMEF also speaks up for hunters on issues like access to land, wildlife management, and conservation rules. They believe that hunting helps conservation. They also think that everyone should have the right to hunt and fish. They believe that hunting, when managed by science and state rules, helps protect and manage wildlife.
In September 2020, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and its partners helped protect wildlife in Colorado. They supported projects worth $2.6 million in that state.
Protecting Land for Wildlife
In 2002, a man named Bob Torstenson gave a large ranch to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. This ranch was 93,403 acres (about 378 square kilometers) and was located in west-central New Mexico. It was later named the Torstenson Wildlife Center.
In 2012, the RMEF worked with the Torstenson family to create something called the Torstenson Family Endowment (TFE). This is one of the biggest funds ever created for a wildlife conservation group. The ranch itself is now permanently protected. This means it will always be a safe place for wildlife, thanks to a special agreement managed by the RMEF.
The RMEF uses money from the TFE only for its most important programs. These include permanently protecting land, taking care of animal habitats, bringing elk back to new areas, and supporting the tradition of hunting. The TFE helps the RMEF get more money from other groups and the government. This allows them to act quickly to protect habitats across the United States.
How RMEF Helps with Laws
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has supported laws that are important for hunters and conservation. For example, they supported a bill in 2014 called the Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act of 2014 (S. 2363; 113th Congress). This bill would have stopped lead-based ammunition from being regulated under a law called the Toxic Substances Control Act.
The RMEF asked its members to support this bill. They said it was very important for conservation, wildlife, and for people who enjoy outdoor sports. The foundation supported the bill because it would protect the use of traditional ammunition. It would also allow more money to be used to build and maintain shooting ranges on public lands. Plus, it would make sure people could still access federal lands for hunting, shooting, and other outdoor activities.
RMEF on TV
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation also has its own television show. It's called "RMEF Team Elk" and is hosted by Brandon Bates. The show focuses on elk, the places they live, and elk hunting. It also teaches viewers about how important conservation and hunting traditions are.
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