GW: A good man indeed, Jim Zumbo. The short bio indicates he enjoys wild game cooking. He must, because he totes some of his favorite dishes to our Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA) annual conference, wherever it is held. Last year in Mississippi, he competed in a cooking contest at the event, as well. And, I must say, he knows what he’s doing. The best to you and RMEF in the years to come.
MISSOULA, Mont.-A familiar face known to many as the country”s most prominent big-game hunter is joining the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation board of directors. Jim Zumbo is actually set to begin his third term on the board.
“There is nobody who better understands that Hunting is Conservation than Jim Zumbo,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “Jim’s vast experience in the field around the country and his vision and dedication to spreading our hunting heritage will benefit RMEF for years to come.”
“My reaction to being on the board again is one of pure joy. I’ve watched RMEF grow since its inception, and always have felt like I was a part of the RMEF family,” said Zumbo. “I look forward to being in a position to help make decisions about the direction we go and the everyday issues we must deal with.”
Zumbo has degrees in forestry and wildlife management. He used that knowledge while working 15 years alongside state and federal agencies, including an eight-year stint at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point as forester, biologist and game warden. Zumbo later accepted positions as western editor, editor-at-large and eventually hunting editor at “Outdoor Life” magazine. He left the magazine after almost 30 years to host “Jim Zumbo Outdoors” on Outdoor Channel.
Zumbo hunted extensively in North America and abroad. He chased deer in all 50 states and elk in all major western elk states, and hunted in all but three Canadian provinces. He also took part in at least 35 hunts in Alaska. Zumbo now dedicates most of his time to hosting hunts for injured military members as a form of therapeutic rehabilitation. He is a recipient of RMEF’s Wallace Pate Award, received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Outdoor Channel and is an RMEF life member.
“My vision for RMEF is not just to stay the course, which is outstanding, but to expand it and take it to higher levels never seen before,” added Zumbo. “Part of that expansion is to see a quarter million members in the near future.”
Fittingly, Zumbo lives in Wapiti, Wyo., with his wife, Madonna, and two black Labs. He is a passionate fisherman and enjoys wild game cooking, vegetable gardening and continually amassing a huge pile of firewood.
About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation RMEF is leading a conservation initiative that protected or enhanced habitat on more than 6.2 million acres-an area larger than Yellowstone, Great Smoky Mountains, Grand Canyon, Glacier, Yosemite and Rocky Mountain national parks combined. RMEF also is a strong voice for hunters in access, wildlife management and conservation policy issues. RMEF members, partners and volunteers, working together as Team Elk, are making a difference all across elk country. Join us at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.
