MISSOULA, Mont. — The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and its partners contributed $4,661,962 in grant funding for wildlife habitat enhancement, research and other projects to improve public access and promote hunting across Wyoming. RMEF directly granted $220,700 that leveraged an additional $4,41,262 in partner dollars.
“This funding will help rejuvenate ailing aspen stands, remove encroaching conifers that overtake historic forage and help pay for other treatments to improve habitat for elk and other wildlife,” said Blake Henning, RMEF chief conservation officer. “In addition to assisting with research, it also opens more private land for hunters and anglers to use and enjoy.”
Seventeen conservation projects benefit Albany, Big Horn, Campbell, Carbon, Fremont, Johnson, Lincoln, Park, Sheridan, Sweetwater and Teton Counties. There are also four projects of statewide benefit.
There are more than 8,200 members and 22 RMEF chapters in Wyoming.
“We salute our Wyoming volunteers for all the time and energy they put into supporting our mission,” said Kyle Weaver, RMEF president and CEO. “Thanks to their dedication, this funding is available to be put back on the ground to improve elk country.”
Since 1986, RMEF and its partners completed 858 conservation and hunting heritage outreach projects in Wyoming with a combined value of more than $168.8 million. These projects protected or enhanced more than 1.2 million acres of habitat and opened or improved public access to 200,595 acres.
Below is a sampling of the 2021 projects, listed by county.
Carbon County
·Treat upwards of 14,680 acres on the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests to prevent the spread of cheatgrass on important elk and other wildlife summer range. The Mullen Wildfire burned more than 176,000 acres in the Snowy Range west of Laramie, including this acreage identified at risk for cheatgrass invasion (also benefits Albany County).
Fremont County
·Treat 400 acres of conifers encroaching on aspen stands and riparian areas in elk and mule deer winter habitat, year-round and transition range in the Willow Creek drainage in central Wyoming that are in degraded condition.
Teton County
·Provide funding for scientific research to evaluate how wolves and other factors such as changing weather patterns affect elk numbers and winter distribution in the Gros Ventre, crucial winter range for a portion of the iconic Jackson elk herd.
Statewide
·Provide funding to support Wyoming’s Access Yes program, which opens access to private land for hunters and anglers while also serving as a tool to help biologists better manage elk populations.
Go here to see the full list of all 2021 projects.
Project partners include the Bridger-Teton, Medicine Bow-Routt and Shoshone National Forests, Bureau of Land Management, Wyoming Department of Fish and Game, Knobloch Family Foundation, private landowners and various other local, state and national trusts and organizations.
About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Founded more than 37 years ago, fueled by hunters and a membership of more than 231,000 strong, RMEF has conserved more than 8.1 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.
