Most of you probably by now have already heard of the 6-year-old Texas boy, Rivers Hobbs, who was attacked by a mountain lion while walking on a sidewalk between a restaurant and their hotel in Big Bend National Park. It is all very unfortunate and unnecessary.

The news accounts and debates and discussions contain all the same worn out drivel about man’s encroachment on animals, animals being animals, people needing to assume a certain amount of risk, and let’s never forget the famous words that ALWAYS follow such attacks, “it is very unusual for a mountain lion to attack someone”. Park spokesman David Elkowitz who made that statement actually said, “it is very unusual for a mountain lion to attack someone so close to a building”. Does that mean that had they been a few feet further from the buildings such attacks are normal and readily acceptable?

No matter what we as humans do in life, we assume certain risks; some to extremes and others in which we hope all sensible precautions have been taken to limit that risk. The question, of which will never be answered in this case is, were all the sensible precautions taken?

There are the obvious ones as to how much was done, especially knowing that the same day a mountain lion had been chased away from a seeming potential attack on hikers nearby. I will leave that debate up to the usual roster of “he saids and she saids”.

Consider if you will the notion that this mountain lion attacked the kid because it was hungry. The same park spokesman, Mr. Elkowitz, said in the newspaper account, “attacks are most common by older and younger lions, who both struggle to find food”. While this statement standing all alone I suppose contains a certain amount of truth, one has to wonder if there are reasons beyond the scope of most human knowledge that unnecessarily leads predators like this to attack people outside of those “very unusual” times, whatever that exactly means? In short, is there something that could have been done to prevent this from happening?

Let me try to explain. If I am to take off into the forests and fields for perhaps no other reason than to “get away from it all”, obviously I am taking on myriad risks on nearly every plane of danger. In staying in context with this discussion, I am bound to run into an assortment of wild animals, including predators, some of which could become life threatening. In such a case, I should be prepared as best I can, while having knowledge and understanding of the risks.

On the other extreme, if I’m not all that interested in assuming those kinds of risks, I’ll go to the zoo and see animals, where, at least from the zoos I’ve attended, the risks are greater some tourist will pick my pockets than me getting injured by an attacking animal.

And then we have the quasi zoos or the quasi forests and fields, where people can pretend they are in the wild while at the same time getting a transmuted zoo experience. We’ve decided to call them parks. Part of the problem with these parks is that the wildlife is allowed to “naturally regulate”. Combine that with the fact that there is demand from the ticket buyers to see animals and have a “wilderness experience”.

This social demand to “view” wildlife, has now crept into our state and federal wildlife management organizations, not just relegated to parks, and as such, we are protecting too many species, particularly predators, and allowing for too many of them, the results of which we are now just beginning to see. I would challenge anyone to find a time in history in which this country had more wildlife than it does now.

At one time, fish and game departments created plans to manage wildlife based on a successful North American model. This model involved hunting the animals. The development of those plans were based on many things, including the ability of a particular forest to handle a certain capacity of certain species and concerns for public safety for such things as human encounters, including automobile accidents, etc.. Missing from those older management plans was what needed to be done to manage for wildlife viewing by residents and tourists alike.

With such an unscientific, emotion-based, selfish and irrational demand to grow more animals for people to see from their automobiles, we have upped the anti on assumed risk and I contend we fail to recognize or have knowledge of this increase.

I certainly am not trying to convince readers that Rivers Hobbs would not have been attacked by a mountain lion on a sidewalk in a national park if there was hunting of mountain lions allowed in the park,. What I am asking is whether there are simply too many lions in this particular park and are we working so hard to grow wildlife everywhere, for those too lazy to get out of their cars and into the field, that we have unwittingly brought on this kind of danger? And are we ill-prepared to deal with it?

Tom Remington

MISSOULA, Mont. – Jim Zumbo of Cody, Wyo., has received the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation‘s highest honor, the Wallace Fennell Pate Wildlife Conservation Award.

The award honors special contributions of lasting significance for the benefit of elk, other wildlife and their habitat across North America. A bronze sculpture was presented to Zumbo during the 28th annual RMEF convention, which ended Feb. 4 in Las Vegas.

Zumbo is one of America’s best-known outdoor writers and host of his own television show. He joined RMEF in 1985, a year and a day after it was founded. The outfit was still teetering in infancy and Zumbo gave it only a 50/50 chance of lasting out the year. But he felt the spirit of the founding leaders, wrote a $600 check and became one of RMEF’s earliest life members.

In 1986, he volunteered for duty on the organization’s first board of directors. It was the first of two terms that Zumbo has served on the RMEF board.

Zumbo also was among the earliest contributors to “Bugle” magazine. His byline and endorsement helped build RMEF credibility among its most important audience; elk hunters. He continues to plug the organization at sportsmen shows, magazines, books and on television. For 26 years, Zumbo has helped make RMEF what it is today.

“Few people have done more than Jim to communicate the importance of conservation in elk country,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “But his influence also has helped to keep this outfit grounded. RMEF was founded by average elk hunters and they’re still the core of our membership. Jim never lets us forget that.”

Wallace Fennell Pate, RMEF’s first president and chairman of the board, dedicated his time, energy and financial resources for the betterment of wildlife in North America. Pate, now deceased, became a national role model for groups or individuals concerned with natural resources conservation.

Pate’s son, Jack, attended the recent ceremony and spoke about his father’s devotion to RMEF and conservation overall.

MISSOULA, Mont. – The single biggest event, membership rally and conservation showcase of the year for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation wrapped up Feb. 4 in Las Vegas. For thousands of attending members, volunteers and partners, the event was a shot of adrenaline to launch a new year of projects for elk, other wildlife and their habitat.

“We’re off and running,” said RMEF President and CEO David Allen. “Elk Camp always sets the tone for us and this was no exception. With the energy and enthusiasm we saw in Las Vegas, this should be a very good year for our work in elk country.”

Elk Camp highlights included:

· Celebrations of 2011 landmark accomplishments including RMEF passing the 6 million-acre mark in habitat conservation, restoring a wild elk herd in Missouri and securing 10,386 acres for public hunting access in Washington.

· RMEF launched a new campaign to build public appreciation for hunters’ historic leadership for wildlife and habitat: “Hunting is Conservation.”

· Auction highlights included a fully donated New Holland Boomer 30 tractor with loader, a saddle mule and a Labrador retriever puppy. Respectively, they netted $23,500, $20,000 and $8,250 to support the RMEF mission.

· An American flag that flew above a Special Ops headquarters in Afghanistan on the day of Osama bin Laden’s death sold at auction for $14,000.

· Special hunting tags auctioned at Elk Camp include a Hualapai Indian Reservation Elk Hunt, New Mexico Zuni Indian Reservation Elk Hunt, White Mountain Apache Reservation Elk Permit, Arizona Special Elk Permit, Wyoming Governor’s Big Game Tag, Montana Special Shiras Moose and Elk Permits, Iowa Special Whitetail Permits and others. Nearly all proceeds are earmarked for conservation in the respective areas.

· Season-two sneak preview of the TV show “RMEF Team Elk,” recently voted Fan Favorite Best New Series on Outdoor Channel.

· RMEF’s highest honor, the Wallace Fennell Pate Wildlife Conservation Award, was presented to Jim Zumbo of Cody, Wyo. The late Pate’s son, Jack, attended the ceremony and spoke of his father’s devotion to conservation generally and RMEF especially.

· RMEF/Leupold World Elk Calling Championships.

· Numerous awards and recognitions for RMEF chapters, volunteers and partners.

· Entertainment by Craig Morgan, Sawyer Brown and Clint Black.

· About 160 students from two Las Vegas-area schools attended Elk Camp to learn about elk, hunting and conservation as part of the inaugural Youth Wildlife Conservation Experience. Funding was provided by Larry and Brenda Potterfield of MidwayUSA.

MidwayUSA is the presenting sponsor of Elk Camp. Other sponsors include Gerber, Browning, Cabela’s, Davidson’s Gallery of Guns, North American Hunter Magazine, Hunter’s Specialties, Leupold, Budweiser, Bill Barrett Corp., Aflac, Realtree and Danner.

Allen said, “We can’t say thank you enough to MidwayUSA and all of our sponsors, exhibitors and attendees for their continuing support. We went into this as a transitional year, working to establish Elk Camp in Las Vegas. We are very pleased with the many successes of our first time in Vegas and we’re excited about the growth that we’ll see in coming years.”

Next year, RMEF’s annual convention and expo will be Feb. 28-March 3 at the Las Vegas Convention Center and new host hotel, the Mirage.

Without even giving the debate on predator control in Maine a chance take root and accomplish goals, the debate now seems to be shifting toward the moose herd, including winter ticks and the new revelation that Maine has an estimated moose population of 75,000 or more.

Much of the fervor over winter ticks and moose began in early December when Terry Karkos, staff writer for the Sun Journal in Lewiston, Maine, penned an article about two guys who spent time in the woods last spring looking for shed antlers, found a lot of dead moose all covered with winter ticks.

He and a few friends said they found 50 dead moose calves and adult moose this year in the Jackman region while looking for horns and doing some spring fishing…………………

Eighteen people, including Mason, found 142 dead moose across Wildlife Management Districts 2, 4, 7, 8 and 12, which stretch from the Western Foothills to Aroostook County.

Those interviewed for the story attribute the deaths of these moose to winter ticks.

These are definitely not winter kill,” Mason said recently. “Of the typical winter kill animals like moose, it gets sick, it stands in a small area and basically you find 400 moose droppings and a dead moose in the middle of it………………………….

Every single one that I had found and that the other guys had found, the snow was just starting to come off them and they were totally untouched, so it’s obvious it’s not a predator kill,” Hall said. “You could see ticks right on them.

A deer and moose meat processor from Minot told Karkos, “I think we need a winter without any snow and about minus 30 (degrees) for a month and a half, because that’s the only way you’re going to get rid of them.”

That’s sort of the same story that seems to get spread around about winter ticks. There is information available and I think for the most part the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) biologists and others have done a respectable job getting out information about winter ticks.

In a November 6, 2011 Sun Journal article, once again Terry Karkos gets information from some of MDIFW’s biologists about the winter ticks.

Maine wildlife biologist Chuck Hulsey:

Winter ticks are affected by what the previous winter was,” Hulsey said Friday. “If you have a lot of snow and a lot of cold, that’s not good for the ticks. If you have less snow and more warmth, it’s really good for the ticks.

Maine wildlife biologist Lee Kantar:

In October and November, winter tick larvae climb shrubs and grasses, gather in huge clusters and wait to ambush moose as they walk past, Kantar said.

“When the ticks are on that bush and they sense the heat of the moose walking by, they basically grab a hold and the whole cluster of moose tick gets onto the moose,

There seems to be a bit more information about winter ticks that I haven’t found in any Maine publications that deals more in depth with what happens in the fall when the winter tick larvae are gathering on vegetation waiting for a free ride with a host. In addition to that, while these winter ticks effect all wild ungulates, why pick on the moose so much. And, it is said that the winter ticks don’t actually kill the moose, but rarely, are we looking at an honest assessment of all factors that kill a moose weakened by tens of thousands of blood sucking ticks?

Lee Kantar says that the winter tick is a “huge contributor” to the death of some moose, he also points out that, “it’s not the sole cause”. Even on the MDIFW website, information provided about moose states that, “winter tick and lung worm infestations rarely kill moose”.

This information is supported in existing studies about moose and winter ticks. William M. Samuel and Dwight A. Welch, “Winter Ticks on Moose and Other Ungulates: Factors Influencing Their Population Size” states that winter ticks (dermacentor albipictus) being the cause of death isn’t certain because, “unequivocal evidence is lacking”.

I think therefore it might be honest to conclude that the cause of death in the majority of dead moose being found in the Maine woods that are inundated with ticks, was not the tick alone. There had to have been other factors. We’ll address those in a moment.

First I think it important to better understand what takes place in the fall of the year. We have read statements from biologists and outdoor sportsmen that seem to indicate that Maine needs little snow and very cold temperatures to kill off the ticks. While that may be true it’s not the entire story in the life cycle of these ticks.

Samuel and Welch state that for there to be significant die-offs of winter ticks, you need 6 consecutive days in which the temperature does not exceed 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit. This is not the only way to kill the ticks and/or lessen the severity of ticks on moose.

During the fall months, in Maine’s climate around September and October, the winter tick larvae find their way onto vegetation. They clump together on the ends of small branches etc. These larvae can be found on vegetation just above the ground to quite high up in trees. The larvae wait until a passing, warm-bodied host, in this case a moose, passes by and then they attach themselves to the moose and the ride begins. You can read all the splendid details by reading the studies, etc.

It is during this time of year, September/October, that certain weather events can have a significant effect on how severe the tick season will become. Early cold temperatures, especially those below freezing, will greatly reduce the activity of the larvae, i.e. limiting their effectiveness of attaching themselves to the moose or even migrating up the stems of vegetation.

Early snows can bury the larvae and stiff fall winds will blow the larvae off the vegetation scattering it around and to the ground preventing the larvae from being able to find a host. The studies of Samuel and Welch, as well as others, seem to agree that the weather events of the fall have a greater effect on tick production than hoping for enough snow and cold in winter to kill the ticks. Without a host, the larvae die.

There are other interesting things to be discovered about moose and winter ticks. For example, these winter ticks bother all wild ungulates, i.e. deer, moose, elk, etc., but most scientists will agree that it seems to be the moose that is the most effected. It is assumed that it all has to do with timing.

The aggregation of the larvae on vegetation seems to more closely fall in line with the timing of the moose mating season. During this time, moose are most active, covering greater amounts of territory than normal and male moose travel more than the females and thus explains the observation by some that it seems bull moose are more effected by the winter ticks than cows. I believe this conclusion about bull moose vs. cow moose is based on assumptive reasoning than anything concluded through scientific study.

In the Samuel/Welch study, experiments were conducted and it was determined that moose have an aversion to larvae/tick infested food. Imagine if they didn’t. If moose have an ability to smell or sense the larvae on the vegetation and in their food, it might also help to explain the claims of some and what is obvious on the ground that predators and scavengers won’t touch the dead carcass of a tick infested moose.

Studies have shown us that there can exist tens of thousands of ticks on any one moose and that this number of ticks can certainly put the moose into a weakened state. Moose are already in a weakened state just trying to survive the winters. Compound that with 50,000 ticks and the problems snowball. However, as we have learned, the ticks alone rarely kill a moose but certainly contribute to it.

When the blood sucking begins, the moose spends much of it’s time “grooming”. Studies tell us that moose that are troubled by the biting ticks do not bed down as often nor as long as non infected moose. This of course tires the animal even more.

While studies seem to be lacking on exactly what happens to the composition of the moose’s blood while all these ticks are feasting, it is honest to assume that the more female, blood sucking ticks there are on a moose, factoring also the moose’s body mass, the greater a weakened state is realized due to loss of blood.

All of these factors and more, make the moose more vulnerable to all the other elements that contribute to normal winter kill. In other words, it becomes more difficult to get enough nourishment; loss of blood and reduced winter hair makes the moose more susceptible to hypothermia; spending so much time “grooming” expends valuable energy needed for survival and with all these losses a moose certainly could not ward off attacks and harassment by predators.

This is perhaps where I’ll get ambushed but please consider the facts and possibilities. There is no denying that coyotes/wolves will harass and kill moose, deer and elk during their weakened winter states. Even though it is seen and believed to be accurate that predators and even scavengers will not touch a tick-infested moose carcass, at what point does a pack of hungry wolves/coyotes know their target is tick infested.

Some of us have been made aware through written and video accounts of how these predators take down and kill, often eating alive, their prey. We have also seen videos and photographs that document coyotes and wolves chasing down their prey. How long could a moose, weakened by normal winter strains and tick infestation, last in trying to run away from a predator attack? Not long I’m afraid. Would the moose have survived if the predator wasn’t there? There’s no way of knowing the answer to that question.

Which brings us once again back to the same point about predators. It seems that when all things within our forests are going well, little concern is given to predators and the effects they have on our game animals. When things get skewed, those populations of predators loom large over the forests and can raise some serious cane even to a point of prohibiting the rebuilding of a herd of deer or moose, in this case a herd that might be suffering some from these blasted ticks.

So, what do we do about the ticks? What can we do? In one report a gentleman suggested some kind of spraying program to kill the ticks but I’m not sure how feasible that is or if that’s something we want to pour onto our landscapes. We can’t control the weather but we can control the predators. But, is that the answer either to this exact equation?

In George Smith’s blog post yesterday, he explained that one Dr. Anthony who attended a recent information session on Maine’s moose, suggested that instead of trying to limit hunting permits for moose to protect them due to increased mortality from ticks, that killing more of the moose might be the better solution.

I’ll leave you with some questions. Feel free to chime in below in the comments section with some answers.

1. According to George Smith’s blog post I referenced above, in 2007 the estimated moose population of Maine was 45,000. Now Lee Kantar, Maine’s head deer and moose biologist claims there are 75,000 or more. Are there now too many moose in Maine which is exacerbating the tick problem?

2. If so, do we kill more moose during the moose hunt? Or do we protect more moose?

3. George Smith states that the new moose counts are, “more credible than any previous estimates”. He offers no substantive proof of his claim. Do you think the new counts are more “credible” or accurate than previous and why?

Who would have thought 35 years ago Maine would be asking if the state had too many moose?

Tom Remington

MISSOULA, Mont. – About 160 students from two Las Vegas-area schools will learn about elk, hunting and conservation as part of a first-annual educational workshop to be held in conjunction with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation convention and expo.

The inaugural Youth Wildlife Conservation Experience is set for Friday, Feb. 3.

“This event is being organized as a fun field-trip for students from Explore Knowledge Academy and the Innovations International school,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “Students will arrive at the Las Vegas Convention Center at 9:00 a.m. and begin a lesson that’s seldom taught in public schools; how hunters have helped so many species go from vanishing to flourishing.”

Following a short lecture on the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, students will tour the exposition hall, enjoy the booths and attractions and hear from biologists, hunters, outfitters, conservation groups and agencies about sustainable use of wildlife resources.

“We’ll treat the students to lunch and send them back to school, hopefully with a much better understanding of how true conservation works,” said Allen.

There is no cost for the students or schools.

Funding and support for the workshop are being provided through an endowment from Larry and Brenda Potterfield of MidwayUSA.

“We continue to be amazed at the vision, commitment and generosity of the Potterfields and MidwayUSA. We’re very grateful for their partnership,” said Allen.

The RMEF convention and expo, nicknamed “Elk Camp,” is an annual public-welcome conservation fundraiser hosted in part by International Sportsmen’s Expositions. The Feb. 2-4 event includes the expo hall and hundreds of booths, seminars and other attractions, plus the 2012 RMEF/Leupold World Elk Calling Championships, all at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Full convention registrants can also enjoy banquets, auctions, entertainment and other festivities planned for the Riviera Hotel.

For more information, visit www.rmef.org.

MISSOULA, Mont. – Outdoor Channel has announced it will provide daily online coverage of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation annual convention and expo, called Elk Camp, Feb. 2-4, in Las Vegas.

Outdoor Channel, America’s leader in outdoor TV, boasts a huge website audience with 12 million unique visitors and 50 million unique page-views per year.

Elk Camp coverage will include daily news, updates, photo galleries and more.

Coverage will be posted at www.outdoorchannel.com.

RMEF members, elk hunters, conservationists and others unable to attend Elk Camp can also keep up with the event at the RMEF website (www.rmef.org), HuntingLife.com (www.huntinglife.com) and perhaps other sites and forums.

Elk Camp is RMEF’s largest annual member rally and conservation fundraiser. Thousands of elk enthusiasts from around the country will be in Las Vegas for the event.

Set for the Las Vegas Convention Center and Riviera Hotel, Elk Camp features an expo hall co-hosted by International Sportsmen’s Expositions. Attractions include the 2012 RMEF/Leupold World Elk Calling Championships, plus hundreds of exhibits, seminars and game-calling clinics, auctions, raffles and entertainment.

In 2011, RMEF set a new record for membership with 184,135 and passed the 6 million-acre mark for habitat conserved or enhanced for elk and other wildlife.

Dear Friend,

On behalf of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, I am sending you this email today to inform you of an exciting new endeavor the Department has undertaken with the Wildlife Research Foundation.

We urge you to visit the Foundation’s new website by clicking here. A camera has been placed in a bear den in northern Maine, providing 24/7 streaming of one of our radio collared bears, “Lugnut” who birthed two cubs on January 16. This is the first time a live streaming video has been placed in a wild Maine Black Bear den.

The website provides us with an opportunity to share Lugnut’s world and watch her as she raises her cubs. You will also see videos of our bears “Spunky” and “Nell” and as the project develops, we will follow those bears and others.

There are videos that tell the story of the north Maine woods, its habitat, including how the camera was installed in the den. Fascinating stuff.

The video in Lugnut’s den provides not only a unique visual, but audio as well; the two cubs (yet un-named) often squeal and protest quite loudly as they adjust to life in the den.

The Foundation’s mission statement states their goal is to provide funds and support to the scientific community and wildlife managers to enhance wildlife and habitat research and inform and educate the general public concerning the value and necessity of wildlife research.

The bear cam allows us to do that in a fun and exciting way!

The Foundation approached the Department with this unique opportunity and we are pleased to work with them to educate the public on Maine’s Black Bear population and urge donations to the Department’s wildlife research projects. Maine is fortunate to have two of the most well respected bear biologists in the nation, Randy Cross and Jen Vashon, and I know the website will be an effective and exciting tool to educate people around the world about Maine’s Black Bears.

The website has become popular right out of the gate. It has been live for just two weeks, and has had over 15,000 visitors.

We encourage you to share this email and the link to the website with your family, friends and colleagues, urging them to follow the story of Lugnut and her cubs and to also support the work of the Foundation and Maine’s wildlife research projects.

Thank you very much and I hope you will follow Lugnut’s journey as I will on a daily basis!

Sincerely,

Chandler E. Woodcock
Commissioner
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

MISSOULA, Mont.-Record-high membership. Strong fiscal performance. A landmark 6 millionth acre of habitat stewardship and protection. On the momentum of these and other accomplishments in 2011, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is eyeing 2012 with ambitious goals for conserving elk country, improving predator management and control, and building public understanding of hunters’ leadership in conservation.

“Our members and partners were part of something pretty special last year,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO.

Highlights from 2011 include:

* RMEF helped enhance habitat on 111,894 acres, mostly on public lands, for elk and other wildlife. The total exceeded the organization’s annual goal by 11,894 acres.

* Protected 40,952 acres of habitat, exceeding RMEF’s annual goal by 7,952 acres.

* Passed the 6 million-acre lifetime mark for habitat enhanced or protected, finishing 2011 with a combined total of 6,123,622 acres.

* Reached 636,424 acres secured for public access including hunting.

* Restored a wild elk herd in Missouri.

* Fueled elk restoration projects in Virginia and Maryland.

* Continued legal and legislative efforts to manage and control gray wolves.

* Reached more than 700,000 students and others with positive messages on hunting, shooting and conservation.

* Recorded a fourth straight year with a new record for membership, now at 184,135.

* Received the highest rating, 4 Stars, from America”s top charity ratings service.

* Finished the RMEF fiscal year with budget-positive black ink.

Allen said these successes and others have RMEF entering 2012 on a crest of enthusiasm. With the organization”s annual convention and membership rally just around the corner (Feb. 2-5 in Las Vegas), plus hundreds of local RMEF banquets and fundraisers slated for coming months, expectations are building for another memorable year.

Dozens of on-the-ground conservation projects are already in the works. Habitat stewardship and protection efforts are expected to reach milestone figures in several states. Nationally, RMEF could reach the 8,000 mark in total projects completed as it marches toward its 7 millionth acre impacted for elk and other wildlife.

Youth and public education initiatives, all with a hunting heritage slant, will continue to receive funding and volunteer manpower from RMEF in 2012.

RMEF also will power two special campaigns.

The first will focus on the growing need to manage and control predators. Wolf, bear, lion and coyote populations are well above science-based objectives in many areas. In extreme cases, predation and negative effects on game species are causing declines in hunting participation. Lost hunting license sales now are translating to budget cuts for conservation agencies. Balancing predator populations could help.

Second, RMEF is vowing to help Americans better understand how all wildlife, both game and non-game species, depend on hunters. “Hunting Is Conservation” will apply a variety of tactics to communicate an important message, that is, without hunters and the money they provide for today”s habitat, research, management and law enforcement programs, the outdoors overall would surely suffer.

Allen said, “We’re proud of the year we had in 2011, but we can’t afford to celebrate too long, because the causes of conservation are constantly evolving and changing. We can’t wait to respond. We have to get out in front of the issues.”

He added, “If success builds on success, then I believe RMEF is well positioned to help make a meaningful difference again in 2012.”

To join and support RMEF, visit www.rmef.org.

MISSOULA, Mont.–Hunting brings $223 million in economic benefit to the State of Nevada. But you can’t have abundant game species to hunt–as well as other wildlife to watch, photograph or enjoy–without habitat stewardship and conservation. And that’s the inspiration behind Elk Camp, a hunting and conservation rally coming to Las Vegas.

Elk Camp is an annual public-welcome convention, expo and conservation fundraiser hosted by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) and International Sportsmen’s Expositions.

The event is Feb. 2-4, 2012, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Attractions will include the 2012 RMEF/Leupold World Elk Calling Championships, plus 385 exhibiting companies in an expo hall filled with outfitted hunting and fishing opportunities, art, gear, firearms and everything outdoors. Hourly seminars will cover hunting strategies, destinations, gear, survival and fishing. Cabela’s will sponsor game-calling clinics. Organizers also are planning special activities for the whole family.

Elk Camp helps raise awareness and funding for conservation.

In 2011, RMEF passed the 6 million acre-mark in habitat conserved or enhanced for elk and other wildlife nationwide.

In Nevada alone, RMEF has completed 190 conservation projects affecting 275,870 acres. Examples include habitat stewardship projects such as prescribe burning, forest thinning and management, weed control, water improvements and many other projects, mostly on public lands. Also included are RMEF land acquisitions transferred to state or federal management agencies to secure habitat and public access in perpetuity.

It’s a conservation effort in Nevada now valued at more than $15.1 million.

Affected counties have included Clark, Elko, Humboldt, Lincoln, Nye and White Pine.

“Thanks to our volunteers in Nevada–most of whom are avid hunters–RMEF and its partners have protected or enhanced wildlife habitat across an area of Nevada that’s larger than Las Vegas, Henderson, Reno and Sparks combined,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “But there’s a ton of work left to do, and Elk Camp will help us generate the enthusiasm and resources needed to get it done.”

Thousands of RMEF supporters from across the U.S. will be in Vegas for the event.

Public admission to the Elk Camp expo is $12 per person daily, free for youth 15 and under, and free for active military with military ID.

Expo hours: Thurs., Feb. 2, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Fri., Feb. 3, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Sat., Feb. 4, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The most recent federal statistics show Nevada has some 63,000 hunters who together spend over 614,000 days afield each year. In addition to hunting licenses and permits, they purchase fuel, lodging, food, equipment and more. It all adds up to $145 million in retail sales and supports more than 1,850 jobs in Nevada.

MISSOULA, Mont.–”RMEF Team Elk,” the first television program fully owned and produced by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, is being honored as the Fan Favorite
Best New Series on Outdoor Channel.

The show premiered in 2011 and new episodes for season-two will begin in July.

“RMEF Team Elk” co-hosts Brandon Bates and Cameron Hanes accepted the honors from Outdoor Channel during the 12th Annual Golden Moose Awards ceremony held as part of the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show, Jan. 19, 2012, in Las Vegas. More than 2,000 hunting industry leaders, TV personalities and media personnel attended, with a worldwide audience watching the event live online.

“No show affiliated with RMEF has ever been nominated before, but this year we collected four nominations and received an important win as a fan favorite, so this is very special,” said Steve Decker, vice president of marketing for RMEF.

He added, “‘RMEF Team Elk’ is more than just a TV show. It’s part of a conservation movement that’s making a difference for the future of elk and elk hunters. Since every RMEF member is a part of Team Elk, this is important recognition for all of us and the work that we’re doing together across elk country.”

Decker thanked elk hunters everywhere for watching the show and casting their votes.

Presented by MidwayUSA, “RMEF Team Elk” is sponsored by Weaver, Browning, Brunton, Danner, Hunter’s Specialties, Buck Knives, Eberlestock, Cooper Tires, Sitka, Nosler, Montana Decoy, Budweiser, Under Armour, Archer Xtreme and Buckstop Truckware.