MISSOULA, Mont. — The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation enters the new year having just eclipsed the nine-million-acre mark of conserved or enhanced habitat over its 40-year history, including some memorable and noteworthy 2024 accomplishments.
“Nine million acres equates to almost one square mile of habitat conserved every day by RMEF over our four-decade existence, and all for the benefit of elk, mule deer, moose, other wildlife species, hunting and conservation,” said RMEF President and CEO Kyle Weaver. “That is a remarkable achievement with immense credit going to our members, volunteers, partners and all of our other supporters.”
In 2024 alone, RMEF conserved or enhanced more than 203,000 acres of wildlife habitat, opened or improved public access to nearly 22,000 acres, advocated for mission priorities and supported wildlife management and research, while promoting hunting across the nation.
“Our strategic emphasis as an organization focuses on land conservation and access, habitat stewardship, wildlife management and hunting heritage, and will remain such going forward. We look forward to doing more in 2025,” said RMEF Board of Directors Chair Fred Lekse.
Notable 2024 Accomplishments
California – conserved/opened access to 3,384 acres of tule elk habitat
Pennsylvania – completed two-phase project conserving/opening access to 2,380 acres
Colorado – supplied significant funding and outreach effort to defeat an anti-hunting, anti-wildlife management ballot initiative
Oregon – completed three-phase project conserving/opening access to 16,646 acres
Utah – covered $1.3 million funding gap to conserve/open access to 2,600 acres
Wyoming – conserved/opened access to 6,600 acres
Appalachian Mountains – collaborated with partners to allocate $2.4 million to benefit wildlife in Kentucky, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Tennessee
Western U.S. – allocated funding with partners amounting to $10 million+ from 2021-2024 for wildfire forest rehabilitation work
Celebrated four decades of conservation
About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Now in its fifth decade of conservation accomplishment and fueled by hunters, RMEF has conserved more than 9.1 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.