Message from the CEO
July/August 2008
Left to right: Joshua Coursey, Wyoming Governor
Dave Frudenthal, MDF President and CEO Miles
Moretti
and Joey Faigl. Josh and Joey are co-chairs
of the
Rock Springs, Wyo. Muley Fanatic Chapter.
Russ Ford, Technical VP for the Americas,
Shell Oil presenting a $500K check to the Wyoming
Wildlife and Natural Resources Trust for the Healthy
Lands Initiative.
Record-Setting Events!
2008 marks the 20th year that the Mule Deer Foundation has been ensuring the conservation of mule deer, black-tailed deer and their habitat! Being that this issue of MDF marks the halfway point of our 20-year celebration, I am proud to report that we have had many record-setting events already this year.
To begin with, we have set a new record for the dollars raised for wildlife from the sale of state auction or raffle tags. In 2007, we set the bar at $1.5 million dollars being raised in the selling and/or raffling of tags. But now, in 2008, we have sold over $1.6 million dollars in these same tags! That means that in the past two years, MDF has raised over $3 million for wildlife through the auction/raffle tag program––a feat no other wildlife conservation group in the entire country can claim!
In almost all states, over 90% of this money goes for "on-the-ground" projects, and several states require 100% of the money returned. Although MDF has a say on where the dollars are spent, we don’t keep an administrative fee in the latter states, ensuring that our wildlife receives ALL the help they deserve.
As our banquet season winds down, I am proud to announce we have exceeded ALL of our projections in the amount of money raised from each of our chapter fundraising events. This year, our net dollars are up over 30% which will result in a record amount of money going on the ground for mule deer. It is very rewarding to see that even in these tight economic times, sportsmen and women have stepped up to help mule deer. Thank you to all our volunteers for their hard work and dedication. And thank you to all who attended a fundraising event and continue to help MDF fulfill our mission.
In addition to helping on a local level, MDF continues to step up on a national level as well. We are proud to be part of Shell Oil’s Healthy Lands Initiative in southwestern Wyoming. Shell has committed $500,000 to restoring wildlife habitat. The Wyoming Wildlife Trust Fund has committed another matching $500,000 to this effort.
Shell Oil is not required to spend this money as a result of oil and gas development. However, they are stepping up to improve wildlife habitat because it is the right thing to do, and many of their employees hunt, fish and enjoy the outdoors. Our thanks to Shell for their donation.
MDF recently partnered with Pheasants Forever, several non-profit groups and private individuals in purchasing the Moylan (Wolf Creek) Property in Central Montana. This property is adjacent to the Beckman WMA and will open up 1,000 acres of private land to public access. This property also connects several public properties together for a total of 14,743 contiguous acres open to public access and unlimited walk-in hunting. I was able to tour the property in June. What an amazing piece of land that will be available to the public and provide a great place for wildlife. I have said it over and over that we can do more together than we can do individually, and this project proves that once again.
Tracy Watt received an award from the Outdoor Writers Association of
America’s (OWAA’s) Excellence in Craft contest for Magazine, Outdoor
Ethics/Take Pride in America Contest sponsored by Ducks Unlimited.
Pictured L-R:
Ty Stockton, Tracy Watt, Chris Madson, Gene Hester, Mike
Walker, Tony Dolle
(rep from Ducks Unlimited).
The MDF publication has been a great avenue to showcase what it is we do as an organization. I am proud to state we can now say our “award winning” MDF publication is our voice! In June, Tracy Watt received an award from the Outdoor Writers Association of America’s (OWAA’s) Excellence in Craft contest for magazine/outdoor ethics in regards to her article in the July/August 2007 issue on the Beckman WMA in Montana. Congratulations, Tracy!
I want to officially welcome Eric Tycksen to the MDF family. Eric is the Chief Operating Officer for MDF. Eric brings a great business background and a passion for giving back to wildlife. Get to know Eric a little more by reading his inaugural message in the July/August 2008 issue of MDF magazine.
We are extremely proud of what we have accomplished during these past 20 years. The MDF staff, the board of directors, the volunteers, the corporate and private donors, and our many, many partners––we did it together! Although I look forward to the remaining half of our 20-year celebration, I would be lying if I didn’t say I also look forward to catching our breath this fall and taking some time to get out and hunt and fish. I hope you to will take time with your family and friends and make some memories that will last a lifetime.
Miles Moretti