Regional Reports
July/August 2008
- Don Brown
Northern California Regional News - Fawna Gregory
Arizona, Eastern California, Nevada and Texas Regional News - Scott Hampel
Report from the Rockies - Ken Hand
Oregon Regional News - Ron Knapp
News from the Northwest - Brian Lake
Southern California Regional News - Mike Laughter
High Desert News - Brandon Mason
Northern Great Plains Region
News from the Field
July/August 2008
By Bob Meulengracht
MDF Mission Being Accomplished
Eagle County, Colo., is renowned as some of the best mule deer hunting in the country and over the years some really outstanding bucks have been harvested in this area. As most people know this winter was one of the toughest on deer and elk in both Colorado and Utah. Earlier this year, because of deep snow and an extended period of cold, the call went out for volunteers as the Colorado Division of Wildlife felt it necessary to institute a feeding program in Eagle County. A passionate group of volunteers from the MDF Buckhorn Chapter stepped forward to assist with this operation. In a little over three months MDF volunteers amassed 1000+ sweat equity hours to help save hundreds of mule deer from starvation. On May 3, at the chapter’s seventh annual banquet and fundraiser, CDOW Area Wildlife Manager Perry Will presented the chapter with plaque and heartfelt thanks in recognition of their efforts. It should also be noted that the banquet netted over $54,000 (a chapter all time high and a record for an MDF fundraiser in Colorado). Thanks to Ted Archibeque (Buckhorn Chapter Chair) and his crew of volunteers for your efforts to save some Eagle County deer!
Projects, Projects
… and more projects. One of the things I often hear is what is being done on the ground for mule deer. In the past issues of MDF magazine we have highlighted some of the major efforts that have been undertaken by the chapters (chapter rewards or sweat equity), state projects and even national projects. But this is only the tip of the iceberg (so to speak)!
In 2007, MDF chapters earned (via the Chapter Rewards Program) $243,721. This is almost $100,000 more then what was earned in 2006. Some chapters earned the minimum of $500 and others earned much, much more (the top being Central Wyoming with over $25,000). To date chapters have allocated almost $175,000 of those rewards. So you may ask: What are the chapters doing with the money?
Answer …
California
The chapters in California decided to put most of their funds into several large scale habitat improvement and research projects. These projects included: Granite Stewardship Project, Hallelujah Junction State Wildlife Area (SWA), Highway 89 Project, Basin Aspen Enhancement, Amadee Mountain Guzzler Replacement, and the Camp Nelson Monitoring Project. In total the California chapters contributed over $24,000 in 2007 chapter rewards towards these projects. I would also note that at this time the Redwood Chapter in Fortuna has a little over $4,000 to allocate and are currently looking for a good blacktail project.
Colorado
With around $20,000 in 2007 chapter rewards to allocate, the Colorado chapters did much the same as the California chapters and decided to combine chapter rewards and get “more bang for the buck.” The chapters combined to provide funding for habitat improvements on the Oak Ridge SWA, Radium SWA, Cherokee SWA, and Turkey Gulch Riparian Habitat Rehabilitation. It should also be noted that two of the chapters sponsored hunter education courses, and one of the chapters helped purchase two chainsaws for use by the Colorado chapters on their annual workday. These chainsaws will again be put to use in July at the second annual Colorado Workday. If you love cutting down trees to improve mule deer habitat, bring a saw and join us at Radium SWA in July. Contact Regional Director Scott Hampel (720-261-6232) for detailed information.
Missouri and Nebraska
Rumor has it that the Osage Beach Chapter (Osage Beach, Mo.) and the McCook Chapter (McCook, Neb.) will be putting their 2007 Chapter Rewards ($1,921 and $1,352, respectively) toward habitat improvement on the Red Willow Wildlife Management Area. It is believed that they will also get some help in the form of 2008 Milwaukee Chapter Rewards.
Idaho
In 2007 the Idaho chapters earned over $10,000 in Chapter Rewards. To date, the St. Anthony chapter has allocated their rewards to assist with the Teton Canyon Mule Deer Research Project ($1,299), and the Twin Falls chapter is again assisting with the High School Bitter Brush Project ($4,166). The Coue d’Alene and Bennett Hills chapters have not allocated their rewards yet in 2008.
Washington
With two chapters meeting the 60% net to achieve the maximum chapter rewards of 30% of the banquet net, the Washington chapters raised almost $25,000 to put toward projects. With Regional Director Ron Knapp and State Chair Mike Jones leading the charge there is a lot going on in Washington. In 2007, these chapters have combined to purchase three deer decoys (two mule deer and one blacktail) to assist with law enforcement. Additionally, funding has been provided to assist with reseeding of burned areas around Wenatchee; dumpsters were provided during hunting season to keep the forests clean around Yakima; camcorders, metal detectors and funding has been donated to Washington Game and Fish to assist with law enforcement; funding was provided to rehabilitate the Mud Lake Access road; and torches and fuel tanks were donated for small scale burns and weed control. Recently, the Mt. Vernon chapter, after many years of trying, was finally able to find and donate over $3,000 to a blacktail enhancement project along the west coast.
Oregon
With a little less than $10,000 in earned chapter rewards, our five Oregon chapters are using it wisely. Klamath Falls and LaPine allocated their funds to two water development projects, the Mazama Well Development and the Paulina Unit Guzzler. Not only did LaPine help fund the guzzler, but they provided volunteer labor to get it installed. The Redmond/Bend chapter assisted the Ontario chapter in helping to fund reseeding of the Juniper Fire area. Redmond/Bend also helped fund the rehabilitation of decoys for use in law enforcement. The Dalles chapter used their reward to assist with the fertilization on the White River SWA.
Nevada
As pointed out in the May/June issue of MDF Magazine, the Nevada chapters agreed to combine funds and do larger scale projects. With over $35,000 in 2007 chapter rewards and over $9,500 in “rollover” from 2006, the chapters were able to spread out the dollars and do some good for mule deer. Projects allocated funding include: Roberts Mountain Wildlife Habitat Enhancement, Shantytown Fire Rehabilitation, Antelope Range Wildlife Water Development, Mile Marker 288 Fire Rehabilitation, Barth Fire Rehabilitation, Hays Range Aspen Restoration and youth wildlife coloring books.
Montana
It seems like they are always battling something in Montana, and this year is no different. Over the last several years the Montana chapters have put a significant amount of their chapter rewards into law enforcement (decoys, patrols, etc.). This year is no different, only the villain has changed. This year’s villain is weeds. The Bozeman chapter put a large amount of funding ($7,743) into aerial application of weed killer on the Lewis and Clark State Park. The Helena chapter assisted Montana Game, Fish and Parks with the purchase of a decoy. The Missoula chapter has strayed from fighting the villains and awarded their rewards to the Blackfoot Challenge project. This is one of the largest land exchange projects in Montana. The Billings chapter still has a few months to allocate their rewards in 2008.
Arizona
The motto in Arizona must be “You Scratch My Back – I’ll Scratch Yours!” In 2007 (and again in 2008) the Navajo Nation awarded a Trophy Antelope license to the MDF chapter in St. Johns. The license was used to promote the banquet and fundraiser. When it came time to expend some of their chapter rewards, the chapter was approached by the Navajo Nation Department of Wildlife as they were in need of a couple of chainsaws to help their crews in clearing out Pinion/Junipers that were encroaching on some mule deer range. The chainsaws were presented to the Nation at the 2008 fundraiser and are probably in the field doing what needs to be done.
North Dakota
Prior to 2007 the only presence MDF had in North Dakota was the Northern Badlands Chapter in Bismarck. In 2007 we added two new chapters, one in Dickinson and one in Fargo. Both of these, along with Minot (2008), could get some pointers in how to spend chapter rewards from the folks in Bismarck. With only $1,982 in earned chapter rewards, the Bismarck chapter has learned how to spread their dollars. In 2007/2008 along with funds generated from the raffle for the North Dakota Statewide Deer license this chapter completed five projects: they assisted SCI with their Sportsmen Against Hunger; they helped the North Dakota Wildlife Federation (NDWF) with their Youth Camp; they provided funding to the North Dakota Game and Fish Private Lands Open to Sportsmen (PLOTS); they supported the National Wild Turkey Federation with a Jake’s Day; and they supported and promoted MDF at the NDWF State Convention. Keep up the great work in the “Dakota Territories.”
Utah
In 2007, Utah gets the prize for having the most banquet and fundraisers that netted over 60%. This translates into having the state with the most chapter rewards (over $45,000). But with almost $1 million generated from the sale of Utah tags, the chapters don’t need to spend a lot of money. That being said, chapters in Utah are getting things done via their chapter rewards. In the Cache Valley and in Rich County the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) is trying to get the mule deer herd “jump started” by implementing a predator management/control program. The local MDF chapters have contributed $4,000 and $2,500 respectively to these efforts. The Davis County chapter has adopted the Echo-Henefer Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and in doing so contributed all ($5,729) of their 2007 chapter rewards to bitterbrush planting on this WMA.
Wyoming
I think I saved the best for last. Not only do they raise a lot of money for MDF in Wyoming, but they know how to spend it to benefit their deer herds. In 2007 the Lander, Rock Springs, Casper and Laramie chapters earned $40,753 in chapter rewards. With that they were able to assist in the funding of 12 projects. Those projects included: Lander Front; Natrona County Predator Management; North Laramie Range Habitat Restoration; Thunder Basin Big Sagebrush Restoration; Access Yes Program; FNAWS Predator Management; Natrona County Guzzlers; Project Signage; Central Wyoming Project Signs; Stop Poaching Signs; Bates Big Hole Sagebrush Restoration; and Bates Creek Watershed. With the additions of Sheridan and Kemmerer, Gillette, Torington and the growth of Rock Springs in 2008, it won’t be long until Wyoming chapters generate over $100,000 in earned chapter rewards. I believe this could happen in either 2008 or 2009!
It should be noted that not all of the chapters have allocated all of their 2007 chapter rewards as they have one year from the date of the banquet to allocate them. Additionally, many of the projects listed have received additional funding via Conservation Partnerships, special license/tag funds, rollover of 2006 unallocated chapter rewards, etc. For a complete list of projects and the amount allocated to them please contact the MDF Regional Director in your area.
Special Acknowledgements
I would like to take just a moment and acknowledge Montana State Chair Dan Dillinger. Dan took over for Ray Rugg as the State Chair when Ray was elected to the MDF Board of Directors, and in doing so took the lead on a project Ray had been working on. That project was to get a MDF vehicle license plate in Montana. As of May, this project was completed and MDF license plates are available to the public in Montana. MDF receives the proceeds from an additional donation ($20) attached to the renewal of the plate. You can contact Dan at 406-266-4524 for more information on the plate and how to obtain one. Dan – I hope you got MDF 001!
The Bristlecone Chapter located in Ely had a great turn out this year with about 280 people in attendance. The auctioneer, Denny Manzoni, decided to take the money he would have been paid for doing the auction and put it towards a scholarship. The committee auctioned off a Western Authentic .45 Colt pistol in a leather holster to help raise more money to be put towards the scholarship. The pistol was auctioned off three times and a total of $4,725 was raised for the scholarship. The recipient was Nicholle Sawyer, and the money will be used to help her pay for tuition and other necessary school expenses for college. Nicholle was chosen because of the essay she wrote and her involvement in the community. Congratulations Nicholle.
Regional Director Mike Laughter would like to recognize a group of volunteers he affectionately refers to as the “posse” or “banquet junkies.” Sometimes when Mike starts a new event, a large, well organized committee is not always an option. Generally it starts out as one guy that really cares about mule deer. This is Mike’s only criteria for starting a new chapter. Because of this, he frequently finds himself short handed the day of the banquet. This is when the “posse” arrives and on numerous occasions these dedicated volunteers have dropped everything to come to Mike’s aid. They are what makes being part of this organization so special. These are guys who will drive hundreds of miles at a moment’s notice to support the organization in its efforts to raise money for mule deer, a species that they care so deeply about. Mike would like you to know who they are: from the Davis County chapter Gary Dobyns and Jeremy Zumwald; from the Box Elder chapter John Hurley and Skyler Brown (who at the ripe old age of fifteen is wise beyond his years); from the Salt Lake Valley chapter Ed Farr; from the Tooele chapter Cindy Mosteller; from the MDF office Vice President of Marketing Ray Crow; and last but certainly not least his right hand man and Utah State Chair Wayne Winsor. Thank You!
Something New
Need an excuse to take a day off from work and do something great for mule deer? Don’t forget to mark July 14, 2008, on your calendar and join us for the first Mule Deer Foundation Golf Open at Crow Canyon Country Club in Danville, Calif. Join us for a fun-filled day and evening. Registration and open driving range start at 10:30 a.m. The BBQ starts at 11:30 a.m. with a Scramble Start for the golf tournament at 12:30 p.m. The day will end with a Reception and Dinner Banquet at this beautiful golf and country club. Golf will be limited to the first 144 golfers with seating for 250 at the banquet and auction.
Raffle Tickets Anyone?
As if we need to give you an excuse to buy raffle tickets and attend a banquet! The Northern Nevada Chapter in Reno did a local gun raffle selling tickets for a Ruger .243, and the drawing was held at the Reno banquet on May 16. This raffle had an added bonus to it. If you were present at the banquet for the drawing and won, then you also received a Mossberg over/under shotgun in addition to the Ruger.
The winner of the drawing was in the audience and was very surprised when he won not one but two guns. Brian Jensen, who is a great supporter of MDF, was the lucky winner. Congratulations Brian.
Representing MDF
In April, Regional Directors Brandon Mason and Scott Hampel were fortunate to be able to attend the Wyoming Governor’s Big Game License Coalition (WGBGLC) meeting in Casper, Wyo. At this meeting, wildlife professionals from several entities, including the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Mule Deer Foundation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Wild Sheep Foundation, North American Moose Foundation, Wildlife Heritage Foundation of Wyoming, private landowners, and others, gathered to allocate the funds that have been raised from the sale of several Wyoming big game licenses. These licenses are purely for fundraising to put more money on the ground for wildlife. In one afternoon, after weeks of reviewing project proposals that are submitted for these funds, the WGBGLC allocated over $430,000 for wildlife projects in the state of Wyoming!!!
In late May, Regional Director Scott Hampel and Director of Field Operations Bob Meulengracht attended a meeting with Colorado Division of Wildlife, and much like the Wyoming meeting, allocated over $400,000 to big game (mule deer, elk, bighorn sheep, moose) projects in Colorado. These funds were raised from the auction and raffle of special statewide big game licenses. Thanks to all of those who bid on these licenses or purchased a raffle ticket.
The end of May brought representatives from MDF (President/CEO Miles Moretti and Regional Director/Government Liaison Brandon Mason) to Jackson, Wyo., for the first Responsible Energy Development Symposium. This symposium was held to discuss the matter of energy development in this country and how wildlife professionals, private landowners and energy companies can work together to conserve our wildlife and public lands. There were many excellent speakers, including Bill Geer with the Teddy Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Steve Williams with the Wildlife Management Institute and Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal. It is no secret our country is in an energy crisis. It is our hope we can find a balance between our ability to extract fossil fuels and our ability to manage public lands for wildlife hunting and viewing opportunities. There are many industry companies that are taking proactive measures to limit the effect they are having on our wildlife populations. The future holds many possibilities for our country, including the health of our wildlife populations and the health of our nation’s economy. It is absolutely key to this future health that everyone puts their heads together and come up with sound solutions to this topic.
New State Chair in Idaho
We would like to welcome Dave Peterson, former Chapter Chair of the Henry’s Fork chapter, as the new Idaho State Chair. Dave will serve in that capacity until December of 2009. You can reach Dave at 208-709-4870.
Special Auction Items or Raffles at Banquets
Denver, Colo. – The Mile High Chapter is raffling a 2008 Colorado Statewide deer license. For information on obtaining tickets contact Boyd Anders at 303-841-7799. You can also download a ticket order form from our Web site. Sorry no credit cards can be used to purchase tickets for this raffle.
Rifle, Colo. - The Pass the Buck Chapter is again raffling the Colorado Statewide pronghorn license. For information on how to get tickets call Regional Director Scott Hampel at 303-659-2088 or 720-261-6232. Again the ticket order form can be downloaded from the Web site. Sorry no credit cards can be used to purchase tickets for this raffle.
New Mexico – MDF in 2008 will again be holding a raffle for the New Mexico Lt. Governor’s Mule Deer Lottery license. For information or to obtain tickets contact Bob Meulengracht at 303-907-8702.
Elko, Nev. - The Great Basin Chapter in Elko is selling raffle tickets for a Jumping Jack trailer. Tickets are $100 each and only 100 tickets will be sold. All of the proceeds will go to the MDF Endowment Fund. Drawing date is still to be determined. For tickets contact Farley Hicks at 775-934-3917.