Mule Deer Foundation News

I recently had the chance to sit down and interview MDF’s India Barker. As I am one of the newer members of the MDF team, I was eager to learn more about conservation, Colorado, and conifers—but what I came away with was something deeper.

The Mule Deer Foundation (MDF) has dedicated thousands of man-hours, funding, and conservation work to black-tailed deer, and today announced significant strides in expanding its conservation work for the subspecies.   

The Mule Deer Foundation (MDF) benefitted 122 deer herds in 18 states through their mission delivery in 2024. Overall MDF’s actions resulted in a $53.1 million investment for mule deer and black-tailed deer for 2024.

The USDA Forest Service manages nearly 200 million acres of public land all over the country. That’s a lot of ground to cover, especially when you consider the agency’s mandate to make decisions on how best to utilize and maintain the land for “the greatest good of the greatest number in the long run.”

These bills, the Making Access to Cleanup Happen (MATCH) Act and the Watershed Protection and Forestry Recovery Act, are vital to preserving the health of our western landscapes and ensuring the resilience of communities that depend on these natural resources. 

For the 2026 fiscal year, MDF is funding one-third of the total $6.6 million allocated for projects, contributing $2,506,833 in total. These efforts aim to enhance wildlife habitats, restore ecosystems, and mitigate wildfire risks through strategic landscape restoration. 

The Fix Our Forest Act focuses on restoring forest health, increasing resiliency to catastrophic wildfires, and protecting communities. 

With just a $35 ticket, participants will become an annual member of MDF and be entered to win a 5-day horseback mule deer hunt in the remote mountains of British Columbia with Kifaru Outfitters. 

For nearly four decades, the Mule Deer Foundation (MDF) has worked in tandem with the USDA Forest Service to develop innovative and partnership-driven approaches to active forest management that enhance wildlife habitat for big game species, such as mule deer and black-tailed deer.

Every dollar raised will directly support on-the-ground recovery projects. These include restoring mule deer and big game habitat, repairing and improving water systems such as springs, ponds, and water diversions, purchasing seed to replant native vegetation, and repairing or installing fencing to protect critical habitat.

I find the flavor of ponzu goes very well with cold red meats, and chose rare goose breast to highlight the flavor. I added some extra aromatics for an even more tasty dipping sauce and to add some textural variance.

We volunteered. We raised our hands. No one tricked us into it. In fact, if you asked most veterans I know, they’d do it all over again—pain, trauma, and all. Because serving wasn’t just a job. It was a calling. A purpose. And for many of us, it still is.