Bob Ziehmer is a nationally respected conservation leader and longtime advocate for hunters and wildlife, currently serving as Chief Operating Officer of the Mule Deer Foundation and its affiliate, the Blacktail Deer Foundation. He joins MDF after serving as Senior Director of Conservation for Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s, where he led outdoor and conservation strategy, directed the Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, and worked closely with founder Johnny Morris to advance habitat, wildlife, and community initiatives across North America. Under his leadership, the Outdoor Fund became one of the most successful outdoor industry conservation programs in the country, supporting projects alongside state and federal agencies, tribes, and leading conservation organizations.
Prior to Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s, Ziehmer spent more than 25 years with the Missouri Department of Conservation, including six and a half years as Director. In that role, he oversaw more than 1,500 staff and guided statewide conservation priorities, leading efforts to restore elk, prairie chickens, pallid sturgeon, and other species while expanding wildlife research, management, and outdoor education programs. As COO, Ziehmer oversees MDF’s day-to-day operations, strategic plan implementation, and coordination across conservation programs and partnerships to advance meaningful outcomes for mule deer and black-tailed deer across the West.
