Mule Deer Foundation Breaking Records
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Message from Miles Moretti MDF President/CEO on WolvesMDF members and others have asked if MDF has a position of wolves. The answer is yes we do and it is posted below. The MDF Board of Directors passed a position on wolves in February of 2009. Recently, the wolf debate has heated up, especially as it has become more evident that wolf numbers far exceed those numbers promised in the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Wolf Recovery Plan. We are now seeing the impacts of the increase number of wolves on mule deer, elk and moose populations in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. MDF is engaged in the battle to keep wolves delisted and managed by the State Wildlife Agencies. This past year both Idaho and Montana proved that hunting wolves has not led to the decimation of the wolf populations in those states. In fact, Montana is recommending that the number of wolf permits be increased substantially to try and slow down the increase in the wolf population. MDF supports Idaho and Montana’s efforts to reduce wolf populations to agreed upon recovery goal numbers. MDF is also joining with other conservation groups, sportsmen, guides and outfitters in calling for the wolf to be delisted in Wyoming and other western states. The dramatic increase in the wolf populations are not only impacting big game herds in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming, but they are impacting the economies of local communities with the loss of hunters and resulting guides and outfitters struggling to stay in business. We here at MDF will continue to focus our efforts on keeping the wolf delisted in Idaho and Montana and supporting the efforts in Wyoming to get the wolf delisted there. We need your help. Please donate to the MDF Wolf Fund to help us continue in this fight! Mule Deer Foundation Position on WolvesAdopted February 4, 2009
It is the position of the MDF that the gray wolf in the northern Rocky Mountains is delisted as soon as possible and their management is transferred to the State Fish and Wildlife agencies. We believe that the current population levels which greatly exceed the original recovery objectives and the widespread distribution of wolves are factors necessitating such an immediate action. Further, we believe that such an action would provide managers with the flexibility necessary for managing wolves. We believe that the states can more effectively balance the management of wolves with the management of other resident wildlife such as mule deer. State wildlife agencies should classify the wolf as a “game species”. States would be able to set season and bag limits on wolves which would be part of an overall strategy of balancing big game populations and wolf populations. MDF supports the current approved Gray Wolf Management Plans in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. We believe that these plans have adequate safeguards to ensure the long term sustainability of the Rocky Mountain Gray Wolf population in balance with the big game populations. We believe that this strategy will also maintain the genetic diversity of the wolf population which has been an issue raised in the delisting process. More ... |
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Upcoming Events
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Upcoming Banquets
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Recent WinnersSanta Fe, N.M. – Rafael Jaramillo of Santa Fe, N.M., is this year's raffle winner for the New Mexico Lt. Governor’s Deer Enhancement License. The drawing took place on June 30, 2010 at 12:00 noon at the New Mexico Game & Fish Office in Santa Fe, N.M. Denver, Colo. – Nelson Wert of Townsend, Mont., was the winner of the Colorado Statewide Deer license raffle held at the Bass Pro Shops in Denver, Colo., on Sun., June 27, 2010, Rifle, Colo. – Greg Glasgow of Meeker, Colo., was the winner of the Colorado Statewide Pronghorn license raffle held on Sat., June 26, 2010, at Sportsman’s Warehouse in Grand Junction. Colorado Springs, Colo. – The Pikes Peak Chapter sold raffle tickets for a firearm to fund the highly successful "Ducks and Bucks" Youth Day held on June 5, 2010. The winner had the choice of a Remington 700 .300 Ultra Mag Rifle, a Benelli Nova Camo 12 Gauge Shotgun, or a Ruger 10-22. The winner was Al Palmer of Colorado Springs who chose the .300 Ultra Mag as his prize. Congratulations, Al! Rapid City, S.D. – MDF's Western Dakota Chapter announced firearm raffle winner on May 22, 2010, at its annual fundraising banquet. The winner of the Weatherby .257 Wthby Mag rifle was Denny Tesch of Rapid City, SD. Way to go! Gillette, Wyo. – Justin Roswadovski of Gillette, Wyo., is the lucky winner of the 2010 Wyoming Governor’s License raffled on April 14, 2010, at the Wyoming Game & Fish office in Casper. Congratulations! |
Raffles and Drawings
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Ensuring the conservation of mule deer, black-tailed deer and their habitats
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