About Our Organization

Found in such wide ranges as the Badlands of the Dakotas to the shores of the Pacific Ocean and the desert Southwest, mule deer symbolize the American West. In most western states, mule deer play a significant role in the states' natural and cultural heritages. Sadly, habitat loss and degradation over the past 40 years have caused mule deer to suffer and their populations are now in severe decline.

Luckily, organizations like the Mule Deer Foundation (MDF) and its corps of volunteers work hard to ensure the conservation of mule deer and black-tailed deer and their habitats. MDF is a non-profit 501(c) 3 wildlife conservation organization headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. Formed in July 1988, MDF now has over 10,000 members and approximately 80 chapters nationwide who support its grassroots efforts. Through chapter fundraising events, MDF volunteers raise thousands of dollars to help fund habitat and conservation projects throughout the West.

For some interesting background information about MDF Founder Emmett Burroughs and the evolution of the Mule Deer Foundation, download and read Rich Fletcher's article "The Mule Deer Foundation" from the 2006 Convention issue of MDF Magazine.

MDF's goals center on restoring, improving and protecting mule deer habitat, which result in self-sustaining, healthy, free-ranging, and huntable mule deer populations. MDF achieves its goals through partnering with state and federal wildlife agencies, conservation groups, businesses and individuals to fund and implement habitat enhancement projects on both public and private lands. MDF projects are reviewed and recommended by state-based Technical Advisory Committees (TAC), which consist of representatives from state and federal natural resource agencies, university wildlife management departments, and the MDF state chair (volunteer position) and regional director.

MDF supports scientific research and is a co-founder of the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Alliance. The Alliance uses public communication and outreach activities to promote better understanding of CWD, and supports strategies that effectively control the disease to minimize its impacts on wild, free-ranging deer and elk populations.

MDF also implements conservation education programs such as our Youth Days in California to educate the public on hunting, wildlife management and overall respect and enjoyment of our natural resources.

Join the Mule Deer Foundation today and help ensure the conservation of mule deer and black-tailed deer and their habitats.

For more information about the Foundation, refer to MDF's Fact Sheet or Historical Timeline.