February 25, 2008

Contact: Mule Deer Foundation
Tel.: 888-375-DEER (3337)
E-mail: info@muledeer.org
Photo(s) Available

Mule Deer Foundation Celebrates 20 Years at the Western Hunting and Conservation Expo

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – In conjunction with the second annual Western Hunting and Conservation Expo (WHCE), the Mule Deer Foundation (MDF) held their 20th Anniversary Celebration during early February in Salt Lake City, Utah.

There were over 500 people in attendance at MDF’s 20th Anniversary Dinner and Banquet on Feb. 7, 2008. At the event, MDF unveiled a National Endowment Fund, “Leaving a Lasting Legacy,” which now totals over $300,000. The Endowment Fund provides the vision to ensure that mule deer and black-tailed deer have a secure source of funding into perpetuity.

MDF staff and volunteers signed up 13 new Life Members during the four-day Expo, and there were a number of special events for MDF members. The Volunteer Recognition breakfast showcased many chapters for their outstanding efforts in fundraising and sweat equity hours on projects, and the Lifetime Member Brunch was attended by over 100 life members.

Thursday afternoon, there was a Ladies Luncheon featuring the comedy and magic of Matt Disero. During the four-day Expo, a number of seminars were held ranging from “Hunting the World Over” to “Big Game Cooking.”

The MDF Board of Directors, Regional Directors and staff also attended meetings with the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. This year’s harsh winter conditions were a hot topic, but upcoming projects, winter-range encroachment, funding and herd management strategies were also discussed.

Throughout 2007, the Mule Deer Foundation (MDF), Sportsmen for Habitat (SFH), and the Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) collaborated on logistics for the 2008 WHCE. Major sponsors included Sportsman’s Warehouse, Cabela’s, Toyota, King’s Outdoor World, and Davis Tent & Awning. Over 350* exhibitors also showed up to sell and donate items in support of this conservation event.

The combined WHCE Dinner and Banquet held Saturday Feb. 9, 2008, hosted nearly 2,000 sportsmen, women and children. The Utah Mule Deer Governor’s Tag sold for an all-time record for any mule deer tag ever sold at $187,500 – shattering the old record of $150,000 set two years ago in Reno, Nev. The Utah Henry Mountain Mule Deer Tag also sold for an all-time record of $90,000. The evening ended with a huge bang when WSF auctioned a Kluane Dall Sheep Permit for $315,000! In all, over $1.6 million was raised from the selling of these coveted tags – all of which will go directly on the ground to benefit wildlife. In addition, there was over $10 million raised during the four-day exposition for all wildlife in North America.

Mark your calendars for next year’s third annual Western Hunting and Conservation Expo slated for Feb. 5-8, 2009, in Salt Lake City. It will be bigger and better than ever. There will be more taxidermy displays, more great hunts, and of course, the exhibit hall will be bigger and better than ever!

* This number revised (Feb. 26, 2008) from original Press Release. We apologize for any inconvenience. We originally reported 550 exhibitors; however, there were approximately 377 exhibitors in 550 exhibit spaces.

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About MDF (www.muledeer.org)

The Mule Deer Foundation is a national non-profit 501c3 organization, with over 10,000 members. MDF’s mission is to ensure the conservation of mule deer, black-tailed deer and their habitats. For information about the Mule Deer Foundation please call 1-888-375-DEER (3337).