Report from the Rockies

September/October 2007

Scott Hampel , MDF Regional Director

Variety of Activities Fill Summer Months in the Rocky Mountain Region!

Historically, fundraising banquets and events typically slow down during summer months as MDF members and volunteers become involved with summer activities and vacation time with family. Throughout June and July 2007, this trend remains true in the Rocky Mountain region. However, numerous activities continue to take place. Here’s a brief look at some of those activities.

June 5, 2007 – I found myself traveling to Ogallala, Neb., to meet with Kirk York and discuss the possibility of starting a second chapter in western Nebraska. This has not yet been done but Kirk and I will remain in touch to see if we can get more volunteers involved to form a committee.

June 6, 2007 involved traveling from Ogallala, Neb., to Cambridge, Neb., to attend another committee meeting with the Frenchman Chapter. A second visit to the chapter occurred on July 11, 2007. This new chapter is off to a great start and will be hosting its first event on October 26, 2007 at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds in McCook, Neb. For more information contact Brian Perks at 308-737-1305 brian.perks@ngpc.ne.gov or Chad Taylor at 308-697-4005 chad.taylor@ngpc.ne.gov or Mike Sexton at 308-697-4143 msexton@swnebr.net.

The next week on June 13 and 14, I visited the Bill Crigler and the Santa Fe Trail Chapter in Raton, N.M. Unfortunately, movement of some volunteers in this chapter has resulted in the postponing the 2007 fundraising event. If you are in the Raton, N.M., or northern New Mexico area and would like to help, please contact Scott Hampel at 303-659-2088

On June 15, I met with MDF Mile High Chapter volunteer LeRoy Fuller and Walmart's Kathy Austin at the Thornton, Colo., store. LeRoy and I attended an employee meeting to discuss MDF and received a $500 conservation partnership check from this store to be included in the Colorado Project Fund. Special thanks to Walmart for its continued support and to LeRoy Fuller for meeting with Walmart and receive this funding.

On June 18, I found myself traveling to meet with Ted Archibeque to close the 2007 Buckhorn banquet financials. The Buckhorn Chapter should be proud of its efforts as it reached an all-time high 67.5% banquet efficiency rating.

June 19 was a busy day as I traveled to the Radium State Wildlife Area near Kremmling, Colo., to meet with CDOW field staff including Doug Gillam, Becky Manly, and Lyle Sidener. Our first field trip involved meeting with Mike LeRoux. Mike and his family own the LeRoux Ranch of approximately 1115 acres that is surrounded by the Radium State Wildlife area and national forest. For several years, this piece of land has been under the watchful eye of the Colorado Division of Wildlife to see if a land acquisition or conservation easement could be obtained to permanently protect this area for mule deer and elk. Earlier this year, MDF and RMEF made financial commitments to support a conservation easement.

MDF has agreed to provide $10,000 of funding towards a conservation easement project to permanently protect this parcel which is surrounded by public land. Funding for this project will come from conservation partnerships obtained through MDF Colorado chapters and chapter rewards from Colorado and Missouri Chapters.

Recently, the conservation easement proposal has been preliminarily approved. This is great news as this will protect this land forever from development as it provides excellent mule deer habitat throughout the year.

The second portion of this field trip involved taking me to areas of the wildlife area that had recently received mechanical treatment which shredded and mulched juniper and pinon trees. The goal is to open up specific area to increase forbs, brush, and shrubs. Doug, Becky, and Lyle then took me to an area of BLM property adjacent to the Radium State Wildlife Area to view another area that is being prepared for a scheduled prescribed burn later this fall. In this specific area, pinon and juniper trees were cut with chainsaws and fuel lines built with the debris. The goal is to ignite these fuel lines and burn the entire mountain-side later this year. On July 20-22, MDF volunteers returned to this area to provide additional manpower for cutting trees.

June 20, I traveled to Ruidoso, N.M., to attend the Mule Deer Management Seminar held at the Ruidoso Convention Center. This one-day conference included guest speakers to discuss a several topics including:

• Managing for Trophy Mule Deer on the Jicarilla Apache Reservation by Tom Watts (Wildlife Biologist)
• Mule Deer Dietary Habits and Nutrition – Dr. Larry Varner (Technical Director, Land O’Lakes Purina Feed)
• Mule Deer Ecology, Biology, & Management – Jim Heffelfinger (Regional Game Specialist, AZ Game & Fish Dept.)
• Marketing Your Hunts – Greg Simons (Wildlife Systems, Inc.)
• Private Land Deer Conservation Program – Barry Hale (Deer Program Manager, N.M. Game & Fish Dept.)

June 23 and 24, several MDF volunteers from around Colorado gathered at the Bass Pro Shops in Denver to assist with several activities. Several MDF members, including Stan Grebe, Mike Moline, Greg Glasgow, and Mark Thomson, are official antler scorers for Boone & Crocket or Pope & Young. Bass Pro Promotions manager invited these individuals to assist and help with a "scoring weekend” in which customers could bring their antlers to be officially scored. Ted Archibeque of Eagle, Colo., and Jon Nestor of Silt, Colo., also assisted in this effort. While this activity took place, other MDF members from the Mile High Chapter and Northern Front Range Chapter assisted with other activities. A membership/firearm raffle table was located near the scoring tables. In addition, volunteers worked a “hotdog & bratwurst” stand near the exit of the store where volunteers offered lunch to exiting customers for a cash donation. Thanks to all who helped make this a successful event.

On July 2, Boyd Anders of the Denver Chapter and I traveled to Fort Collins, Colo., to conduct the 2007 Colorado Statewide Deer License Raffle at the Hilton Hotel. This year’s winner is Dennis Pahlisch.

July 7, I traveled to Silt, Colo., to assist the Pass The Buck Chapter conduct the 2007 Colorado Statewide Pronghorn License Raffle. Robert Hellman is this year’s winner of this license.

July 9 and 14, I traveled to Colorado Springs to meet with Matt Friedel from the Pikes Peak Chapter. On July 14, MDF hosted an “outdoor booth” and participated in the 2nd Annual Sportsman’s Warehouse Chili Cook-off. Although the Pikes Peak Chapter did not win the competition, the chapter became winners by being able to meet and recruit Mike Kondus and his family as well as Earl Lasley to the local committee. Earl and Mike are already busy working and preparing for the Pikes Peak banquet to be held on August 24. To join the Pikes Peak Chapter of Colorado Springs, please contact Matt Friedel at 719-439-7745 or Mike Kondus at 719-491-3028.

July 17, I traveled from Denver to the Santa Fe, N.M., to attend the Northern New Mexico chapter meeting. This new MDF chapter is also busy preparing for its first fundraiser to take place on February 23, 2008. If you are in this area and wish to help, please contact Jacob Tolk at 505-615-0770.

On July 18, I found myself in Gallup, N.M., attending the New Mexico State Game Commission meeting to conduct the 2007 New Mexico Lt. Governor’s Deer License Drawing. New Mexico State Game Commission Chairman, Alfredo Montoya, drew the winning ticket. This year’s winner is Don Meier.

On July 20-22, MDF volunteers from the Northern Front Range Chapter of Greeley, Colo. – Mile High Chapter of Denver, Colo. – Pass The Buck Chapter of Rifle, Colo. – High Mountain Chapter of Walden, Colo. – Pikes Peak Chapter of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Midwest Chapter from Wisconsin attended the fifth annual Rocky Mountain Regional Workshop (workday) at the Radium State Wildlife Area near Kremmling, Colo. Stan and Carolyn Lueck also made a guest appearance. In all, 38 MDF members and two CDOW employees participated in this weekend event. MDF provided volunteer manpower (and chainsaws) to cut approximately 50+ acres in preparation of a fall 2007 prescribed burn. Way to go. Thanks to all who participated and helped pull of this successful event!

July 28, members of the Northern Front Range Chapter provided manpower to work at the Cherokee Park State Wildlife Area northwest of Fort Collins, Colo. As a result of this ongoing project, the State Wildlife Area was adopted by the MDF Northern Front Range Chapter with official dedication on July 28, 2007.

As you can see, fundraising efforts have slowed down in the Rocky Mountain region; however, MDF still continues to make a presence. I cannot thank our volunteer members enough for their continued passion and support to help make this organization grow and meet our mission statement. Thank you!