Apache County—Provide drinker trough extensions to improve accessibility for wildlife (especially antlered bulls and bucks) on six water tanks situated on 3,840 acres of Arizona State Trust Lands; carry out prescribed burning on 1,321 acres northwest of the Greens Peak area within the Springerville Ranger District on the Apache National Forest to improve wildlife habitat and restore meadow conditions on summer range and transition areas; and provide funding to replace a fence and stabilize the headcut of a spring on the Apache National Forest that serves as a wildlife water source in an area affected by the San Juan Wildfire of 2014.

 

Coconino County—Thin pinyon and juniper from 800 to 1000 acres where they are encroaching into former grasslands and savannahs in the White Hill area of the Williams Ranger District and Watts area of the Tusayan Ranger District on the Kaibab National Forest; thin 200 acres of woodlands on the Williams Ranger District to improve wildlife habitat and reduce the risk of severe wildfire in an area that serves as an important wildlife travel corridor in the Upper Verde River Watershed 10 miles south of Williams on the Kaibab National Forest; remove encroaching pinyon and juniper from 1,600 acres of historic grasslands on private land to increase the production of grasses, forbs and browse species on yearlong habitat where wintering elk numbers can double or triple from the non-winter population; and provide funding and volunteer support for an annual Adopt-a-Ranch work project to repair damaged fence and install elk jumps.

 

Greenlee County—Provide funding to clean out and rehabilitate eight dirt wildlife water tanks adversely affected by the 2011 Wallow Wildfire that will positively benefit elk and other wildlife on 5,120 acres within the Alpine Ranger District on the Apache National Forest (also benefits Apache County).

 

Maricopa County—Provide financial and volunteer support for an effort to remove more than 10 tons of trash from the popular Table Mesa Recreation Area north of Phoenix; and provide funding to help students and coaches from the Wickenburg Christian Academy Archery Club travel to Kentucky for the National Archery in the Schools Program national tournament.

 

Navajo County—Remove silt as a result of the 2002 Rodeo-Chediski Wildfire from 18 dirt tanks in Game Management Units 3C and 4B within the Black Mesa Ranger District on the Sitgreaves National Forest; and provide funding to assist members of the White Mountain Trap and Skeet Club Clay Busters within the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) with entry fees, shells and other expenses related to various shooting competitions. 

 

Pima County—Provide funding to boost a new archery program to benefit the Boy Scout community in Tucson that would assist scouts with merit badges, summer camps and archery competitions.

 

Santa Cruz County—Provide funding to help Santa Cruz County 4-H Shooting Sports purchase new equipment to upgrade its program which strives to teach safe and responsible use of firearms and encourage personal growth of its members.

 

Yuma County—Provide funding for the Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club 2015 Youth Small Game Camp which lays down the fundamentals of ethical hunting, wildlife identification, good sportsmanship, hunter safety and conservation; and provide funding for Yuma Young Guns SCTP members as they learn about skeet shooting, gun safety, teamwork and sportsmanship.

 

Statewide—Provide funding for a joint effort to host youth camps in 2015 and 2016 to teach youth, novice hunters, and others about skinning, archery shooting, predator calling, turkey calling demonstrations, hunter mentorship, tracking and big game field dressing and handling as well as other skills.

 

Partners for the Arizona projects include the Apache-Sitgreaves and Kaibab National Forests, Arizona Game and Fish Department, Bureau of Land Management, private landowners, and various sportsmen, civic and other organizations. 

 

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:

Founded over 30 years ago, fueled by hunters and a membership of more than 205,000 strong, RMEF has conserved more than 6.6 million acres for elk and other wildlife. RMEF also works to open and improve public access, fund and advocate for science-based resource management, and ensure the future of America’s hunting heritage. Discover why “Hunting Is Conservation™” at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.