RENO, Nev.–Elk Camp 2010, which concluded March 7 in Reno, Nev., set the tone, direction and fundraising base to position the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation for a big year in habitat conservation, officials say.

On the strength of $1.45 million in auction proceeds and an Elk Camp record for new memberships (preliminary figures show 2,867 members joined or renewed during the event), RMEF wrapped up its 26th Annual Elk Camp & Hunting, Fishing and Outdoor Expo with gross fundraising topping $2.75 million. Those dollars will help support the organization’s initiatives to ensure the future of elk, other wildlife and their habitat.

RMEF recently topped 5.7 million acres conserved or enhanced, but RMEF President and CEO David Allen says the conservation to-do list in elk country is growing longer, not shorter.

Read more…

RENO, Nev.—Elk hunters, listen up: ESPN Outdoors.com will carry live coverage of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation/Leupold World Elk Calling Championships, March 5-6, from Reno. Nev.

Live streaming video will begin with preliminary rounds of competition at 9:00 a.m. (Pacific time) on Friday, March 5. Finals begin at 9:00 a.m. (Pacific time) on Saturday, March 6.

“If you like to hunt, call or listen to elk—and if you can go online—this event will be a real treat,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “These competitors are the best elk callers on the planet and viewers will learn a lot about elk.”

Cash, prizes and world-champion honors will be awarded in six divisions: Pee Wee (age 10 and under), Youth (age 11-17), Natural Voice (no calling devices allowed), Women’s, Men’s and Professional (sponsored competitors).

Judges include naturalists, hunters and former elk calling champions.

The event is being held as part of the annual RMEF Elk Camp & Hunting, Fishing and Outdoor Expo at the Reno/Sparks Convention Center, March 4-7.

To watch the RMEF/Leupold World Elk Calling Championships, and to see daily coverage of the entire event, go to www.espnoutdoors.com.

MISSOULA, Mont.—ESPN Outdoors has confirmed upcoming daily online coverage, features, photo galleries and live streaming video from “Elk Camp,” the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s annual convention and expo, March 4-7, in Reno, Nev.

Coverage will be featured at www.espnoutdoors.com.

Links to the coverage will be provided at the Elk Foundation’s site, www.rmef.org.

Read more…

Searching for breathtaking nature experiences in Idaho’s back country? Looking for a rare opportunity to count white-faced ibis and Franklin gulls or help survey songbirds and raptors? Want to learn more about “behind the scenes” wildlife research?

Or maybe you’ve wanted to assist an Idaho Department of Fish and Game biologist in managing Idaho’s fish, wildlife and habitat? Then make a date to bid on 40 trips during this year’s online auction.

Join the Idaho Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s 20th annual trip auction beginning at 9 a.m. Mountain time, Friday, February 19. The auction ends at 9 p.m. Mountain Time, Sunday, February 28.

You’ll see lots of new trips as well as encore trips offering opportunities to get outside and learn more about Idaho’s fish, birds and wildlife and also experience beautiful parts of Idaho! Full trip descriptions and step-by-step instructions for bidding are available at www.ifwfauction.cmarket.com.

The 2010 trip auction benefits Idaho’s “Watchable Wildlife” programs, designed to promote wildlife viewing, photography, education and to instill a greater appreciation for all wildlife.

The auction, co-sponsored by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, is the foundation’s largest fundraiser, attracting anglers, hunters, hikers and wildlife enthusiasts. The auction’s major sponsor is Active Outdoors, offering integrated technology and marketing solutions for conservation and park agencies.

The Idaho Fish and Wildlife Foundation is a nonprofit organization celebrating twenty years of helping to protect and sustain Idaho’s fishing, hunting and wildlife heritage. Board members represent each region of the state.

All media attending the upcoming Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Elk Camp & Hunting, Fishing and Outdoor Expo in Reno, Nev., March 4-7, are welcome to cover the extensive lineup of Cabela’s-sponsored seminars. Topics include bowhunting and other hunting skills, horse packing, marksmanship, wild game cooking, game calling strategies and much more. See list below. Media pre-registration is encouraged to ensure smooth entry into the seminars, RMEF/Leupold World Elk Calling Championships and expo hall upon arrival at the Reno/Sparks Convention Center.

Media can pre-register by contacting Steve Wagner, Blue Heron Communications, at steve@blueheroncomm.com or 800-654-3766.

Seminars include:

Thursday, March 4
Making the Most of Your Season
Wayne Carlton, CamoWest

Hunting in a Sacred Manner
Ron Dube, Ron Dube’s Wilderness Adventures

Bullet Selection and Handloading for Elk
Richard Mann, reloading editor for LoadData.com

Hunting and Calling Big Bulls Solo
Al Morris, world elk calling champion, Hunter’s Specialties

Three-Step Success to Calling Rutting Bulls
Steve Chappell, Cabela’s pro staff

How to Get an Easy Elk
Jim Zumbo, host, Jim Zumbo Outdoors

Successful Archery Elk Strategies
Rich Birdsell, Northern Rockies Outfitters

Friday, March 5
RMEF/Leupold World Elk Calling Championships
Preliminary Rounds

Horse-Packing Clinic
Blain Jackson, Cottonwood Ranch

Optical Illusions, What Matters in Hunting Optics
Wayne van Zwoll, author, Hunter’s Guide to Long-Range Shooting

Making the Most of Your Season
Wayne Carlton, CamoWest

Carnivore’s Kitchen, Eating Wild
Chef John McGannon, Wildeats

Bullet Selection and Handloading for Elk
Richard Mann, reloading editor for LoadData.com

How to Draw a Trophy Big Game Tag in the West
Garth Carter, founder, The Huntin’ Fool magazine

Gutless Gutting, from Field to Freezer
Ron Dube, Ron Dube’s Wilderness Adventures

Dutch Oven Cooking
Phyllis Speer, host, Arkansas Outdoors

How to Get an Easy Elk
Jim Zumbo, host, Jim Zumbo Outdoors

How to Draw a Trophy Big Game Tag in the West
Garth Carter, founder, The Huntin’ Fool magazine Ralph Ramos, PSE pro staff

All the Right Moves, Modern Elk Calling Techniques and Strategies

Saturday, March 6
RMEF/Leupold World Elk Calling Championships
Championship Rounds

Horse-Packing Clinic
Blain Jackson, Cottonwood Ranch

All the Right Moves, Modern Elk Calling Techniques and Strategies
Ralph Ramos, PSE pro staff

Making the Most of Your Season
Wayne Carlton, CamoWest

Carnivore’s Kitchen, Eating Wild
Chef John McGannon, Wildeats

Tame the Mountain, Successful Backcountry Hunting
Cameron Hanes, Editor Eastman’s Bowhunting Journal

Predator Hunting and Predator Control Tips
Al Morris, world elk calling champion, Hunter’s Specialties

How to Get an Easy Elk
Jim Zumbo, host, Jim Zumbo Outdoors

Successful Archery Elk Strategies
Rich Birdsell, Northern Rockies Outfitters

Optical Illusions, What Matters in Hunting Optics
Wayne van Zwoll, author of Hunter’s Guide to Long-Range Shooting

Bullet Selection and Handloading for Elk
Richard Mann, Reloading Editor for LoadData.com

Wild Game Cuisine
Phyllis Speer, host, Arkansas Outdoors

How to Draw a Trophy Big Game Tag in the West
Garth Carter, founder, The Huntin’ Fool magazine
Sunday, March 7
Three-Step Success to Calling Rutting Bulls
Steve Chappell, Cabela’s pro staff

Successful Archery Elk Strategies
Rich Birdsell, Northern Rockies Outfitters

Bullet Selection and Handloading for Elk
Richard Mann, Reloading Editor for LoadData.com

Gutless Gutting, from Field to Freezer
Ron Dube, Ron Dube’s Wilderness Adventures

Hunting and Calling Big Bulls Solo
Al Morris, world elk calling champion, Hunter’s Specialties

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.7 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Come on out to The Nation’s Outdoor Sportsmen’s Show to support Matt Coughlin and listen how to continue the future of the outdoors!  Also, stop by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foudation (RMEF) booth, ask us why it is important that everyone becomes a member, even if you are not a “hunter”!

We will also have tickets for the RMEF Statewide Raffle, information on becoming volunteer and information on our annual family friendly banquet in May.

I will be at the RMEF booth on Saturday and Sunday morning.

See you there!

UPDATE!!!

The winners of the 2 Gun Raffles that we had at the RMEF booth are as listed:

7MM was Marlin Arrington
.22 was Brian Loch

Congratulations to you both!

Here are few picks from the show:

Entrance to the show on Sunday

SCI National Capital Chapter Booth

RMEF- Bull Run Chapter booth with Jenn

Applications for Kentucky’s 2010 elk hunt lottery went on sale today. Applications cost $10, and give the purchaser a chance to win a bull or cow elk tag. Applications are available online only.

You may apply by logging onto the homepage of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and clicking on the yellow “Buy Licenses Here” box on the right side of the page. If you wish to purchase a chance for someone on your Christmas shopping list, you will need that person’s social security number.

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife issued 750 cow elk tags and 250 bull elk tags for the regular 2009 lottery quota hunts. More than 46,000 people applied for the 2009 hunts.

Youth hunters 15 years old and younger may apply for the 2010 youth-only elk hunt at Paul Van Booven Wildlife Management Area. Youth may apply for the regular quota elk hunts and the youth-only hunt, but each application costs $10.

You can only apply one time (except those youth applying for the youth-only and regular elk quota hunts). The lottery is open to Kentucky residents and non-residents. The deadline to apply is April 30. The drawing will be conducted in May.

Eighty-seven percent of those drawn for the 2009 bull elk hunt successfully harvested a bull elk during the current season.

I’ve made my annual donation, I think it’s my lucky year!

Photo by Tom Roche

The One lucky winner, and a guest, will win a Montana Fly Fishing Adventure on some of Montana’s most renowned blue ribbon trout rivers with Andy Watson, the official action photographer of the Professional Bull Riders (PBR). The trip includes airfare from any major US city, 3 nights lodging in Bozeman, MT, licenses and two days on the water with Andy. Actual trip dates to be determined by winner and Andy.

Enter to win here!

Photo by Todd Radenbaugh

In cooperation with Kulik Lodge and the Sportsman’s Alliance for Alaska, American Angler magazine will send two lucky winners on a seven-day trip of a lifetime to the heart of the world’s most magnificent—and imperiled—trout and salmon fishery. This package includes round-trip air transportation between Anchorage and Kulik, lodging, three guided Sportfishing fly-outs per person, meals, boat and guide service while at Kulik, fishing licenses, rods, waders, and complimentary cocktails.

Superb fishing is available adjacent to the lodge on the Kulik River and on Kulik and Nonvianuk Lakes. The gin-clear water, gravel bottom, and plentiful food supply of the Kulik River provide ideal habitat for the large population of native rainbow trout. In addition to world-class rainbow-trout fishing at the lodge, you’ll be able to fly out to hot spots within a 100-mile radius and fish for a variety of species, including rainbows, arctic char, grayling, lake trout, pike, and all five species of Pacific salmon. The comfortable guest cabins accommodate two people and are equipped with modern facilities. The native spruce lodge boasts a large stone fireplace, dining area, and bar where complimentary cocktails are served each evening. The retail value of this trip is $12,100.

Contest End February 31, 2010

Enter Here!

The Loudoun County Chapter of the Izaak Walton League is holding its 20th Annual Loudoun County Outdoor Ethics Banquet on October 24^th at Hamilton’s Harmony Hall.

Keynote speaker is Bob Duncan, Executive Director Virginia Game and Inland Fisheries.

Outdoor Exhibits and Displays, Auctions, Raffle, Annual Law Enforcement and Citizen Recognition, Meet Local Politicians and Dignitaries

Open to the public and Local Media.

Sponsored by Loudoun County Anti-Poaching Reward Fund and the Loudoun County Chapter – Izaak Walton League of America in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

Contact O.E. Banquet for more information or tickets here!