Nevada Elk Country, Hunting Heritage Receive $616,000 in Grants

MISSOULA, Mont.— The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and its partners awarded $616,505 of grant funding in Nevada to benefit elk habitat stewardship work and hunting heritage projects. RMEF directly granted $143,455 and leveraged an additional $473,050 in partner funding.

“One of the biggest negative impacts on elk country in eastern Nevada is the explosion of pinyon and juniper trees that crowd out native, nutritional forage for elk and other wildlife. This grant funding directly addresses that issue,” said Blake Henning, RMEF chief conservation officer. 

Eleven projects benefit more than 5,800 acres of wildlife habitat in Douglas, Esmeralda, Humboldt, Lander, Lincoln, Nye, Pershing and White Pine Counties. There are also two projects of statewide benefit.

Nevada is home to 12 RMEF chapters and nearly 4,200 members.

“We appreciate our volunteers who spend so much time in planning and carrying out banquets and other events to raise funds for our mission,” said Kyle Weaver, RMEF president and CEO. “This funding goes on the ground in Nevada thanks to their efforts.”

Since 1988, RMEF and its partners completed 261 conservation and hunting heritage outreach projects in Nevada with a combined value of more than $19.7 million. These projects protected or enhanced 289,276 acres of habitat and opened or improved public access to 30,625 acres.

Below is a sampling of Nevada’s 2019 projects, listed by county.

White Pine County

  • Remove encroaching pinyon and juniper trees across 1,100 acres of public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in the Ely District to improve wildlife habitat.
  • Cut and pile pinyon and junipers in a 310-acre area on private land protected by an RMEF-held conservation easement. The acreage will be treated for noxious weeds and reseeded (also benefits Lincoln County).

Statewide

  • Provide funding for the Maison T. Ortiz Youth Outdoor Skills Camp hosted by Winnemucca Ranch. Named in honor and memory of a 15-year-old Galena High School student who tragically died in a snowboarding accident, the event immerses youth in shooting sports, archery, Dutch oven cooking, fishing, survival and other outdoor activities.

Go here to view a full list of Nevada’s 2019 projects.

Nevada project partners include the Nevada Department of Wildlife, Bureau of Land Management, private landowners and various conservation, sportsmen and civic organizations.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:

Founded 35 years ago, fueled by hunters and a membership of nearly 235,000 strong, RMEF has conserved more than 7.6 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 rmef.org, elknetwork.com or 800-CALL ELK.