RMEF media Colorado Wildlife Council names RMEF as Conservationist of the Year. The Colorado Wildlife Council (CWC) recently selected RMEF as the recipient of the 2026 Conservationist of the Year Award, recognizing nearly 40 years of dedication to big game conservation in the state. Celebrating excellence in environmental stewardship, the award honors individuals, groups and organizations that make significant, measurable impact on Colorado. Since 1987 RMEF has served as a cornerstone of Colorado conservation, noted the CWC in announcing the award. For nearly four decades, RMEF has worked to protect, restore and enhance the lands that make Colorado a premier destination for wildlife and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Their work ensures that the world's largest elk population and the landscapes they inhabit remain vibrant for all Coloradans to enjoy for generations to come, the CWC continued. "The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation's impact on Colorado is not measured in intentions or ambitions - it is measured in acres protected, corridors secured and a community deeply connected to Colorado's wildlife heritage," said Luke Weidel, an active RMEF volunteer who nominated RMEF for the award. "Their collaborative spirit, bridging the gap between federal agencies, state managers, private landowners and local volunteers, has set a gold standard for what collaborative conservation can achieve." Across 922 projects valued at over $213 million in Colorado, RMEF has conserved or enhanced more than 514,000 acres of critical habitat, an area larger than Rocky Mountain National Park, and opened or improved public access to more than 120,000 acres. By leveraging cutting-edge research, such as GPS migration mapping and virtual fencing technology, RMEF ensures the long-term resilience of Colorado's wildlife herds. Furthermore, RMEF's 30 active local chapters provide the grassroots energy needed to tackle essential, boots-on-the-ground work, such as wildlife-friendly fencing improvements and other habitat stewardship projects. Made up of nine members representing various interests throughout Colorado, the CWC was created and developed by a coalition of hunters, anglers and conservationists working together with livestock and agricultural organizations. The Colorado Parks and Wildlife director appoints council members and holds final approval authority for campaign plans. The program is funded by a $1.50 education surcharge on each hunting and fishing license sold.

An American elk story: THE COMEBACK. Video coming soon! Check back! Dawn breaks on a crisp cool morning. A bugle in the distance harkens a season of opportunity to match wits with one of North America's iconic ungulates, the Rocky Mountain elk. In the not so distant past, this hunt might not have been possible, but today hunters from the Pacific coast to Appalachian country can pursue elk in their native habitats. From historic population lows in the early-20th century to the present day's abundant hunt opportunity, the rebound of Rocky Mountain elk is one of conservation's greatest untold North American success stories. Today's elk abundance is the result of focused reintroductions, careful habitat and herd management. This story is an example of how targeted collaboration benefits not just a single species, but all wildlife and the people that enjoy them. Elk hunting opportunities are more available than ever from the Western to Eastern United States. The forward-thinking work of organizations such as Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) has been critical to growing the robust elk populations the United States boasts today. RMEF's strategic land acquisitions and habitat improvements have contributed and continue to benefit open, working landscapes safeguarding an American legacy of wildlife stewardship and sustainable hunting tradition. Eastmans has partnered with RMEF to celebrate elk and chronicle the story of their success. From the vast landscapes of the West to the northern forests of Michigan and the steamy hills of Kentucky, elk captivate North America's hunters. Rightfully so; there is perhaps no more majestic game animal on its continent. Enjoy the film live at RMEF's Big Game Days July 16-19 in Missoula, Montana or on YouTube, Saturday, July 18, 2026 and Field & Stream TV. Cheers to elk and elk hunting!

RMEF media RMEF conserves 23,000 acres of vital habitat for elk, mule deer in Nevada. More than 23,000 acres of crucial range for elk, as well as a vital migration corridor for the second-largest mule deer herd in Nevada, is now protected under a voluntary conservation agreement (also known as a conservation easement) between the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and a private landowner. A corresponding access easement across the property, managed by the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW), provides new or improved access to 47,000 acres of checkerboard private and public land for hunting and other outdoor recreation. Windermere Hills in Elko County is part of a working ranch named as a conservation priority for Pequop Mountains mule deer, part of the state's Area 7 herd, in NDOW's 2024 Nevada State Action Plan. The plan, issued under Department of the Interior Secretarial Order 3362, outlines projects for improving habitat quality in Western big game winter range and migration corridors. Pequop Mountains mule deer pass through Windermere Hills twice annually during their seasonal migrations. The project contains two heavily used highway wildlife crossings - an overpass and underpass that allow mule deer, elk, pronghorns and other animals to avoid collisions with vehicles - on U.S. 93. The U.S. 93 wildlife crossings provide big game safe passage to additional crossings on Interstate 80 that lead to winter range at the southern end of the Pequop mule deer migration route. Research by the University of Nevada, Reno recorded more than 35,000 incidents of mule deer using U.S. 93 wildlife crossings during four years of monitoring migrations. "The importance of Windermere Hills to both elk and mule deer cannot be overstated," said RMEF President and CEO Kyle Weaver. "Without this habitat, the movement patterns big game animals rely on for survival would be disrupted. Thanks to cooperation from a conservation-minded landowner, NDOW and other partners, we've protected a property to ensure the future of multiple species and at the same time solved a complex public access challenge for hunters." Windermere provides sagebrush steppe, wet meadow and native grassland habitat, along with water sources in the form of numerous springs as well as intermittent and perennial streams. The property, located about 20 miles northeast of Wells, serves as range for not only elk and mule deer, but also pronghorns, greater sage grouse and other wildlife. The agreement protects habitat connectivity across more than 400,000 acres of private and public land in an area where RMEF previously completed numerous habitat stewardship projects. "This project is yet another testament to the strong partnership between the Nevada Department of Wildlife, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and private landowners working in lockstep toward conserving vital wildlife habitat, ensuring sustainable use and protecting open space in perpetuity," said NDOW Deputy Director Caleb McAdoo. "The same open space that is necessary to operate family ranches is also paramount to thriving wildlife populations. Protecting them all together in a sustainable fashion is something we can all get behind." As a testament to the importance of the project, RMEF was awarded an $850,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) through Walmart's Acres for America program in support of conserving Windermere - the largest NFWF grant to RMEF to date. Other funding partners included the State of Nevada, NDOW and Nevada Muleys. RMEF just released a four-part docuseries detailing the Windermere Hills project at YouTube.com/@RMEF. Narrated by RMEF OutdoorClass(TM) subject-matter expert and Nevada native Remi Warren, "A Win for Windermere" explores the special relationship between habitat, wildlife and people that exists on the property, and how RMEF works with landowners and other partners to further big game conservation.