Promoting elk, mule deer conservation

Only 41,000 elk remained in North America in 1907, according to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Today, there are more than 1 million elk, the nonprofit group says, thanks to money and hard work invested by hunters to restore and conserve habitat.

In 1937, hunters lobbied for an 11 percent tax on guns, ammo, bows and arrows to help fund conservation. Since then, the tax has raised more than $2 billion for wildlife conservation.

In addition, donations to conservation groups like the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has added $300 million a year to conservation efforts. Since 1984, the foundation has protected or enhanced more than 6 million acres of wildlife habitat. They also help restore elk herds and support hunting heritage programs.

The Flathead Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation will hold its 28th annual banquet in the Expo Building at the Flathead County Fairgrounds in Kalispell on Saturday, Feb. 16, at 5 p.m. For ticket information, visit online at www.rmef.org/Montana/FlatheadValley.

Another group trying to promote big game in Montana is the Mule Deer Foundation, which established a small chapter in the Northwest Montana in 2011. The foundation has 10 chapters across the state, with a new one forming in Hamilton.

The foundation raised more than $225,000 through banquets to support youth hunting and habitat conservation. Regional representatives from the nonprofit group will meet with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials on Feb. 1 to discuss mule deer management plans.

The Northwest Montana chapter held its first fundraising banquet last year at the Hilton Garden Inn in Kalispell and attracted about 140 people. The group wants to recruit six more committee members. For more information, call 406-850-8785 or visit online at www.muledeer.org/state/montana.