Conservation spotlight
Arizona Elk Society
By John Koleszar, vice president

How did your group get started? We wanted to create an opportunity for money raised in Arizona to stay in Arizona. Since we began almost five years ago, we’ve raised over $1.2 million for Arizona wildlife and habitat. We also wanted to create a group that could work quickly to get things done, and we have. For example, we were able to see the 26,000-acre Burro Creek Allotment conserved for wildlife use in just six months.

What is AES’s purpose? The mission of the Arizona Elk Society is to raise funds to benefit elk and other wildlife through habitat conservation and restoration and to preserve our hunting heritage for present and future generations.

How many members do you have? 1,000+

What does AES do? We raise money and do projects that benefit people and wildlife. For youth, each year in June we hold our Wapiti Weekend, taking more than 100 kids and training them in hunting skills. It’s a blast for the kids. We also work with the Arizona Deer Association on a unit watch for the junior elk hunts. Each year we also host a banquet that raises money for wildlife. And our member volunteers spend a lot of time making sure that money gets spent wisely.

While the conservation spotlight is shining on AES, what would you like to say? One reason to get involved in one of the many conservation organizations out there is to give back. Rather than just taking hunting opportunities, we wish more hunters would give their time and resources back to wildlife and habitat.

How can people reach you? Visit www.arizonaelksociety.org.

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation in Arizona
By Lyle Button, RMEF Arizona state regional director

How did your group get started? Founded in 1984, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) has evolved into an international conservation leader powered by 138,000 members.

Arizona’s first RMEF chapter formed in Flagstaff 20 years ago. Arizona now has 4,200 members and volunteers in 12 chapters. The total value of RMEF efforts in Arizona through 2004 is in excess of $14 million.

What is RMEF’s purpose? RMEF is an international non-profit wildlife conservation organization dedicated to ensuring the future for elk, other wildlife and their habitat.

What do the Arizona chapters of RMEF do? In Arizona we have completed 311 projects focused on conservation education, habitat enhancement, hunting heritage, wildlife management, research and land conservation. We are particularly proud to have assisted the Arizona Game and Fish Department with its purchase of the White Mountain and Cross L ranches near Springerville. These areas provide critical winter range for elk.

While the conservation spotlight is shining on the Arizona chapters of RMEF, what would you like to say? This is a critical time for elk country in Arizona. Our natural resource base is under increasing pressure from recreation and private land development. These pressures must be mitigated in order to promote multiple use, manage game responsibly and support rural lifestyles. Millions of acres of federal, state and private lands will be impacted over the next decade.

Leaving a legacy in elk country: what could be more intriguing, rewarding and challenging? We are pleased to announce the establishment of the Arizona Conservation Initiative: “AZCI.” This will be an organized approach toward prioritizing and successfully addressing resource issues that affect elk and other wildlife throughout Arizona’s elk range. The initiative program will have three areas of primary focus: landscapes, collaborative partnerships and long-term strategies. Working with our partners, the RMEF is spearheading the initiative planning process. The initiative budget over the next 12–15 years could easily exceed $20 million.

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the dedicated volunteers in Arizona are working today for wildlife tomorrow!

How can people reach you? Visit our chapter online.