Program areas at RMEF
Land protection and access: represents land acquisitions, conservation easements, land exchanges and donations, and hunter and public access related projects. Rmef identifies and prioritizes the most crucial Elk winter and summer ranges, migration corridors, and calving areas using gis mapping, internal criteria and priorities, partnerships, and field-based professional knowledge. The highest priority habitat or access areas are protected through acquisition or easement. Acquisitions are then usually conveyed into public ownership. Conservation easements allow private landowners to protect their land in perpetuity from development and other uses that could diminish the habitat value.
Habitat stewardship: represents projects to improve the essential forage, water, and cover components of wildlife habitat. Types of projects include restoring aspen communities, fighting the spread of noxious weeds, boosting land productivity with prescribed burning, and thinning of forests. Rmef funds water development projects as well as fencing projects to provide better distribution of wildlife and livestock.
Hunting heritage: represents grants and other costs to engage people in hunting and other outdoor pursuits through skills instruction, mentoring, conservation outreach and hunting related product.
Wildlife management: represents engagement through advocacy, collaboration, research and managament with a focus on key management challenges such as wildlife disease, population dynamics, migration corridors, Elk ecology and predator management.