(Wyoming) – The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and its partner organizations allotted $7,817,641 in 2024 to help elk, mule deer and other wildlife, their habitat and an assortment of conservation and hunting heritage projects across Wyoming.
“This grant funding bolsters everything from restoring riparian habitat and treating invasive weeds to removing or modifying old fencing and improving public access to both public and private land for hunting and fishing,” said Shawn Kelley, RMEF northern Wyoming regional director. “Thirty-nine projects enhance more than 15,000 acres of wildlife habitat. That’s a big win for Wyoming.”
RMEF allocated $511,540 which helped leverage an additional $7,306,101 in partner funding.
“Our volunteers in Wyoming are a dedicated and energetic bunch. We thank them for helping generate these dollars that go back on the ground in their home state,” said RMEF President and CEO Kyle Weaver.
Since 1986, RMEF and its partners completed 1,000 conservation and hunting heritage outreach projects in Wyoming with a combined value of more than $219.7 million. These projects conserved or enhanced 1,355,064 acres of habitat and opened or improved public access to 243,846 acres.
The projects for Fremont County are listed below.
- Replace nine miles of fencing with wildlife-friendly fencing to restore natural movement across public and private land for elk and other big game species to ensure access to crucial winter range near Lander.
- Convert five miles of woven wire fencing along both sides of Highway 26 near Dubois that is currently an impediment for wildlife into wildlife-friendly fencing and clear vegetation right next to the highway to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions.
- Remove encroaching conifers across 500 acres of winter, transitional and year-round elk, moose and mule deer range in the Washakie Ranger District on the Shoshone National Forest.
- Supply funding for the Wyoming Outdoor Weekend, a free family-friendly event featuring archery, fly casting, horse packing, orienteering maze, climbing and other activities that enrich the outdoor experience.
- Provide funding and volunteer support to remove old fencing on land administered by the BLM Lander Field Office to help elk, mule deer, pronghorn antelope, moose, bear, sage grouse and other animals better navigate the landscape.
Click here to view the complete list of the projects, highlighted by county.
Partners include the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Bureau of Land Management, Bighorn, Medicine Bow-Routt and Shoshone National Forests, private landowners, University of Wyoming and various hunting, conservation, civic and business groups.