Thousands of hunters, outdoor enthusiasts and their families joined the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation in celebrating conservation and hunting heritage at the inaugural Big Game Days in Missoula, Mont. Presented by onX Hunt and Montana Knife Company, the four-day event included public activities at numerous venues in the Missoula area and showcased the leading role RMEF and its members, volunteers, partners and supporters have in Conserving America’s Big Game.

RMEF Basecamp at the headquarters campus put hunting gear from dozens of top outdoor brands on display, and attendees had the opportunity to test new firearms, ammunition, optics and suppressors during RMEF Range Day at the Deer Creek Shooting Center. RMEF at Full Draw brought more than 900 bowhunters to Snowbowl resort to test their skills on three, 25-target 3D courses created by Total Archery Challenge, while TOUGH ELK presented by MTNTOUGH saw adventurers of all ages grinding through a backcountry-inspired workout for the chance to win an outfitted elk hunt with Montana OutWest and other prizes.

Big Game Days was also an opportunity for the hunting community to come together and reflect on conservation achievement. During Film Night at the historic Wilma Theater in downtown Missoula, RMEF President and CEO Kyle Weaver and Board of Directors Chair Todd Walker recognized two partners who have had a profound effect on RMEF’s mission success.

The Wallace Fennel Pate Wildlife Conservation Award, RMEF’s highest honor, was bestowed upon the late country music artist Daryle Singletary. For many years, Singletary contributed his talent to RMEF national events, and at RMEF’s request, he recorded a version of “America the Beautiful” that has become the anthem for hundreds of RMEF Big Game Banquets annually. Honoring outstanding service to wildlife, its habitat and its management, the Conservation Impact Award was presented to the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies for facilitating collaboration and advancing RMEF’s conservation priorities among its member agencies in 23 states and Canadian provinces.

Big Game Days served as the setting for the 35th World Elk Calling Championships (WECC), where callers from across the country took the stage at the Wilma for two days of head-to-head, pool-play competition. Corey Jacobsen of Donnelly, Idaho, claimed the title in the Pro Division—his record 11th WECC win. Participating in his second WECC, Jaeger Evinger of Townsend, Mont., won the Open Division. Fifteen-year-old Milo Keldson traveled from Woodland Park, Colo., with his wrestling coach—two-time Open Division champion Patrick Littrell—to enter his first WECC and finish at the top in the Youth Division.

Two RMEF volunteer work projects during Big Game Days furthered habitat stewardship efforts in Missoula and Granite counties. At Lolo Creek, 12 miles southwest of Missoula, volunteers removed old fencing and assisted RMEF staff in replacing boundary fencing with a wildlife-friendly design. The second project involved cutting conifers that were encroaching on aspen and cottonwood stands on about 60 acres at Bearmouth, about 25 miles southeast of Missoula.

More Big Game Days activities included a Youth Event with a trout pond, climbing wall and other hands-on experiences for children; meet-and-greets and discussions with RMEF OutdoorClass subject-matter experts; an After Party at Caras Park with live music from Presley Barker and Mae Estes; and an online auction featuring the 2026 Wyoming Governor’s Tag, vehicles, hunting and fishing trips, firearms, gear and artwork.

Plans for the next Big Game Days are underway. Visit BigGameDays.com in the coming months for more information.