The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation recently joined the Boone and Crockett Club in signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Forest Service underscoring the importance of sustaining outdoor recreation opportunities on National Forest System lands. The MOU particularly emphasizes public access for hunting, angling, wildlife conservation, habitat stewardship and conservation education.
“RMEF is proud to continue a long-standing partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, and other partners, that focuses on actionable resolutions to challenges our members and supporters face,” said Kyle Weaver, RMEF president and CEO. “Solving public access challenges lies at the heart of RMEF’s mission. Since 1984, RMEF has opened or improved public access to more than 1.6 million acres of elk habitat across the country for hunting, fishing, hiking and other forms of outdoor recreation.”
RMEF and thirteen other organizations that participated in the signing are recognized as collaborating partners to support the implementation of the MOU. Under the framework, the Boone and Crockett Club will convene with these partners to identify, develop and implement opportunities to enhance recreational access on public lands.
“We appreciate the attention of Chief Schultz and the Forest Service, along with our partner conservation organizations, on the challenge of recreational access on public lands for hunting,” said Tony Schoonen, Boone and Crockett Club CEO. “Enhanced recreation and access opportunities can help increase awareness and engagement on forest health issues and build support for increased funding for access and conservation on national forests. We look forward to collaborating through this MOU to enhance access to the National Forest System lands for hunters, anglers and recreational shooters.”
The National Forest System and Forest Service came together through the vision of President Theodore Roosevelt, who founded the Boone and Crockett Club in 1887, and the agency’s first chief, Gifford Pinchot, who was also a member of the Club. The conservation and management of 193 million acres of forests and grasslands across the United States allows for significant recreational use by the public.
“The Forest Service welcomes nearly 164 million visitors each year to our national forests and grasslands, and approximately 14 percent—nearly 23 million people—participate in hunting, fishing or target shooting activities annually,” said Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz. “National forests offer stable, predictable and affordable access to high quality wildlife habitat—an essential benefit for hunters and conservationists dedicated to fair chase and public land heritage. We are committed to strengthening this strong partnership with an historic institution, such as the Boone and Crockett Club.”
(Photo: Susan Summer Elliott)