Montana Bull Sheet OCTOBER Montana s Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Volunteer Newsletter

Transcription

1 Montana s Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Volunteer Newsletter OCTOBER 2016 Photo courtesy of RMEF State Chair Address Mike Zaragoza State Chair On June 23rd thru 25th, volunteers from across the state gathered in Bozeman, MT, at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds for the 2016 Summer Rendezvous to celebrate RMEF s accomplishments over the past year. On behalf of the Montana State Resource Team, I would like to thank all of the volunteers that attended rendezvous. Friday morning, the volunteers gathered for our work projects, we divided into two groups, the larger group went to Durnham Meadows and the rest went to Enders Road. We worked hard, we removed approximately five miles of old barbed wire fence and many T posts. We left our mark on elk country. Friday s dinner was the annual Wild Game Potluck, it s always amazing to see and taste the variety of entries. Congratulations to Laurie and Dan Wilder of Cut Bank, MT, for winning the prestigious Golden Rolling Pin award. Also, congratulations to Jared Wold and Jameson Sharp, winners of the 2016 Washoe Tournament. Saturday began with the RMEF Volunteer and Committee Roundtable Discussion, opportunity was given to share local chapter successes, and lessons learned, where we need improvement, and to ask RMEF questions. The other seminars included Mike Mueller s RMEF Land and Project Updates. Mark Sommer showed Canning Wild Game and Fish, Mystery Ranch demonstrated Choosing and Using the Right Hunting Pack for You, 406 Precision shared Maximizing Your Effective Range, and Jason Matzinger showed #PROJECTELK. David Allen and Randy Newberg held a town hall meeting and launched Real Conservation Matters, Continued on page 2 Regional Director Jared Wold presents Laurie and Dan Wilder of Cut Bank the Golden Rolling Pin Award as the 2016 Rendezvous Wild Game Potluck Winners. Wild Boar Balls Laurie & Dan Wilder 1 lb. boar sausage or other wild game sausage 1 c. shredded Colby Jack cheese 1 T. Alpine Touch seasoning Mix together, form into golf size balls Wrap horizontally with bacon and secure with a toothpick Place onto a baking pan Brush on Heinz Vinegar Style Barbecue Sauce Bake at 400 for 30 minutes until done. Serve them hot.

2 Page 2 of 12 MONTANA SRT SPOTLIGHT MONTANA SRT Spotlight On... MT SRT Hello RMEF Montana Members! We re Scott & Sonya Rosenthal from Butte, District Chairs on your RMEF Montana State Resource Team. Scott grew up in New Mexico where he heard rumors of elk living in the nearby Jemez Mountains, and had yet to see one there in the wild before moving to Butte to attend Montana Tech. Sonya and Scott met while still at the university and working summer jobs of the Stillwater PGM Exploration project. Scott was impressed that Sonya not only had hunted elk but had been with her father to harvest an elk. Scott began elk hunting once out of college and working back in New Mexico. Scott (243L) and Sonya (376L) Rosenthal were first introduced to RMEF at a Big Game Banquet in Elko about 1988, when they were working in Nevada. They enjoyed the banquet and the overall cause for elk and other wildlife that they became life members shortly after. Since then, their support of RMEF has been divided between remote membership due to working overseas and, upon returning to the USA, active with the Castle Rock (Colorado) Chapter and the Southwest Montana chapter in They both held their unique positions in Castle Rock (Chapter Chair, Chapter Co-Chairs, Game Manager, Treasurer, and Merchandise Chairs). Scott was Eastern Colorado State Chair from 2011 until moving to Montana in 2013 working with Regional Director Allen Kerby. Since moving to Butte in 2013, Sonya & Scott are active in the Southwest Montana (Butte) Chapter of the RMEF. Sonya is currently Merchandise Chair and Scott is Finance Chair. Sonya & Scott are Habitat Council Members and Scott has been a Sponsor at each banquet since Scott supported the Wounded Warriors Hunt in 2015 and is keen to ensure the program is supported going forward. This year these two celebrate 30 years of wedded bliss. Sonya is currently working as a part-time consultant with CDM Smith (Helena), and an Adjunct Instructor at Montana Tech for Civil Engineering, she s a Board Member of the World Museum of Mining, Project Manager for the Spirit of Columbia Gardens Carousel, and Construction Manager for Engineers Without Borders-Montana Tech (the latter three roles are voluntary). Scott is Department Head and Assistant Professor of Mining Engineering at Montana Tech. You can find Scott out looking for gold and working with gems and minerals when he s not looking for elk. These two enjoy working with RMEF staff, volunteers, and potential members to ensure the RMEF mission is shared, practiced and enjoyed. They are looking forward to representing you and the elk! Scott & Sonya Continued State Chair Address Scott and Sonya Rosenthal District Chairs, Butte Mike Zaragoza State Chair they stressed the importance of hunters and conservationists needing to stick together. Real Conservation Matters. One voice can change an opinion. Many voices together can change policy. See rmef.org Thank you to everyone who presented seminars at rendezvous. Saturday evening was Fun Night, attendees enjoyed playing free RMEF games, raffles and winning prizes, Pig Out BBQ catered a full pig roast dinner with all the trimmings, and Rocky Mountain Pearls provided live music. If you missed rendezvous this year and for those that won t miss it, our plans for 2017 MT Summer Rendezvous are tentatively scheduled to be June 22th thru 24th, at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Boulder, MT. See you next year. Good Luck Hunting! Mike Zaragoza, MT State Chair

3 Page 3 of 12 FIRST TIME RENDEZVOUS ATTENDEES Friday morning was the fence pull. Several volunteers participated and we split up into two groups, one group worked Enders Road and our group went to Durnham Meadows. We removed old barbwire that was stretched and broken and we removed countless tposts. While we were finishing up, a fisherman walked by and thanked us for the work. It was amazing how much better it looked after the fence was removed and elk will be able to move through the area freely now. Previously elk were getting tangled in the loose wire. Friday night was the wild game potluck and cookoff. We got to sample some great food and vote for our favorite dish. The Washoe tournament was great, but I'm still not sure if Jared was correct in the "Rules" department! Team M2 didn't really lose game one, it was tied! Saturday was a jam packed day. We started in the morning with a roundtable discussion, chapters were able to share different things they have done that worked well and didn't work so well. The rest of the day we were able to attend presentations and product demos. Mark and Ginger Heims, of Great Falls, first time attendees of RMEF MT summer rendezvous. We've been involved in the RMEF Giant Springs chapter for a couple of years and decided to attend the Montana Summer Rendezvous for the first time this year. We arrived at the fairgrounds Thursday night not knowing what to expect, we set up our camper and immediately met some great people including Charlie and Yvonne Decker. That evening was Fun Night with a catered BBQ dinner (great job by Pig Out BBQ), we played games for RMEF merchandise and music was by Rocky Mountain Pearls. We want to thank everyone involved for putting on a great event! We are planning to attend again next year! Mark & Ginger Heims CLIPS OF 2016 RENDEZVOUS FENCE PULLS

4 Page 4 of 12 Page 3 of 8 MONTANA SMOKED TROUT AT RENDEZVOUS Montana Smoked Trout At Rendezvous Sandy Engel, District Chair It was Thursday afternoon and I was leaving the office to attend the 2016 MT summer rendezvous. I was excited to get on the road and start a great weekend celebrating the volunteers and help make a difference in elk country. I had all of my essentials packed and loaded in the car, ready to go. Except of course the refrigerated items; lunch meat and cheese. On my way out, I stopped in the lunchroom to retrieve this and a coffee pot that I was borrowing. I reached in the refrigerator and grabbed the grocery bag of lunch meat and cheese and I was off and running to meet my traveling partner. I made my way over to pick up my traveling partner and we transferred all of our items into her car and made our way to the Bozeman fairgrounds. Upon arriving at the fairgrounds, we began our unpacking process. Sara is rearranging the cooler when she says to me Why did you bring a bunch of fish? To which I replied, I don t even eat fish, what are you talking about? It is lunch meat and cheese. Ummm, no, it s fish she says. I disgustedly walk over to her to prove her wrong when she pulls out a package of very nicely vacuum sealed, dated, and labeled smoked trout. WHAT???? I did NOT bring that. Where is the lunch meat and cheese? You guessed it, it is still in the refrigerator at HQ in Missoula. I had inadvertently grabbed the wrong grocery bag from the refrigerator and now was in possession of some very nice looking smoked trout. What to do? I can t drive back to Missoula to return it. As you can imagine, there was much debate on what to do with this surprise trout. Do I divide it up amongst my friends at rendezvous and never tell anyone that I accidentally stole it? Do I enter it into the wild game potluck at rendezvous and try and win the coveted golden rolling pin award? Do I refrigerate it and take it back on Monday? Such decisions. I wasn t going to let it ruin my rendezvous weekend, so I made my decision and called HQ and left a message with HR to let them know that I was the thief that stole the trout and please let the victim know that it was an accident when they went looking for it. Feeling good about my decision, I went on to have an amazing time at another successful MT rendezvous (with a little ribbing from my friends that were salivating over the trout). Sunday came, and I retrieved the booty from the refrigerator and brought it back to Missoula to be returned to its rightful place in the HQ refrigerator on Monday. I did this rather quietly so as not to be noticed if the victim was unaware of the theft. I checked in with HR and there were no claims to the trout. After further research into this, I never found my unintended victim and the trout is safely back home. I guess we should have entered it into the wild game potluck.i could have won a Yeti cooler. Sandy Engel, District Chair

5 Page 5 of 12 MT RENDEZVOUS GRACED WITH WWII VETERAN MT Rendezvous Graced by the Presence of World War II Veteran Mark Sommer, District Chair The Montana Rendezvous had the fortunate situation of having World War II Veteran, Les Duncan of Missoula, in attendance. According to Veteran Administration statistics, only about 1 in 20 veterans of the 16 million who served in World War II are still with us. So it is indeed a fortunate situation to have a WWII veteran attend Rendezvous or for that matter any RMEF event. On March 8, 1943, at the age of 17, Les joined the Navy in Fargo, North Dakota. Les reported to his training at Farragut, Idaho at the U.S. Navy Training base boot camp in After training he boarded a train to San Francisco and then from San Francisco on the S.S. Walter Colton Merchant Marine Ship to Noumea, New Caledonia. He served on the Battleships U.S.S. Massachusetts and later on the U.S.S. Washington in the 3 rd and 5 th Fleet as a seaman, fireman and electrician. Les was scheduled to be discharged when his orders changed to essential to transport troops from South Hampton, England back to the United States. This was about three months in duration. He was honorably discharged at the Great Lakes in Illinois in April He served in the Asiatic -Pacific Campaign and was awarded American Area Campaign Medal Philippine Liberation Ribbon (2 stars) and Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal (7 stars) Les is not the type to tout his service to our country. It was Karen Sommer, Les Duncan, Mike Mueller and Stacey Mueller. Les was the winner of the Veteran Drawing at 2016 MT Summer Rendezvous. his Navy tattoo that gave him away. Mike Mueller, RMEF Lands Program Manager for Montana & North Dakota happened to notice Les's Navy tattoo on his forearm. Mike's father also served with the U.S Navy in World War II, and Mike was proudly wearing his father's Navy ring at Rendezvous. On Saturday night at the Rendezvous, all veterans were asked to stand and be recognized, and a round of applause followed. Mike Mueller stood up and gave a nod to Les's World War II service. Without the service of these veterans we would not have the freedoms we have today to spend those wonderful days out in "Elk Country". All veterans were then given a ticket for a chance to win a faux whiskey barrel end which had an elk and American flag painted on the face along with RMEF's mission statement - "ensuring the future of elk, other wildlife, their habitat, and our hunting heritage". When the winning ticket was drawn, it was Les who was the lucky winner, and he has since proudly mounted it on the wall of his den. RMEF views itself as a family. A family of men and women, young and old, hunters and non-hunters, different cultures, beliefs and so forth, with a common passion for elk and other wildlife. So how did Les become a member of the RMEF family? I'm the Chairperson of the Five Valleys Chapter. A number of years ago my mother moved out to Montana to be closer to her only grandchild. I started calling upon my Mom to help me here and there with RMEF tasks. Picking up supplies, dropping off a Sponsor Hat, picking up donations, helping at the banquet, etc. She happened to run into Les now and then and found out he made birdhouses and other woodcrafts. She took one of their chance meetings as an opportunity to ask if he would like to donate a birdhouse to the Five Valleys banquet. Les said yes. Apparently, "would you like to donate a birdhouse" is romantic-speak for the octogenarian crowd, as soon after they became an item. That was Les's first mistake. Soon my Mom was roping Les into helping with RMEF chores as well. That was Les's second mistake. But too late now to escape. So Les is now helping out at Appreciation Night, the Five Valleys banquet, and other chores and errands, and has now been to his third Rendezvous. And that is the story of how Les is now part of the RMEF family and helping to ensure the future of elk, other wildlife, their habitat, and our hunting heritage. Mark Sommer, District Chair

6 Page 6 of 12 REAL CONSERVATION MATTERS REAL CONSERVATION MATTERS rmef.org/realconservationmatters Theodore Roosevelt was a man of action. As a hunter, he rallied fellow sportsmen and women, pushed for hunting regulations and established conservation groups to protect wildlife and wildlife habitat. His actions led to the formation of what we now refer to as the North American Wildlife Conservation Model, which highlights two basic principles that our fish and wildlife belong to all Americans, and that they need to be managed in a way that their populations will be sustained forever. Individuals can take action as well. In 1937, hunters approved a self-imposed tax on their firearms, ammunition, bows and arrows. The Pittman-Robertson Act has since generated more than $10.1 billion. The revenue generated from the excise tax is doled out to state wildlife agencies which put the money on the ground for conservation efforts, hunter education programs, and shooting projects and programs. We, as hunters, provide the lion s share of funding for conservation efforts. And in this highly political age each of us can make a difference. It is incumbent that we become educated on the issues and engaged in the process. We must raise a collective voice for conservation and wildlife or those with polar opposite views will speak for us! We can take action by using the resources available to us. Go online, use social media to express support for causes and initiatives, reach out to the media, write a letter to the editor, follow issues in your state legislature and in the halls of Congress, and reach out to state wildlife agencies and our lawmakers who make rules and regulations. Please see to download a Real Conservation Matters Brochure, to be used as a guide and resource as you present your personal views and positions. How To Take Action. If you want to make a difference, it s important to raise your voice. There are many ways to do so. Social Media, Online Forums/Chat Rooms, Be Real and Be Adult, Providing Public Comment to State Wildlife Agencies, Attend Local Government Gatherings/Community Events. How To Work With Media. Traditional Media Outlets still have significant influence and reach a broad audience via television, newspaper, radio, magazine, internet, and other mediums. Contact Media Members, Letters To the Editor, Leave Interactive Comments. How To Work With Congress. Get Your Point Across, Proper Address Heading, How To Find Your Representatives & Their Contact Information, What To Say, Give Them A Call, Go See Them. Emphasize a purpose, position, perspective, conclusion and closing. See rmef.org One voice can change an opinion. Many voices together can sway policy.

7 Page 7of RENDEZVOUS PHOTO GALLERY Photos Courtesy of RMEF Members

8 Page 8 of 12 WOMEN FOR WILDLIFE Ladies Only Events Sandy Engel, District Chair EVENTS Ladies, are you tired of the men having all the fun? Are you looking for a way to get more involved in conservation, the outdoors and outdoor activities? You should definitely check out one of The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Women for Wildlife events. An evening of fun, laughter, games, raffles, auctions and amazing prizes, including firearms just for women. Grab a group of ladies and join the fun and excitement. Let the men cater to us this time. That s right, there will be men there. BUT, they will be working for us. Plan to attend, get your event tickets, buy your raffle tickets, come play games, bid on fantastic auction items and get catered to by the men. We will be offering multiple chances to win rifles and handguns specifically picked for ladies, along with jewelry, and more. Ladies these are events you won t want to miss! Join other women who care about wildlife and wild places for a fun event attend a Ladies Night Out! Upcoming Ladies Only Events, in Kalispell, on October 29 th, for tickets call Kim Wold at and in Missoula, on November, 12 th, for tickets call Sandy Engel at , watch the RMEF calendar in the new year for a Women for Wildlife event near you. Put your passion to work, if you would like to help plan a RMEF Women for Wildlife event, donate to an event or volunteer to work, please contact any of us, on your Montana State Resource Team, our roster is listed on page ten of this issue. See rmef.org A Good Time For A Great Cause See the upcoming 16 & 17 RMEF big game banquets and events, get your tickets: Troutcreek October 15th Jill Fairbanks Kalispell Ladies ONLY October 29th Kim Wold Las Vegas PBR World Finals Nov 2-6th Missoula Ladies ONLY November 12th Sandy Engel Las Vegas Nat l Finals Rodeo Dec. 1-10th RMEF Hunter & Outdoor Christmas above Las Vegas Cowboy Christmas Dec. 1-10th MT Elk Country Raffle Draw December 3rd Polson January 28th Kelly Kost Miles City February 11th Melissa Ashley Kalispell February 18th Kim Wold Billings February 25th Kenneth Schmid Nashville, TN March 2-4th Nat l Convn: Elk Country Meets Music City Havre March 11th Desirae O Neil Cut Bank March 25th Gail Davis Lewistown March 25th Linda Moe Bozeman April 1st Becky Arbuckle Great Falls April 8th Mark Heims

9 Page 9 of MONTANA ELK COUNTRY RAFFLE HURRY, get your tickets today, time is counting down!

10 Page 10 of MONTANA STATE TRACKING FUNDING RAISING ACTUALS Attend Support Sponsor Life Legacy Gross Net Net/ Gross Chapter KALISPELL $3800 $183,571 $139,142 76% HELENA $1790 $96,153 $65,948 69% MISSOULA $11,753 $135,535 $100,014 74% BUTTE $7495 $106,959 $76,063 71% LIBBY GREAT FALLS $3250 $96,180 $70,007 73% BILLINGS $7400 $205,027 $147,043 72% BOZEMAN $5450 $148,382 $105,080 71% BIG TIMBER $900 $32,181 $21,725 68% TROUT CK CUT BANK $1000 $56,105 $32,955 59% LIVINGSTON $1250 $45,768 $31,797 69% HAMILTON $3689 $99,854 $70,466 71% POLSON $2250 $79,769 $57,214 72% LEWISTOWN $1910 $37,336 $22,628 61% ENNIS $57,190 $41,433 72% DILLON W. YELLOW HAVRE $1140 $49,084 $31,872 65% SEELEY LAKE $3600 $52,750 $30,611 58% COLSTRIP Bozeman Sponsor $1000 $18,247 $11,760 64% Kalispell Sponsor MT Rendezvous LP 1st Quarter $41,820 $41, % LP 2nd Quarter $44,865 $44, % LP 3rd Quarter LP 4th Quarter Totals $57,677 $1,586,685 $1,143,672 72% Become a RMEF Volunteer for Montana We are constantly seeking volunteers that would like to work on projects or share thoughts and ideas beyond their involvement in the local banquet committee. Well, here is how you can do just that. The RMEF District Chair program is specifically designed to provide an avenue where you can get involved with other volunteers to make RMEF more successful than it already is. District Chair volunteers are frequently used as a source for ideas and think tanks for staff at Headquarters. We also do our own share of think tanking to come up with new and innovative ideas and ways to do more than we did last year. These ideas usually come from various committee members from around the state and are brought to this meeting by the District Chairs. You can get involved in helping structure the Summer Rendezvous, newsletters, statewide raffles, special projects and mentoring volunteers. It will be one of the most rewarding experiences you will undertake. Just let any of the current District Chairs, State Chair or Regional Directors know and we ll get an application to you. Consider sharing your time and talents. You should not pass up this opportunity! Become a RMEF Volunteer for Montana!

11 Page 11 of 12 MONTANA STATE RESOURCE TEAM Name Address Phone Numbers address 1) Chapter Affiliation 2) SRT Position ASHLEY, Matt 308 Tamarack ST Anaconda, MT Cell: Field Staff - Eastern Montana Regional Director Western Division ENGEL, Sandy 5705 Grant Creek Missoula, MT Cell: sengel@rmef.org 1) RMEF Customer Service Manager, 2) District Chair FREESE, Craig 7121 Raven DR Belgrade, MT Hm: Cell: jennyluvcraig@aol.com 1) Gallatin Chapter, 2) District Chair KINDEN, Toni 411 Airfield RD Libby, MT Hm: Cell: tkinden@frontiernet.net 1) Lincoln Chapter, 2) District Chair MURPHY, Kirk (625 Kylie DR) PO Box 1508 Polson, MT Wk: Cell: Fax: kmurphy@rmef.org Executive Staff Vice President of Field Operations, Region II ROSENTHAL Scott 1155 West Prophyry Butte, MT Hm: Cell: sns_rosenthal@hotmail.com 1) Southwest Chapter, 2) District Chair ROSENTHAL Sonya 1155 West Prophyry Butte, MT Hm: Cell: sns_rosenthal@hotmail.com 1) Southwest Chapter, 2) District Chair SOMMER Mark 740 S. 4th W Missoula, MT Cell: msommer@apleco.com 1) Five Valleys Chapter, 2) District Chair WOLD, Jared 245 Gilbert Lake DR Kalispell, MT Cell: jwold@rmef.org Field Staff - Western Montana Regional Director Western Division WOLD, Kim 395 3rd Ave WN Kalispell, MT Hm: Cell: sterling_kwold@yahoo.com 1) Flathead Valley Chapter, 2) District Chair ZARAGOZA, Mike 132 Tamarack DR Kalispell, MT Cell: mike.zaragoza@yahoo.com 1) Flathead Valley Chapter, 2) State Chair Southeastern MT Chapter in Miles City Plans February 11th Banquet Do you live in Southeast Montana or know someone who does that is passionate about elk? We have reorganized the Southeastern Montana Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation in Miles City and will be hosting an RMEF banquet on February 11th of Plan on joining us for a good time and a great cause! The camaraderie and friendships formed at the RMEF last a lifetime. We truly hope you will volunteer and join Team Elk where we come together to see old friends, make new ones, support the mission of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and help protect important habitat across elk country. We need volunteers to participate at any level, so if you are interested in joining us, and/or if you would like to donate to this banquet please contact Matt Ashley at (406) or by mashley@rmef.org For banquet tickets call Melissa Ashley (406) Are you interested in becoming a RMEF MT Volunteer? Would you like to serve on a local committee or volunteer to help at a local banquet or chapter event? Please contact anyone of us on the MT SRT for additional information. We welcome you to join us and work towards leaving your mark on elk and elk country. Please see the directory above.

12 Page 12 of 12 Ensuring the future of elk, other wildlife, their habitat and our hunting heritage RMEF Mission The mission of the RMEF is to ensure the future of elk, other wildlife, their habitat and our hunting heritage. In support of this mission the RMEF is committed to: Conserving, restoring and enhancing natural habitats; Promoting the sound management of wild, free-ranging elk, which may be hunted or otherwise enjoyed; Fostering cooperation among federal, state and private organizations and individuals in wildlife management and habitat conservation; and educating members and the public about habitat conservation, the value of hunting, hunting ethics and wildlife management. rmef.org The RMEF Montana State Resource Team would like to recognize First Interstate Bank, as our statewide sponsor. Your financial support assists us in offering RMEF Montana Volunteer activities. Thank you for supporting us over the years in our mission and fund raising efforts. We thank you for your continued partnership in conservation. Proud Sponsor of RMEF Montana Volunteer Activities Thank you First Interstate Bank for being our statewide sponsor! The Is Sent Electronically is easy, quick and an inexpensive way to share information and stay connected with people. Your Montana State Resource Team has decided we are cutting our costs of paper, printing and postage. Please verify that your address is correctly on file with your RMEF membership at headquarters in Missoula, you may call CALL ELK. We don t want to intentionally miss getting anyone s address. The will now be going electronic to RMEF Montana members and volunteers across the state. We ask that the local chapters print out a copy to pass around at your local committee meetings to share with those who may not have an account or have access to a computer. A year-long elk tag! Thanks to everyone who supports RMEF by purchasing specialty plates. RMEF license plates and disabled RMEF license plates are available for your vehicles and trailers for personal, work, and your recreational needs. If you have articles, photos or ideas for the or if you have suggestions on how to make it better, Please call me at or sterling_kwold@yahoo.com Thank you, ~ Kim Wold 2017 National Convention Will Feature Big Bull Hospitality Opening Ceremony Taste of Nashville Volunteer Fun Night Like Us on Facebook at RMEF MONTANA Full Registration is now OPEN Register online: rmef.org or call 800-CALL ELK