RMEF and Other Organizations

[Nummie]

I'm in the process of determining which of our many wildlife organizations and foundations support the "Ranchers for Wildlife" proposal recently presented to the AZ State Senate committee on Natural Resources. Before I join forces with any of these orgainzations, I want to know which side of the barb-wire fence each sits on. What are you thoughts on which organizations would be impactful to this issue, one way or the other?

 

My Thoughts are.....

 

RMEF

Nat'l Wild Turkey Federation

Ducks Unlimited

State or federal deer associations?????

 

Any others??????

[Rembrant]

Great idea Nummie!

I think all these groups are good and have been good historically.

There may be a couple of groups that are better than the others, and these would be:

Arizona Deer Association and the Arizona Elk Association.

The reason these may be better is because they are based in Arizona and our Arizona funds won't be filtered off to some other state. I don't want to bad mouth the RMEF because they do wonderful things, yet Arizona kicks butt in the fund raising process and I don't believe all of that money stays in Az. Your idea of researching these groups to see how they stand in reguards to "Ranching for Wildlife" is an excellent idea. I didn't think of that!

I'm glad you have joined this forum. It's not really that much fun for most people to be watch-dogging all of this political stuff, but nowdays we need to be paying attention or we will lose bigtime.

The times, they aren't-a-changing. THEY'VE CHANGED!!!!!

Mike

[Manamal]

I wonder if SCI is involved somehow, or maybe the NWF?

 

P.S. Thank you NUMMIE for doing the leg work here!! and welcome to the site!!

[az4life]

As far as where RMEF stands, I do not know.

I had a discussion with a Knife maker friend and he has dealt with RMEF for years, but no more!

They siphon off 85% of the money raised in the fundraisers to thier national causes. I do not recall all the details but he recommended non support of them until they make a more equitable split with the fund raisers. He supports and promotes the AEF instead.

[azhuntnut]

I am a Phx. charter member of the RMEF. We do raise alot of money at our fundraisers, but you would be surprised at how much is put back into AZ. As a matter of fact there was more money put back into AZ in the year 2004 than what the group raised. So that means that money from other states were transfer to us. There are different chapters that you can join throughout the state, it just depends on where you live and how far you want to drive to the meetings. I have been with them for two years now and really enjoy it. All of seem to want the same thing, save the elk habitat for current and future hunters (our kids). If you haven't been to one of our banquets before, you really need to give it a try. Last year my wife won four guns, two knives, a huge signed painting, and a one year membership to shooter world. She wants to come this year of course. David

[Nummie]

Guys, I decided that the best way to spread the word on this Ranchers For Wildlife program was to post on as many hunting websites as possible. I don't usually hunt for whitetail, but I do bowhunt for elk and turkey, and sometimes mule deer. But, I think we all must band together to make damm sure RFW never becomes the law of the land.

 

Someone mentioned the AZ Deer Assoc. and AZ Elk Foundation. I met representatives of both organizations at that meeting on Wednesday, January 26. They both stated to me that they were very much against RFW. I've also seen both those individuals at various public meeting that G&F has held throughout the state. I don't know either of their names, but if someone does have a phone # or e-mail address, I'll surely contact them. I would rather work as part of an established organization to defeat RFW and subsequently begin the process of working to some other equitable solution for the ranchers and hunters.

 

When talking to an official of the NM G&F department, I found out that RMEF does indeed have a large ranch in that state, and yes, they do participate in the hunting tags for ranchers program. I'm very leery of RMEF's motives in this situation, so keep a careful eye out for their actions in this situation.

 

Manimal, thank you for acknowledging my efforts. I don't know if you are an Arizona resident, but if you are, then you will remember the Alt Fuels debacle of about 4-5 years ago. A state legislator by the name of Jeff Groscost, who had a reputation of bullying politics anyway, was able to convince enough other legislators that passing of the Alt Fuels bill was good for the state. Well, it was good for his associates in the propane retrofitting industry, and ultimately the program has cost $500 MILLION that the state (us) are paying for!!!! I DO NOT INTEND ON SITTING ON MY HANDS AND LETTING SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN AGAIN!!!!! It could, if we are not diligent though. JMHO

[jamaro]

After seeing the stunts that the RMEF has pulled with the HH ranch in NM I am no longer a memeber.... If you ever want to hunt that ranch you have to have MAJOR cash... and if you shoot something that does not live up to there standards you get FINED Big time....

I am personally starting to look into NWTF. Most if not all of there money goes back into habitat. I also like an organization called www.huntfairchase.com

 

jason

[couestaxi]

Hey Guys - Back off on the RMEF bashing. I've been a Red Mountain Chapter Committee member since about the year they spun off from the Phoenix Chapter. Some folks may not like how the money is spent but few know how much money actually goes back into the ground here. Its one thing to be a "member" it's another to actually work on a committee. Our group spends all summer working on projects to benefit wildlife here in Arizona. Not sure on the specifics for the HH Ranch but I do believe the prior owner specified the terms the RMEF now runs the ranch under so it (management details) is out of their hands. Pick a group and get involved. The RMEF, AES, Arizona Deer Association Etc. If you want to find out more info than you will ever want to know join the Wildlife Conservation Council and attend one of their meeting - Contact Cindy Seff - AzTrappers@direcway.com , You will learn more about whats going on in Arizona and how you can help than you will ever imagine.

I believe the original question was which groups support RFW? The RMEF is very vocally against land owner permits and has been forever. I don't know of any sportmens groups that are. The group you may be looking for is a group of 14 Ranches in the Kingman/Prescott area that have hired an attorney out of Prescott Valley to "URGE" AZGF to issue these RFW permits. We as hunters cannot let this happen. Topics like this are great for these message boards as they alert hunters as to what is actually going on here. Keep it up!

 

 

 

PS - Jeff Groscost (Alt fules aside) was one of the best allies hunters had in the legislature. He fought for hunting and fishing very hard. We've had some real screwballs in there!

[Nummie]

Couestaxi, my question regarding the official position of RMEF was part and parcel of the vigilance you are recommending. In New Mexico, I have confirmed that they do indeed own a ranch, and the DO participate in the landowner tag program. So, based on that, I have to wonder just where they are on this issue. I've heard that they are an apolitical organization, but I must wonder. That is not "bashing", as you say.

 

Jeff Groscost will never get my approval, even if he WAS a supporter of hunting. He should be in prison serving hard time for what he forced on the citizens of this state! Depending on who you ask, he and the legislation that was past have been responsible for $500 MILLION in costs just so a few thousand people can ride around in fancy SUV's. If you care to debate the virtues of Groscost further, I'll be glad to participate. You probably know what position I'll take.

[ghost hunter]

I've always like RMEF for their efforts to save and enhance the elk habitat around the west. Since I live in Arizona, I would certainly like to see most of their effort go here. But now that RFW has come up, I think there is a question that has not been asked.

 

"Is all the time, effort and money that various organizations and sportmens groups have donated in the past only going to used to aid and assist those ranchers when they get Ranching for Wildlife passed?" I certainly hope not!!!!

 

I'll continue working on projects and helping where I can, but it will leave a real sour taste in my mouth if I get to the end and realize all I did was help some greeedy person.