Black Bear Blog » Events

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

Tom Remington — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:16:21 +0000

Zumbo Establishes “Purple Heart Hunt” with RMEF

Tom Remington — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:22:52 +0000

MISSOULA, Mont. – Jim Zumbo, host of Jim Zumbo Outdoors on Outdoor Channel and longtime member and supporter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, has established a special elk hunt for veterans at RMEF’s Torstenson Wildlife Center/Double H Ranch in New Mexico.

The first-annual “Jim Zumbo’s Purple Heart Hunt” will be a cow elk hunt in November.

Participants will include the two high bidders in auctions held March 4-7 at the RMEF Elk Camp and convention in Reno, Nev., as well as two servicemen who are recipients of the Purple Heart medal for wounds suffered in combat. Each high bidder will hunt with the veteran they sponsor.

“The rewards that I receive from taking disabled military warriors hunting are immeasurable,” said Zumbo. “This elk hunt is an opportunity to not only offer quality hunting experiences to veterans, but also for able-bodied sportsmen to experience hunting side-by-side with troops who are true American heroes.”

RMEF President and CEO David Allen said, “RMEF is proud to be a part of Jim’s Purple Heart hunt. We will roll out the red carpet for these true American heroes. As Americans, we cannot do enough to repay those who serve our country with honor and allow us to enjoy our freedoms. The Purple Heart hunt is just another small way we can say thanks to these men and women.”

Zumbo is well known for his work with disabled servicemen, many of them amputees. He and country music singer Aaron Tippin are national spokesmen for the Outdoor Recreation Heritage Fund, which is part of Paralyzed Veterans of America. Zumbo has hosted military heroes on hunts in Africa, Alaska and a dozen other states.

Like most of his hunts with disabled vets, Zumbo plans to film the upcoming elk hunt, which may be aired on his television show.

Elk Callers from 8 States Medal in World Championships

Tom Remington — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:01:06 +0000

RENO, Nev. – Amateur and professional elk callers from eight states – California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington – have medaled in the RMEF/Leupold World Elk Calling Championships for 2010.

Competition concluded March 6 in Reno, Nev., held as part of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s 26th Annual Elk Camp & Hunting, Fishing and Outdoor Expo.

Results:

Professional Division
1. Joel Turner, Eatonville, Wash.
2. Rockie Jacobsen, Kamiah, Idaho
3. Bryan Langley, McMinnville, Ore.

Men’s Division
1. Thomas Diesing, Loveland, Colo.
2. Dirk Durham, Moscow, Idaho
3. Greg Hubbell, Belmont, Calif.

Women’s Division
1. Misty Waggener, Priest River, Idaho
2. Amy Morris, Payson, Utah
3. Brittani Currier, Montrose, Colo.

Natural Voice Division
1. Greg Hubbell, Jr., Belmont, Calif.
2. Gavin McKitrick, McAllister, Mont.
3. Michael Hatten, Elko, Nev.

Youth Division
1. Ross LeValley, Hotchkiss, Colo.
2. Brayden Langley, McMinnville, Ore.
3. Austin Durham, Moscow, Idaho

Pee Wee Division
1. Colton Crawford, McMinnville, Ore.
2. Morgan Priest, Reno, Nev.
3. Matthew Bertero, Reno, Nev.

The event helps raise awareness of elk, habitat and conservation initiatives of Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

In the competition, amateur-level callers have 30 seconds to mimic cow elk sounds, followed by bull sounds. Professionals are required to make specific calls such as barks, whistles and screaming bugles. Most callers blow across a latex reed placed inside the mouth. In the natural voice division, however, no reeds are allowed. A variety of plastic tubes are used like megaphones, giving the sounds realistic resonance. Judges score each competitor anonymously.

Winners received prizes and cash ranging from $500 to $2,500.

Prize sponsors included Cabela’s, Eberlestock, Hoyt, Kershaw Knives, Montana Decoy, Montana Silversmiths, Remington, Schnee’s and Traditions Performance Firearms.

RMEF Off and Running on Elk Camp Momentum

Tom Remington — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:38:48 +0000

Photo from fOTOGLIF

RENO, Nev. – Elk Camp 2010, which concluded March 7 in Reno, Nev., set the tone, direction and fundraising base to position the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation for a big year in habitat conservation, officials say.

On the strength of $1.45 million in auction proceeds and an Elk Camp record for new memberships (preliminary figures show 2,867 members joined or renewed during the event), RMEF wrapped up its 26th Annual Elk Camp & Hunting, Fishing and Outdoor Expo with gross fundraising topping $2.75 million. Those dollars will help support the organization?s initiatives to ensure the future of elk, other wildlife and their habitat.

RMEF recently topped 5.7 million acres conserved or enhanced, but RMEF President and CEO David Allen says the conservation to-do list in elk country is growing longer, not shorter.

“There was such great spirit at Elk Camp, you couldn’t help but get pumped up about where we’ve been and where we’re going. Habitat loss continues to chip away at the wild places relished by elk and elk hunters, but our volunteers, supporters and staff are headed home from Reno with a renewed sense of urgency and purpose and commitment to make a difference,” said Allen.

He added, “In many ways, Elk Camp is the official kickoff to our year, and after these past four days, I’m anticipating a great 2010.”

Other Elk Camp highlights included:

* RMEF launch of the Dale Earnhardt Land/Wildlife Legacy.
* First-ever live coverage of the RMEF/Leupold World Elk Calling Championships on ESPN Outdoors.com.
* New world champion elk callers including Joel Turner of Eatonville, Wash., who won his second title in the Professional Division.
* RMEF’s highest honor, the Wallace Fennell Pate Wildlife Conservation Award, went to Walker S. “Buddy” Smith, Jr. and wife Tammy Lynne Smith of Great Falls, Mont.
* Numerous awards and recognitions for RMEF volunteers and supporters.
* Good day-traffic in the expo hall with numerous attendees booking hunting trips.
* Entertainment by comedian Jim Gaffigan and country stars Neal McCoy and Sara Evans.

News releases on these and other headlines are posted at www.rmef.org.

Event sponsors included Roper, Leupold, Cabela’s, Gerber, Hunter’s Specialties, Midway USA, Mossy Oak, North American Hunter Magazine, Browning and Budweiser.

Allen said, “We can’t say thank you enough to our sponsors, exhibitors and attendees for their continuing support. Together, we’re helping to shape the future of elk country.”

The 27th Annual Elk Camp and Expo will be in Reno, Nev., March 3-6, 2011.

RMEF Launches Dale Earnhardt Land/Wildlife Legacy

Tom Remington — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:16:39 +0000

Photo from fOTOGLIF

RENO, Nev. – Ten years after his death at the Daytona 500, Dale Earnhardt’s enduring legacy as a competitor and outdoorsman has sparked a new partnership between the Dale Earnhardt Foundation and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

The new venture has been christened the Dale Earnhardt Land/Wildlife Legacy.

Announcing the news March 4 at the RMEF annual convention in Reno, Nev., RMEF President and CEO David Allen said the partnership is good for wildlife and hunters.

“There are lots of NASCAR fans in the RMEF membership, and lots of conservationists among race fans. Teaming up allows us to redouble our efforts on projects that honor Dale’s memory – things like wildlife habitat improvement, land conservation, hunting access improvements and more,” said Allen.

Allen added the partnership will help RMEF gain visibility at NASCAR races and events.

Earnhardt’s son, Kerry, was in Reno for the announcement and to represent the Earnhardt family and others involved in the Dale Earnhardt Foundation. The nonprofit group based in North Carolina funds charitable programs and causes that sustain Dale Earnhardt’s lifelong commitment to children, education and wildlife conservation.

Teresa Earnhardt, Dale’s wife, said, “As a lifelong outdoorsman, Dale was committed to wildlife and land conservation, a passion which he shared with his friends and family. Now that legacy lives on through his foundation and we are honored to have a partner in RMEF. Our shared mission to conserve and restore native game and their habitat will ensure the same opportunities for future generations and Continue the Legend.”

Allen was a personal friend of Earnhardt. In fact, he directed marketing and sponsorships for the Dale Earnhardt/Richard Childress race teams and other NASCAR teams until Earnhardt’s fatal crash in 2001. He remains close to the family.

“When Dale wasn’t thinking about racing, he was thinking about hunting and sharing his passion for the outdoors with others,” said Allen. “It was an honor to know him and now it’s an honor to be working closely again with Teresa to help keep that legacy growing. Dale is the working man’s hero and RMEF is the working man’s conservation group, so this is a great fit. Dale would be very proud today.”

Childress said, “Dale was ‘The Intimidator’ for his fearlessness and competitiveness on the track, but the peacefulness of the outdoors also was a big part of who he was. I believe his quiet-time hunting and fishing helped recharge him for racing, and I know he’s smiling down now at being able to help other people enjoy the outdoors like he did.”

Realtree founder and president Bill Jordan, who also was a friend of Earnhardt, said, “I was fortunate to hunt with Dale and to know him both as an outdoorsman as well as a legendary driver. I’m so pleased to see RMEF teaming up to help honor his memory through conservation, because that’s so meaningful to both race fans and hunters.”

Live Coverage of World Elk Calling Championships, March 5-6

Tom Remington — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:46:23 +0000

Photo from fOTOGLIF

RENO, Nev. – Elk hunters, listen up: ESPN Outdoors.com will carry live coverage of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation/Leupold World Elk Calling Championships, March 5-6, from Reno. Nev.

Live streaming video will begin with preliminary rounds of competition at 9:00 a.m. (Pacific time) on Friday, March 5. Finals begin at 9:00 a.m. (Pacific time) on Saturday, March 6.

“If you like to hunt, call or listen to elk and if you can go online, this event will be a real treat,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “These competitors are the best elk callers on the planet and viewers will learn a lot about elk.”

Cash, prizes and world-champion honors will be awarded in six divisions: Pee Wee (age 10 and under), Youth (age 11-17), Natural Voice (no calling devices allowed), Women’s, Men’s and Professional (sponsored competitors).

Judges include naturalists, hunters and former elk calling champions.

The event is being held as part of the annual RMEF Elk Camp & Hunting, Fishing and Outdoor Expo at the Reno/Sparks Convention Center, March 4-7.

To watch the RMEF/Leupold World Elk Calling Championships, and to see daily coverage of the entire event, go to www.espnoutdoors.com.

Winter Olympics Sex Fest Of Athletes

Tom Remington — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 13:57:11 +0000

Perhaps the Olympic Organizing Committee should consider adding another event to their schedule – condom usage. Most of us heard that the roughly 7,000 Olympic athletes were provided with 100,000 free condoms during their stay in Vancouver but reports are surfacing that those have run out and an emergency supply is being shipped in.

What does this tell you?

Tom Remington

How Pristine Were Our Ecosystems Before Western Exploration? (35)

ESPN: Daily Coverage of Elk Camp, March 4-7

Tom Remington — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 21:43:24 +0000

MISSOULA, Mont. – ESPN Outdoors has confirmed upcoming daily online coverage, features, photo galleries and live streaming video from “Elk Camp”, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s annual convention and expo, March 4-7, in Reno, Nev.

Coverage will be featured at www.espnoutdoors.com.

Links to the coverage will be provided at the Elk Foundation’s site, www.rmef.org.

ESPN Outdoors will present live streaming video of the RMEF/Leupold World Elk Calling Championships. Preliminary rounds of competition begin at 9:00 a.m. (Pacific time) on March 5; championship rounds at 9:00 a.m. (Pacific time) on March 6.

Elk Camp also includes Cabela’s-sponsored seminars led by authorities on bowhunting and other hunting skills, horse packing, marksmanship, wild game cooking, game calling strategies and more. Also included are displays of record elk, attractions and activities for the whole family, plus a 400-booth expo hall filled with outfitted hunting and fishing opportunities, art, gear, firearms and everything elk.

Daily admission to the event, held at the Reno/Sparks Convention Center, is $12 per person or $25 per family, and free for kids 5 and under.

Show hours: Thurs., March 4, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Fri., March 5, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Sat., March 6, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; and Sun., March 7, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Registered attendees can also enjoy banquets, auctions, entertainment, awards and more.

For more information, visit www.rmef.org.

Boy Scouts’ 100 Years of Adventure Includes Work for Elk

Tom Remington — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:05:11 +0000

MISSOULA, Mont. – As the Boy Scouts of America celebrates 100 years of adventure, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is saluting the youth organization’s historic work in habitat conservation and more recent partnership for elk country.

The Scouting movement was founded Feb. 8, 1910, a date still commemorated as part of Scout Week nationwide. A centennial black-tie gala is slated Feb. 9 in Washington D.C.

“Boy Scouts began as a way to develop character, responsibility, citizenship and personal fitness, and since the very beginning Scout leaders understood that all of those qualities can be cultivated through outdoor activities including wildlife habitat projects,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “The cumulative impact of Scouting on conservation in America is immeasurable, and we both congratulate and sincerely thank the millions of young people who’ve been a part of it.”

In 1992, RMEF began a partnership with Boy Scouts when a local troop requested funds to repair a wildlife drinking station in New Mexico. Since then, the partnership has grown to 17 states and over $162,000 in RMEF expenditures for Scout projects, events and activities.

Boy Scouts have used RMEF funding to re-vegetate winter range, restore aspen stands, treat weed infestations, repair and remove fencing, install educational kiosks, and more.

RMEF also has sponsored Boy Scouts attending everything from day camps to week long high adventure bases. In fact, between 2004 and 2009, more than 5,500 Scouts and 225 volunteers trekked across RMEF’s Torstenson Wildlife Center in New Mexico.

The Boy Scouts of America currently boasts 2.8 million young people between the ages of 7 and 20 plus 1.1 million volunteers in more than 290 local councils throughout the U.S. and its territories. For more information, visit www.scouting.org.

Idaho Groups Sponsor Free Dinner To Educate Public About Diseases Carried By Wolves

Tom Remington — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:16:42 +0000

FREE DINNER
February 10, 2010
6:00 PM
Washington County Fairgrounds
Cambridge, Idaho

URGENT: Two-Thirds of Idaho Wolf Carcasses Examined Have Thousands of Hydatid Disease Tapeworms. Despite warnings from experts, FWS and IDFG ignored diseases, parasites spread by wolves. These disease can spread to humans! — Wolves are infecting livestock pastures and moose habitat with Neospora Caninum, the parasite that causes abortions in cattle and moose and other members of the deer family (The Outdoorsman Dec 2009).

PLEASE FORWARD TO ANYONE WHO NEEDS TO HEAR THIS INFORMATION. THIS IS AN EMERGENCY!

Guest Speakers:

Ron Gillett – Chairman of the Anti-Wolf Coalition

Wayne Krasselt – Cattle Rancher (will be speaking on the likely Neospora Caninum outbreak in cattle spread from wolves that causes spontaneous abortion in cattle) He will be speaking from his own experience. Wayne lost 100% of his cattle production from suspected infected range pasture in 2009. Wayne is awaiting test results to confirm.

Dr. Rex Rammell – Veterinarian and 2010 Idaho Republican Gubernatorial candidate (The only candidate with the knowledge, will and determination to eradicate this problem in Idaho). Rex will also speaking on other hotbed issues such as NAIS/Premise Identification, states’ rights, nullification of unconstitutional federal mandates, his “Billion Dollar Pledge” to Idaho, and the fight to return control of Idaho’s public lands back to Idaho.

NOTICE: Although this dinner is free, space is limited to 400 so you must pre-register by phone or email. If you register early enough we will mail your tickets to you, otherwise they will be held at the door for you. If you are not pre-registered you will not be admitted unless there are un-issued tickets remaining at the door.

To request tickets by email: rexrammell4governor@gmail.com (Include names, contact info for those attending)

To request tickets by phone: 208-301-2412

Black Bear Blog » Events

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