Many of you have heard me talking about how RMEF is making public hunting access a very high priority. It has always been a high priority, but it is being given even more focus as we go forward.
Today, RMEF announced that they have closed on a real estate deal that will open up 18,000 acres of public land in a place where access is very difficult. In fact, near an area where some smart alec TV guys use helicopters to gain access to public land.
RMEF secured an option on a 40 acre parcel that has access to Lewis and Clark National Forest. This part of the forest does not have an access point for miles in any direction. This will provide hunters with access to some of the best elk ground in all of Montana.
RMEF paid $190,000. The seller was a very cooperative person who wanted to see public access improved in the area. Landowners such as that party are at the core of a land ethic that makes some places so special.
FWP wants to own the property and has offered RMEF $50,000 to take over ownership and management. FWP has committed to manage the area as a public trailhead. This will require approval of the FWP Commission and the Montana Land Board.
This has been on a fast track since it came available in June. FWP and RMEF are working hard to get the property ready for public use by the time big game rifle season opens on October 26th. I think they will make deadline, and at least have a parking lot and some sort of foot/horse access trail ready by then.
Last year, RMEF sold the Torstenson Ranch, a/k/a the Double HH Ranch, in western New Mexico. Upon that sale, the proceeds were placed in a restricted endowment, the earnings of which (and no more than 5%) can be used for mission work such as this. I expect more of this kind of work to be done with that endowment allocation.
When this project came up, my excitement level almost put me through the roof. A big thanks to the landowner who worked to give RMEF first shot, our lands staff, and most admirably, the RMEF member who previously had hunting access across this land and notified RMEF that it was about to hit the market, thereby allowing RMEF to acquire it, even if it resulted in the loss of his exclusive hunting spot. A lot of people have worked very hard the last few months to make this deal work.
Looking forward to other announcements in other parts of the country, where RMEF access initiatives can continue making a difference for hunters.
Here is a link to the press release that was sent out today - ----> http://www.rmef.org/NewsandMedia/PressRoom/NewsReleases/RMEFOpensDoorsofPublicAccess.aspx
Today, RMEF announced that they have closed on a real estate deal that will open up 18,000 acres of public land in a place where access is very difficult. In fact, near an area where some smart alec TV guys use helicopters to gain access to public land.
RMEF secured an option on a 40 acre parcel that has access to Lewis and Clark National Forest. This part of the forest does not have an access point for miles in any direction. This will provide hunters with access to some of the best elk ground in all of Montana.
RMEF paid $190,000. The seller was a very cooperative person who wanted to see public access improved in the area. Landowners such as that party are at the core of a land ethic that makes some places so special.
FWP wants to own the property and has offered RMEF $50,000 to take over ownership and management. FWP has committed to manage the area as a public trailhead. This will require approval of the FWP Commission and the Montana Land Board.
This has been on a fast track since it came available in June. FWP and RMEF are working hard to get the property ready for public use by the time big game rifle season opens on October 26th. I think they will make deadline, and at least have a parking lot and some sort of foot/horse access trail ready by then.
Last year, RMEF sold the Torstenson Ranch, a/k/a the Double HH Ranch, in western New Mexico. Upon that sale, the proceeds were placed in a restricted endowment, the earnings of which (and no more than 5%) can be used for mission work such as this. I expect more of this kind of work to be done with that endowment allocation.
When this project came up, my excitement level almost put me through the roof. A big thanks to the landowner who worked to give RMEF first shot, our lands staff, and most admirably, the RMEF member who previously had hunting access across this land and notified RMEF that it was about to hit the market, thereby allowing RMEF to acquire it, even if it resulted in the loss of his exclusive hunting spot. A lot of people have worked very hard the last few months to make this deal work.
Looking forward to other announcements in other parts of the country, where RMEF access initiatives can continue making a difference for hunters.
Here is a link to the press release that was sent out today - ----> http://www.rmef.org/NewsandMedia/PressRoom/NewsReleases/RMEFOpensDoorsofPublicAccess.aspx
