5 Conservation Organizations That Help Deer Hunting
Posted 2016-06-16T14:23:00Z
Are You a Member of These Organizations?
We live in an age where deer hunters have great access to deer and deer hunting. The resource is flourishing in many areas of the country, and hunters are reaping the rewards. Sure, whitetails face threats on numerous fronts. From disease to habitat loss, deer now stare down a long and winding road. But it's the conservation organizations, and the hunters that comprise them, who will ensure the future of deer hunting is a great one.
While all of the organizations on this list don't directly work with deer, their efforts still benefit them. These are five of the most important organizations in the world of deer hunting.
Quality Deer Management Association
The QDMA was founded in 1988. It is a non-profit organization with approximately 60,000 members. These members reside in all 50 states and other countries, too. This organization works to bring the latest and most advanced whitetail research to the public, continues to educate hunters nationwide, and succeeds in conserving the white-tailed deer.
I'm about to sound like my grandmother here, but if you're a deer hunter and aren't a member of the QDMA, shame on you. It's imperative to give back to the resources that give so much to us. Supporting the QDMA is a great way to do that.
QDMA Mission Statement: The Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) is a non-profit conservation organization working to ensure the future of white-tailed deer, wildlife habitat and our hunting heritage. Since 1988, QDMA has worked to promote sustainable, high-quality deer populations, wildlife habitats and ethical hunting experiences through research, education, advocacy, and hunter recruitment. QDMA teaches deer hunters how to improve local deer populations, habitat and hunting experiences.
Click here to learn more about the QDMA.
Whitetails Unlimited
This is another non-profit organization that works to benefit whitetails. Established in 1982, it's grown to an impressive 100,000-plus-member base. Along with the QDMA, it's viewed as one of the premier whitetail conservation organizations in the world.
To date, WTU has expended more than $70.3 million in the name of conservation. And it doesn't plan on stopping there. It continues to benefit deer and deer hunters. Its grassroots programs are working wonders throughout the country every day.
WTU Mission Statement: Founded in 1982, Whitetails Unlimited is a national nonprofit conservation organization that has remained true to its mission and has made great strides in the field of conservation. We have gained the reputation of being the nation's premier organization dedicating our resources to the betterment of the white-tailed deer and its environment.
Mule Deer Foundation
This organization is a major player in the western half of the country. Established as a 501(c)3 in July of 1988, MDF has since played a major role in conserving mule deer throughout the western states.
MDF Statement: The purpose of the Mule Deer Foundation is to ensure the conservation of mule deer, black-tailed deer and their habitat.
Click here to learn more about MDF.
National Wild Turkey Federation
The NWTF was founded in 1973. Since then, it has had as many as 200,000 members and continues to draw interest from hunters around the globe. The will to conserve wildlife and create hunters is extensive and unwavering. And you'd be making the right bet by putting your stock in an organization as great as the NWTF.
As someone who worked for the NWTF, I can assure you that the dollars brought in are allocated responsibly in the name of conservation. But how does the NWTF benefit deer hunting you might ask? That's simple to explain. All of the habitat work the NWTF accomplishes in the name of wild turkeys benefits deer. Good nesting cover for a wild turkey hen is also great fawning cover for white-tailed, black-tailed, and mule deer does. Not only that, but the NWTF includes other species like deer, waterfowl, and upland birds in their endeavors.
NWTF Mission Statement: Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. is the NWTF's 10-year initiative to: 1. Conserve or enhance 4 million acres of critical upland habitat. We're bringing focus to our conservation delivery by identifying areas of habitat that provide the most positive impact for wildlife. 2. Create 1.5 million hunters. We're securing the future of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation by increasing the number of hunters, who pay for 80 percent of wildlife conservation through excise taxes on guns, ammunition and more. 3. Open access to 500,000 additional acres for hunting. Because lack of access to hunting lands is a main reason people stop hunting, we're ensuring there's opportunity for everyone to find a place to go.
Click here to learn more about the NWTF.
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
The RMEF was founded in 1984 by four hunters who resided in Troy, Montana. They created this organization because they wanted to ensure the future of the elk. But what they didn't realize at the time was their efforts to conserve the elk would also come to benefit other game animals, such as deer.
RMEF has protected and enhanced more than 6.8 million acres of wildlife habitat. It's also opened access or secured access to more than 852,000 acres of land for outdoor recreation. And with nearly 220,000 members, it continues to grow efforts and impacts throughout the country.
RMEF Mission Statement: The mission of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is to ensure the future of elk, other wildlife, their habitat and our hunting heritage. Find facts, such as the number of acres of elk habitat the RMEF has conserved or enhanced, the number of RMEF members and chapters across the country, and much more.
Click here to learn more about RMEF.
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