The short answer is because I was asked, and my brother-in-law offered to buy my dinner if I showed up to the first meeting. As my involvement grew, though, I found within the Elk Foundation a mission mirroring my life’s passion for habitat and wildlife conservation. I also met people with whom I share beliefs including the importance of protecting habitat and hunting. Already I feel like I am forging priceless, lifelong friendships.

The truth be told, I am really volunteering for my grandchildren. I want them to be able to enjoy watching an elk herd in a meadow I have helped restore, or experience the thrill of Opening Morning.

Not all of us have land or large sums of money to donate for a cause, but we all have a commodity far more valuable: time. All the money in the world is not going to remove abandoned barbwire from a meadow or build fences to protect aspen groves. It takes us—“the volunteers”—to truly make a difference.

I believe the conservation and hunting traditions we enjoy today, a result of the hard work and dedication of hunter-conservationists of the past, must be passed on. We must carry on the work of those who came before us if we want to ensure these same rights and resources will be around for future generations.

My challenge to you is this: look around among your friends for one person who can help you make a difference and simply ask them to become an RMEF volunteer. If they balk, offer to buy them dinner.