Established May 14, 198440 Years of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

When four elk hunters founded RMEF in 1984, there were approximately 550,000 elk in North America. Today, the elk population numbers more than 1.1 million. RMEF and its partners have completed more than 14,000 conservation and hunting heritage projects that conserved or enhanced nearly 9 million acres of habitat. Those projects also opened or improved public access to more than 1.59 million acres of land. The total value of RMEF projects since 1984 is more than $1.6 billion.

40th Anniversary Featured Stories

RMEF recently held it’s 40th Anniversary celebration May 3-4, 2024 in Missoula, Montana. Members, volunteers, donors, conservation partners, corporate partners, staff and others gathered to honor the organization’s founding and celebrate its 40 years of conservation successes!

Below is a collection of stories that highlight the celebration and honor RMEF’s mission of ensuring the future of elk, other wildlife, their habitat and our hunting heritage.


40th AnniversaryNews ReleasesMay 17, 2024 Partners Play Huge Role in 40 Years of RMEF Conservation MISSOULA, Mont. — Celebrating four decades of conservation, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation formally recognized six partner organizations at its recent 40th anniversary celebration that helped further its mission over that time – U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG), Bass Pro Shops-Cabela’s, Browning, Leupold and Weatherby. “The Forest Service and […]

The Story of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

RMEF Founders

Bob Munson (left), Charlie Decker (right), Dan Bull (back left) and Bill Munson (back right)

I think the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation will put a footprint on this nation. And that's something extraordinary.

— Charlie Decker, RMEF Co-Founder, 2023

There was never a thought in my mind or any of our minds that this couldn't work. Why? We believed strongly that there was a need and we believed God would provide for us one way or another.

— Bob Munson, RMEF Co-Founder, 2023

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