It’s not often that a multi-day project wraps up in a single day, but it happened near Rifle, Colorado, when 15 members from five different RMEF chapters led by Rifle Chapter Chair Dave Sharp came together to remove 2 1/2 miles of barbed-wire fence to enhance wildlife habitat on public land.  

RMEF’s Castle Peak, Flat Tops, Grand Junction, Montrose and Rifle chapters came out in force at the West Rifle Creek State Wildlife Area (SWA) last spring. Despite the SWA’s steep terrain and thick brush, the number of volunteers willing to lend a hand helped the project run smoothly and quickly, said Dan McClain, RMEF regional director for western Colorado. 

The day began with a safety brief and overview of the project, then each volunteer spread out along the fence line and took on a role. Some cut wire free from the thick oak brush while others pulled staples from the fence posts and rolled loose barbed wire into bundles for Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) to pick up later. 

“The outpouring from other RMEF chapters on the Western Slope of Colorado was unbelievable. It was absolutely amazing how much work we were able to complete in just one day because of all of the help we had,” Sharpe said. 

The original barbed-wire fence was built to restrict prohibited ATV use on the SWA. With the fence now gone, CPW replaced the old section with new wildlife-friendly fencing that features a PVC pipe over the top wire strand to prevent critters from getting caught when they jump over it. 

Mike Miller, the western Colorado state chair and co-chair of the Flat Tops chapter, remembers when the SWA was a private ranch. When it went on the market in 2019, he was delighted that CPW was able to acquire it.  

 “I was excited that people will have more opportunities to utilize this land,” said Miller. 

The 1,821-acre SWA’s scrub oak, mountain mahogany and sagebrush offer exceptional winter range for elk and deer. A small creek runs through the property, further enhancing food and water sources for other species like wild turkeys and mountain lions. The SWA is open to hunting and abuts adjacent public lands. 

Reflecting on the workday, Miller said that a fence pull offers an incredible opportunity and encourages people of all ages to take part in their local RMEF volunteer projects.  

“It’s a great way to get involved. There’s always something for somebody to do,” he said, adding that another volunteer fence pull is scheduled on West Rifle Creek SWA in June 2026. 

Find out how you can become involved in an RMEF volunteer work project by visiting our volunteer section for a list of upcoming projects searchable by state.