New Mexico is a foreign and intriguing place for YETI ambassador Fred Campbell, a big game hunter, fly fisherman and business owner from Quebec, Canada. More than 2,000 miles from his beloved Gaspé Peninsula, the high-desert terrain of the southwestern U.S. is a new experience for him, as is spot-and-stalk elk hunting.
As Campbell roams the hills and arroyos RMEF helped conserve through the Alamocita Creek project, the hunt becomes a time of discovery and appreciation. He connects with the early hunters who left traces of their pursuits from more than a thousand years ago, and he reflects on the importance of RMEF’s conservation and habitat work.
In stark contrast to the lush forests of Campbell’s home province, the dry, open country of west-central New Mexico is challenging ground for a hunter carrying an open-sighted muzzleloader. But as Campbell closes the distance on a bull surrounded by cows, he finds enjoyment in the difficult stalk and comes away from the hunt with awe for a conserved landscape and deep gratitude toward those who have protected it.
Ensuring our hunting heritage is central to RMEF’s mission. Hunters—America’s first conservationists—remain the driving force behind wildlife conservation. Through grants that support hunting heritage and conservation education, along with the RMEF OutdoorClass online learning platform, RMEF helps more people experience the outdoors, learn the skills of hunting and carry forward the traditions that define big game country.