I too was at the Ogden MDF banquet Saturday night and thought it was a great time! the amount of prizes and the dinner was great! Those guys and gals up there should be congratulated for putting on one bang-up party.
I too heard Tony get up and talk about the elk situation but, he wasn't trying to take away from the MDF or deer hunters at all. He was stated what the board member in attendance had just done recently for us as hunters and sportsmen(women). The Wildlife board had just recently (within the past few weeks) made some changes that greatly effected the permits and opportunities for elk hunting in this great state. It was not a dig to deer hunters or the MDF. I thought for a speech, it was pretty good (short).
Did you enjoy a good meal? Get to participate in some raffles and prize drawings? Win anything? Enjoy watching a fantastic live auction? See some money go towards our future hunting and outdoor opportunities? Enjoy spending time with other people who believe that mule deer and hunting is a top priority in their lives and want to see it stay that way? That is what banquets like Saturdays are all about.
I would recommend calling Mike Laughter (Regional Director for Utah) at 801-391-0567 if you want to know about all the projects going on in Utah right now for Mule Deer or go to
www.muledeer.org. I personally know that the Mule Deer Foundation put over $311,000 of our dollars to work for us and Mule Deer in the state of Utah last year and look to do more than that this year.
A great example of that is the project beginning at Hardware Ranch. We are losing deer (and elk) at a high rate up Blacksmith Fork canyon because they hae to come across the road for salt and water. The MDF is putting in a well, pump and guzzle pipeline all the way down the canyon on the North side (south slope) to keep the deer (and elk) from having to cross the road. This project alone will cost over $60,000! This is our hard-earned dollars going to projects that increase deer herds and improve habitat. Remember, when you improve the habitat for one group of animals, you also improve it for others as well. This is why the MDF, RMEF, SFW and other combined their money at times to work on projects together and with the DWR.
I don't mean to sound preachy. Like you, mule deer and the opportunity to hunt them is a big issue for me and I attend as many banquets as I can and volunteer for as many projects as I can to put my money and my time where my mouth is. I want to see my kids have the same and better opportunites than I have. Donating my time and money to organizations such as the Mule Deer Foundation is how I have choosen to do it.