MDF

HuntElk4Fun · Apr 23, 2006

I attended the Ogden MDF Banquet last night. I must admit the banquet itself was very well ran, but I have one concern. As a member of MDF, why no report on Mule Deer? Mr. Abbott got up and proceeded to tell us all about the Utah Elk tags, Elk this and that, all about how well we are all supporting MDF and the money we are generating. I had to check my receipt in case I blinked and got sent to the RMEF banquet. No mention on anything Mule Deer - nothing at all. Nothing about the herd in general, the future, the voice of the members, nothing. I don't want to be lectured for hours, but 5 mins on Mule Deer might have been nice.

Anyway, anyone in MDF explain why we heard about Elk? As a donating member, I'm curious where our $$$ is going and why nothing would be mentioned. As a member, I felt like an Apple shareholder hearing how well IBM was doing.

chasemike · Apr 24, 2006

Maybe you were looking at the gals selling tickets, & didn't hear him. Mike

HuntElk4Fun · Apr 24, 2006

No... I heard him. Did you hear something different? Please fill me in on the Mule Deer talk that I missed?

Packout · Apr 25, 2006

You arn't the only one who feels the same about the "New" MDF. I sent you a PM on what I was told by a MDF official.

fishon · Apr 25, 2006

LAST EDITED ON Apr-25-06 AT 10:09AM (MST)[p]Thanks for those of you that attended the Ogden event. It went real well and my appreciation goes to all who participated.

Yes I did mention the elk and the reason I did is because that was the hot topic. MDF members are elk hunters and turkey hunters and fisherman as well. Mdf publication does a fantastic job of promoting what MDf is doing for Mule deer. All of you receive that and I hope you have noticed the drastic positive changes with it.

I am not one to stand up and preach to MDF members for hours on end. There are other groups that believe that is what banquets are for.

I believe banquets are for you the members to enjoy and have a good meal and a chance to win something and raise some money for wildlife. MDF recognized MR. Diamond (utah wildlife board member) and said thanks for giving Utah hunters more opportunity to hunt.

A few people came up to me to talk MDF stuff and a few just said hi. I was there for 3 hours and avaliable to anyone that had questions or comments. Please do not try to read more into what was said then there was. Ogden was a fantastic event and that committee and attendee's deserve the spotlight.

Thanks for asking, and I would be glad to visit with you on this.

Tony Abbott
General Manager
Mule Deer foundation
801-885-1274

tuttut2001 · Apr 25, 2006

I'd love to hear what you heard as well.

HuntElk4Fun · Apr 25, 2006

Tony-

I appreciate your response. Like I said above, I'm glad you didn't preach and it was appreciated. I think 5 mins of our time is fair and won't deter from the experience of the banquet. I also mentioned above I thought the banquet was very well ran. They did put on a great event.

I guess my thing is, if you do take the 5 mins to stand up, at least talk about Mule Deer. I realize MDF members hunt alot of species and hot topics exist out there.. like Elk. Still, in my personal opinion, Mule Deer should be the topic at a Mule Deer Foundation banquet. If MDF members want Elk info, goto the RMEF banquet! I guess it's a sad situation for Mule Deer in our state if the MDF and it's members are worried so much about Elk.

tuttut2001 · Apr 25, 2006

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.

fullcry · Apr 25, 2006

I to went to the Ogden MDF banquet.This was the second banquet i have ever been to.The first being the SCI banquet in SLC in FEb.
With that said, i thought it was excellent.I went with two brothers and family who,between us spent about 1500 bucks.It was a little hard to hear with the echo of the hall.Still it was awsome... We've already planned on going next year.If i hadnt of gotten a Cape Buffalo for Tanzania,i would have put a hurt-en on a elk tag...