Slightly Sober, what atrocity are they commiting?
Anything besides the top two guys yearly salary?
@JakeSwensen ,
That is indeed a big one. Do you remember how/when MFF started? Were you living in WY then? Joshua Coursey (JC) and them had a record year fundraising as VOLUNTEERS for the MDF. The oil/natural gas money was FLOWING. They were upset so much of the money went out of state. Maybe they didn't realize there's mule deer outside WY? They were upset at the top leadership, felt they did nothing and got paid all that $$$. JC and them also got their peepee's slapped when it was exposed on MM's that they were auctioning off CANNED elk hunts at the foundation. The MDF took a stand and said no more canned hunts auctioning off at their banquets.
So MFF was born by a used car salesmen and a guy who worked at the railroad. Both had jobs they wanted out of. What better way than to focus on something they love, mule deer. Can't fault them there right? And this organization was going to be different. It would be focused on Wyoming mule deer. The money stayed here. Transparency!
Kinda of a side note here but you gotta love the irony of the oilfield being one of the reasons for the decline of the mule deer also the reason there was so much money available for "conservation".
It didn't take long for the MULEY fanatic foundation to get off its feet. While at the same time the MDF chapter tanked. Right off the bat it seemed like MFF went off coursey (sic). Here's a couple notable uses of MULEY foundation money:
1). Womens only hunter safety classes. Didn't know that was problem of mule deer but glad we addressed that. But seriously, WTF
2) Installed a bunch of expensive stop poaching signs all over. Really? Everyone has a smart phone, are those signs really necessary? Maybe 30 years ago. Just eyesores out there and something else that will just get shot up.
Gosh its been awhile but there were a couple other good ones out there. I know theres some guys who read this that were involved heavily at first, shoot me a text and i'll edit them in the post.
So for me and this is my only opinion, for an organization that really only takes your money and passes it on (like the mule deer migration study) is it really necessary to have at least two people making over 100,000 each, a recently hired retired cop (not sure his salary, im guessing 70k) AND an office manager? Remember the local chapter of MDF was ran by VOLUNTEERS. But you see this wasn't really about the mule deer, it was about cars and railroads...
Anyways JC likes to really talk about the migration study. You know the study that was happening regardless if they donated money. The same study that was necessary when any shed hunter from SW wyoming could of told you what they are figuring out. Hell eastmans talked about it in the 90's. It didn't take a rocket scientist to know those 250 deer by point of rocks were not local deer. A lot of great things came from that study dont get me wrong, but to have MFF ride the coattails is laughable at best.
Someone mentioned the hunts taking out the youth. Again, another program that does NOTHING for mule deer conservation. It's really great they are doing that. Don't get me wrong. But again nothing to do with Mule Deer. Full disclosure: I have a kid who is disabled. So maybe I'm more biased on this one. But i can't help to think the angle JC is playing here.
It's a shame what happened so quickly to MFF. There were a lot of great people eager to help out mule deer who have since turned their back on MFF. The fact they are still around is because donating to wildlife organizations is a placebo effect on ones mind they are helping out something they love and are so passionate about. The reality is you can do more for mule deer than the MFF will ever accomplish. Wear sweaters during winter in your house, turn your thermostat down. Change your house to LED light bulbs and be more energy conscience.
Or you can give money to MFF, the wrapped new truck they have probably needs paid for. They most likely have a few more buddies that need hired. Lets see so far they got a used car salesmen, a railroad worker, an ex cop. I'm sure theres a priest that needs hired. Would of been nice to see them recruit some people with wildlife backgrounds. But once again, MFF was never and will never be about mule deer.
Jake if you want the skinny on JC himself, send me a PM. I can't post about JC without getting in trouble.
@Founder I hope I kept this within the parameters of your rules for the forum. Thanks!