BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

Sage of the Sage · Joined: 02 Jan 2006 Posts: 144 Location: Butte, MT

Are you a member? What do you think of the organization as a whole?

buffybr · Joined: 15 Nov 2007 Posts: 33 Location: Montana, USA

Yes, I am a member.

They have saved thousands of acres of elk and other game habitat from the rampant land development that is devouring the west. This is good.

tim · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 332 Location: north idaho

I have been a member since 1992.

i definalty do not agree with everything they do or say. The organization has changed. They used to be all about saving elk. now they are all about saving the yellowstone elk herd. To me they have gone overboard on the ethics of hunting. If you don't bowhunt a wilderness area with horese you are not a hunter. I have a hard time with that.

I will probably keep being a member, but they have seem to lost sight of where they came from.

I will be curious to see what others have to say about the RMEF.
tim

Hiker · Joined: 23 Jun 2005 Posts: 1344 Location: Colorado

I use to be a member, but not currently.

Alamosa · Joined: 25 Mar 2005 Posts: 125 Location: Southern Colorado

I have been a member for some time now.

I have attended the elk camp held each Feb in Reno. It is a lot of fun. I highly recommend it.

I especially enjoy reading the magazine, however, one recent issue was entirely devoted to PA elk. I felt this was a disservice to their core constituency. Overall though Bugle magazine is worth the price of membership.

In my opinion, RMEF made a huge mistake by not getting on the right side of the CWD issue early and taking a firm stand on it. Even now, they continue to hide from that issue.

Like any big organization, take the good with the bad.

plainview · Joined: 07 Jan 2007 Posts: 47 Location: Southeast Colorado

I've been a member for many years. I enjoy attending the local banquet/auction. I have never participated in the organization beyond that level and that has been a mistake. Leadership cannot know how the rank & file feels if we do not jump in and make our voices heard on the issues.

I applaud the conservation efforts of the RMEF but fear the group has grown so large & "moneyed" that in many circles it is perceived as "elitist". That's a shame because it cannot address local isssues without a national presence. On the whole, as hunters, we are far better off because of the efforts of the RMEF. They have a single dominate purpose, and that is the conservation of the land base/habitat that elk live on. As individuals we may differ on issues such as ATV's, wolves & weapons but without the habitat we collectively have nothing.

MrKrabs · Joined: 12 Jan 2008 Posts: 51 Location: Roanoke, VA

I'm not a member, but I think plainview put it well.

I'm a life member of the NRA and definitely don't agree with everything they do. I'm still a member because without the money and influence they have the anti-gunners would bulldoze over our rights.

wyoelkhunter · Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Posts: 56 Location: wyoming

I am not a member, but i do enjoy Bugle. I work at an open pit coal mine and a lot of the conservation groups would preferre that not to happen. So its kinda a catch 22 for me, but on the other had the RMEF has done some great things with the reclaimed mine land in this area.

WesternHunter · Joined: 05 May 2006 Posts: 685 Location: Western USA

I think they are great conservation organization. Don't expect them to fight for your gun rights though. Hunters still need to be NRA or GOA member for that.