It is elementary, but wild elk need habitat to thrive. And they need it in a place where they are welcome.
That was a major concern as West Virginia geared up to restore elk to its native range in the Mountain State.
When the reintroduction took place in 2016, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation committed $300,000 plus manpower toward efforts to do so.
In an initial step toward that commitment, RMEF granted $50,000 dollars to a 2017 transaction spearheaded by The Conservation Fund to secure 32,000 acres of reclaimed mine lands that are prime forest and grasslands in Logan and Mingo Counties.
In a part of the nation where public land and public access is limited, this swath of land lies at ground zero in West Virginia’s elk zone now known as the Tomblin Wildlife Management Area.
Today, due to additional purchases and leases, it now covers 44,000 acres and remains open for hunting and other recreational use.
Opening and improving public access is key to RMEF’s conservation work.
To learn more about the sites and boundaries of RMEF access projects near you or your favorite hunting area, turn on the RMEF layer in the onX Hunt App.
Plus, use the code R-M-E-F when you sign up for your new onX subscription to receive a 20 percent discount, and a portion of the proceeds benefit RMEF’s conservation mission.
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