The Mule Deer Foundation, with generous support from the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, has successfully launched a series of impactful conservation projects aimed at enhancing wildlife habitats and connectivity for mule deer and associated grassland species. Thanks to a $250,000 grant from the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, the Mule Deer Foundation can leverage an additional $1.4 million from other partners and internal sources. This combined funding allows us to implement over 27 projects on working lands and ranches across the Great Plains states, resulting in improvements to more than 55,000 acres of wildlife habitat. Projects span the Great Plains states, including North Dakota, Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, eastern Wyoming, eastern Colorado, western Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico.
These efforts benefit not only mule deer populations but also a wide range of grassland-dependent species, including sage grouse, other upland birds, waterfowl, and various other wildlife. By focusing on these impaired ecosystems and improving the management of agricultural lands, we are removing barriers to wildlife movement and contributing to healthier ecosystems and greater biodiversity.
The Mule Deer Foundation believes that the Great Plains ecosystems are of vital importance not only to mule deer and other wildlife but also to our sense of wildness in the West. For more information on our projects on the Great Plains, please click the link here or review our Great Plains Initiative strategy paper available here.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund for their generous support. We look forward to continuing our collaboration on these and future projects.
About the Mule Deer Foundation:
The Mule Deer Foundation is the only conservation group in North America dedicated to conserving mule deer and black-tailed deer and their habitat. MDF is a strong voice for hunters, wildlife management, and conservation policy issues. To join MDF and get involved in your state go to http://muledeer.org or call 1-801-973-3940.
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