MISSOULA, Mont. — The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation entered into a voluntary conservation agreement with a private landowner in southern Wyoming to protect 320 acres of important elk and bighorn sheep habitat.

The inholding is adjacent to land managed by the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest and Bureau of Land Management in the Sierra Madre Mountain Range south of the small community of Encampment. It lies in a region where RMEF has a long-standing engagement in the North Platte Valley Mule Deer Initiative, which aims to address challenges of mule deer populations.

“This agreement has significant, beneficial impacts for elk and other wildlife,” said RMEF President and CEO Kyle Weaver. “It protects outstanding wildlife values such as calving grounds for elk and winter range for both elk and bighorn sheep as well as habitat for moose, mule deer and other species.”

The property features large aspen stands, meadows, shrubs and important riparian habitat since it has well-developed water sources including the North and South Forks of Miner Creek that rim on its border. It also supplies habitat connectivity between public lands in all directions.

“RMEF utilizes volunteer conservation agreements as a tool to protect and conserve wildlife habitat that remains under private ownership, prevents future development and allows animals to move unimpeded over the patchwork of land ownership. We thank the Altschuler family for their conservation vision,” said Jenn Doherty, RMEF managing director of Mission Operations.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:???

Founded in 1984 and fueled by hunters, RMEF has conserved more than 8.9 million acres for elk and other wildlife. RMEF also works to open and improve public access, fund and advocate for science-based resource management, and ensure the future of America’s hunting heritage. Discover why “Hunting Is Conservation” ® at rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Contact Mark Holyoak, RMEF, 406-523-3481 or mholyoak@rmef.org