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Mule Deer Foundation Seeking to Bolster Kalispell Chapter

By Beacon Staff

The Mule Deer Foundation, a wildlife conservation organization founded in Redding, Calif., in 1988, is trying to bolster its Montana chapters, including one in Kalispell.

The Kalispell chapter has been active for two years, and organizers are trying to build up membership and create a healthy organization that can raise funds and awareness for wildlife and habitat causes.

According to the organization, the Mule Deer Foundation focuses on the following goals:

— To restore, improve and protect mule deer habitat, including land and easement acquisitions, resulting in self-sustaining, healthy, free ranging and huntable deer populations.

— To encourage and support responsible wildlife management with government agencies, private organizations and landowners.

— To promote public education and scientific research related to mule deer and wildlife management.

— To support and encourage responsible and ethical behavior and awareness of issues among those whose actions affect mule deer.

— Acknowledge regulated hunting as a viable component of mule and black-tailed deer conservation.

The MDF is also involved in introducing youth to hunting, shooting/archery and conservation. MDF chapters hold annual events for youth, like MULEY Day, as a way to educate them about mule deer and the habitat. Chapters in Montana raised $14,000 in 2012 for statewide youth shooting teams.

Montana has 10 chapters: Kalispell, Missoula, Butte, Helena, Great Falls, Bozeman, Columbus, Billings, Colstrip and Miles City. Another chapter is about to open in Hamilton. In the past two years Montana chapters raised over $225,000 in funds to be put back on the ground, according to the MDF.

Banquets, fundraisers and events are planned throughout the year and community members are encouraged to participate.

For more information, contact Marshall Johnson, the regional director of MDF, at 406-850-8795 or email [email protected].

For more information about the Mule Deer Foundation, click here.