MISSOULA, Mont. — Mark Holyoak of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation stopped by NBC Montana Today on Tuesday and chatted with host Jason Hurst about what the organization does.

Holyoak is the organization’s communications director. He said RMEF started 40 years ago when four deer hunters in Northwest Montana wanted to form a group to advocate for deer.

“We went from a double-wide trailer in the middle of a field outside of a small town about 180 miles northwest of here to the beautiful facility we are in today, which also has a beautiful visitor center,” Holyoak said. in question.

Holyoak says the group protects habitat and opens public access for hunters, hikers, fishermen and wildlife watchers. RMEF sees a large number of visitors throughout the year.

“It’s really fun, especially during the school year,” Holyoak said. “We’ll see busloads of kids rolling in there. One of the things we do is hand out these little cardboard antlers that they wear, they look just like the old Burger King hats, except they have horns, so the kids run around. There’s an opportunity to see some big deer mounted there. They can get the antlers, “They can touch their fur, there are some interactive videos and other activities they can participate in. It’s a learning experience, but it’s also fun.”

Land conservation and access is a core program for RMEF. The group works to increase public access to land.

“We will be looking for pieces of land that are quality habitat for wildlife,” Holyoak said. “…we will try to purchase them and then forward them to a public agency.”

Holyoak explained that much of wildlife management and land conservation happens thanks to funds generated from hunting.

“In 1937, a law was passed called the Pittman Robertson Act,” Holyoak said. “At the time, a 10 percent excise tax was placed on the purchase of guns, ammunition and archery equipment, and still remains today. This tax has raised $17 billion since 1937, and this money has been put back into the land, primarily for land and wildlife conservation.” .”

Hunters pay millions in licenses and fees each year, Holyoak said.

“If you put it all together, it translates into fund conservation efforts,” Holyoak said.

For more information about the organization, visit rmef.org.