For waterfowl, it’s Ducks Unlimited. Pheasants have Pheasants Forever. For deer it’s Whitetails Unlimited, for turkeys the National Wild Turkey Federation, for quail there’s Quail Forever, and for elk the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
Elk?
Elk once abounded in Iowa, but over-hunting and changing land use practices eliminated the herd more than a century ago. The last wild elk disappeared from the state around 1871, and they are unlikely to return.
But that hasn’t stopped a group of dedicated North Iowans from working to protect the animals they enjoy and the places where those creatures still roam. And last Saturday, 100 people ventured out on a chilly night to attend the Royal Prairie Big Game Banquet at the Franklin County Conservation building in Hampton.
“It’s not about elk in Iowa, it’s about conservation of habitat,” explained chapter chair Eric Barkema of Alexander.
Barkema started elk hunting with his father Duane and a few friends, including Rod Pralle of Hampton. Their interest lead them to attend Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) fundraising banquets, and eventually to form their own chapter.
Besides attending the elk banquets, the men where also active in Pheasants Forever. They were able to draw on that experience, along with a lot of help from their families, in organizing the chapter and planning banquets. The first was held in 2004.
“It’s been a challenge,” said Pralle, who was in charge of items offered for raffle and auction at the banquet. “I had a whole garage full of merchandise for a month, but I love it. We really believe in this organization.”
RMEF regional coordinator Kurt Flack appreciates that dedication. “It’s a smaller committee, but they’re very passionate and easy to work with.”
Flack notes that despite the lack of elk in Iowa, RMEF has strong support in the state, with seven chapters and more than 2,200 members. He attributes that support to the beauty and grandeur of the western landscape the group works to protect. “Once people visit there, it’s an area that’s very close to their hearts.”
The Rockies are definitely close to the heart of RMEF life member Kevin Loy of Cedar Falls. He enjoys hunting out west “wherever I can draw a tag.” He looks forward to taking his daughter, Nicole, already an accomplished turkey hunter, on a hunt as soon as she turns 12, the minimum age to purchase a big game tag in many western states.
Last fall he was able to hunt antelope on the Torstenson Family Wildlife Center/Double H Ranch in New Mexico. The property, donated to RMEF in 2002, is managed for hunting, wildlife habitat and conservation education.
“It was a real treat,” Loy said. “It’s an unbelievable property. Wonderful people. They really manage it for the animals.”
Although he hasn’t hunted the Double H, Darin Schrader of Hampton has also developed a love of the west and an appreciation for RMEF. He first experienced the Rockies 15 years ago, but it was more than a decade before he acquired the money and free time to go back.
After two enjoyable but ultimately unsuccessful bow hunts, Schrader was able to score on a nice 5x6 bull with a rifle last fall while hunting with Fritzlan and Family Hunting and Guide Service of Rifle, Colorado. He’s already planning, and shopping for, his next trip.
“Once you go out there, you want to go back as often as you can,” Schrader explained.
Schrader was impressed with the amount of quality habitat in the west, and with how much use it receives. “The roads were lined with people camping and hunting.”
Protecting that habitat for himself and others to enjoy is important to Schrader, which is why he chose to become a sponsor for the RMEF banquet this year. Like elk hunting, it’s a tradition he intends to maintain.
“I’ll probably be a sponsor every year from now on,” Schrader predicted.
That’s good news for the Barkemas and Pralles, as well as the elk.
