Post by: eastsidebugle on October 04, 2009, 02:31:13 PM
Post by: yelp on October 04, 2009, 02:32:15 PM
Post by: KillBilly on October 04, 2009, 02:35:03 PM
Post by: Craig on October 04, 2009, 03:12:43 PM
Post by: bow-n-head on October 04, 2009, 03:25:38 PM
Post by: dawhunt on October 04, 2009, 03:36:07 PM
Bob
Post by: edmondshunter on October 04, 2009, 04:16:30 PM
Quote
Not me, I believe the RMEF is the devil in disguise.
That devil just scored us some prime Elk, Deer, Turkey, and Bear territory just outside Cle Elum.
Post by: halflife65 on October 04, 2009, 04:26:35 PM
Post by: HUNT on October 04, 2009, 04:34:39 PM
Post by: eastsidebugle on October 04, 2009, 04:55:07 PM
Post by: halflife65 on October 04, 2009, 05:38:02 PM
Post by: Huntbear on October 04, 2009, 05:49:03 PM
Post by: huntnphool on October 04, 2009, 05:56:20 PM
Post by: Austrian Hunter on October 04, 2009, 06:04:47 PM
Post by: MagKarl on October 04, 2009, 06:55:44 PM
Post by: elkaholic123 on October 04, 2009, 07:04:30 PM
Post by: gasman on October 04, 2009, 08:31:46 PM
Post by: actionshooter on October 04, 2009, 08:36:16 PM
Post by: eastsidebugle on October 04, 2009, 08:43:09 PM
Post by: elksnout on October 04, 2009, 08:53:26 PM
Post by: RUTNBULL1 on October 04, 2009, 10:05:57 PM
Post by: kramman on October 05, 2009, 01:48:44 PM
Post by: KimberRich on October 05, 2009, 02:07:20 PM
Every organization has it's flaws but they are doing something for us sportsman none the less. I've skinned a couple deer and a couple turkeys with the "free" knives they've given me.. :chuckle:
Post by: KillBilly on October 05, 2009, 02:36:21 PM
Been a member for 3 years.QuoteNot me, I believe the RMEF is the devil in disguise.
That devil just scored us some prime Elk, Deer, Turkey, and Bear territory just outside Cle Elum.
And everything they score for us (supposedly) will be subject to their control and can and I believe will be off limits to us someday. I truly believe they have a huge hidden agenda that is going to ruin it for us someday. Just my :twocents:
Post by: bigdave on October 05, 2009, 02:41:56 PM
Got it.
Post by: HoofsandWings on October 05, 2009, 02:48:41 PM
If you wonder about the group, there are charity raters on the web.
If you look at the membership counts, if you donate $20-$50 per year, there just are not enough members to
provide funding for the projects. Land where elk are found is pricier than desert scub.
Also, if you are the size of DU with several million members, $20-$50 per year will do just fine.
Just my :twocents:
Post by: HoofsandWings on October 05, 2009, 02:54:45 PM
Post by: wadu1 on October 05, 2009, 08:01:48 PM
Post by: bowtech721 on October 05, 2009, 08:06:26 PM
Post by: jackelope on October 05, 2009, 08:47:49 PM
Post by: Craig on October 05, 2009, 08:49:12 PM
Post by: jsteplee on October 05, 2009, 09:02:33 PM
Post by: mtndew on October 05, 2009, 09:13:17 PM
Post by: passing-thru on October 06, 2009, 12:34:07 PM
Post by: gunnarnewt on October 06, 2009, 12:41:52 PM
Post by: edmondshunter on October 06, 2009, 07:14:46 PM
Quote
I am a member, but have developed reservations about the group. Seems they are catering to the rich and money crowd, not the every day working stiff hunters. Just like Safari Club. If you have enough money, it seems you are welcome to meet them, go on hunts with them, etc.... if you are a working stiff, tough luck chuck! They are helping to bring in that elitist attitude about hunting, that we all fear. Only the rich will be able to hunt.
These are very valid concerns. All nonprofit orgs. run in this same manner. How many of us are Boeing credit union members? The point is, they have to cater to the all mighty dollar in order to produce funding for any endeavor. Its a double edge sword and I know that sucks but take the good with the bad.
If and I mean if the RMEF tyred to close the Cle Elum area, they would be met with all sorts of opposition. The mining industry in that area, ATV public area national forrest etc. Public lands are just that Public. Part of these land sale contracts from the State and public sector involve access rights to folks just like us here on this site. For example. If a housing development builds along a river, stream etc. they have to allow public rods access to the water way Via Private Prop. or easements. Having said that I don't need a bunch of crap about Grandfather Clauses and so on.
A lot of people think that Greenpeace is a bad org., maybe it is, but the good that is spurn from it is undeniably positive. People wouldn't know squat about the issues at stake if it wasn't for Orgs. like the RMEF.....
Post by: RUTNBULL1 on October 06, 2009, 08:08:13 PM
Got membership for birthday 20 yrs ago and still enrolled today. As stated things have changed but they still do some outstanding things for elk herds and habitat. Should become life member but $1500 bucks is hard to shell out.Hey Pass you can always sign up for a life memebership and do the payment plan. ;)
Post by: droptine on October 07, 2009, 09:06:09 AM
Post by: WonkyWapiti on October 07, 2009, 04:16:15 PM
Post by: halflife65 on October 07, 2009, 08:17:11 PM
1. From Huntbear - They are beginning to have an elitist attitude
2. From Killbilly - All lands are under RMEF control - this could potentially mean that they could close lands to some/all hunters and/or charge fees to hunt on them or deed them (or turn over management) to some other organization that may or may not be pro-hunting
3. From HoofsandWings - They have accepted some deeded land that cannot be hunted because it was a condition of accepting the deed to the land. Please see Point X below – this could also be a GOOD thing (which is probably what HoofsandWings intended).
Arguments FOR RMEF are:
1. From eastsidebugle – “I spend 35 bucks a year on way stupider crap than that…”
2. From Craig – Donated land is still habitat that otherwise may be purchased by a developer (or otherwise used for something other than the benefit of elk/deer/non-game species, etc.). Even if you can’t hunt it, it’s still great that it exists and is protected.
3. Their charter is to purchase lands and sponsor projects that help/enhance habitat for elk (and other species). An example is around the Eburg area with the lands that they’ve purchased and the gates that they’ve paid for on some roads in the Naneum unit (something that I’ve noticed.)
4. The website promotes elk, elk habitat and hunting (Bugle Magazine, eNewsletters, TV program.)
Things that I’m unclear about:
1. From HoofsandWings – I think that you are saying that there isn’t enough money coming in from donors ($20 to $50/year) to cover the projects that RMEF is doing. Are you implying that there is “hidden” money coming to the organization from somewhere? Or, are you saying, that there are more projects than money and some things are just not getting done – RMEF needs to become the size of DU to get enough money to complete necessary projects?
2. From Huntbear - Elitist Attitude: Does this mean that you need to have money to be invited to the party with the big boys?...I'm unclear if this means that you just don't like the people (that's fine), you don’t get invited to some of the organization’s meetings (which may have the consequence that you don’t get a chance to provide input into organizational decisions) or if it means that you think that there is some hidden agenda to eventually disallow hunting on RMEF purchased lands at all or unless you can pay (or some combination of the above).
3. From wadu1 – You state that RMEF puts as much money as possible into conservation of land as possible. While this is certainly what I hope is happening (and why I give them my money), have you verified this?
4. Is there anything in the charter, fine print, etc. that says what RMEF can do with the land? IE. Sell, make off limits to some all members, stop hunting, etc.? I’m not sure…just wondering if anybody knows the answer to this question.
5. From Killbilly – “And everything they score for us (supposedly) will be subject to their control and can and, I believe, will be off limits to us someday. I truly believe they have a huge hidden agenda that is going to ruin it for us someday.
Can you expand on what makes you think this way? Did they do something already, is it the “elitist attitude” as mentioned above? Is it just a gut feeling?
6. From Edmondshunter – “If, and I mean, if the RMEF tried to close the Cle Elum area, they would be met with all sorts of opposition. The mining industry in that area, ATV (groups), public area national forest, etc. Public lands are just that: Public. Part of these land sale contracts from the State and public sector involve access rights to folks just like us here on this site. For example, if a housing developer builds along a river, stream etc. they have to allow public rods access to the water way Via Private Prop. or easements. Having said that I don't need a bunch of crap about Grandfather Clauses and so on.”
I think that you are saying that at least some of it would need to be left open as an easement for the public to access public lands if RMEF tried to restrict access? Can you clear this up? Does this also mean that the land would be off limits with the exception of a road/travel easement to access public or private lands with different owners than RMEF?
Please feel free to add anything to the lists above. If anybody wants to clear up the comments they made, I’d appreciate that as well. That goes for the “unclear” section as well as the “For” and “Against” sections. I am NOT trying to put words in anybody’s mouth, either. If I misconstrued someone’s comment(s) or have them out of context, please correct me.
I currently give my membership dues to RMEF every year and I want to make an informed decision about where to put my money. The list above is not an attempt by me to convince anybody to be for or against RMEF – just hoping to gather some facts and clear up my misconceptions where they might exist.
Post by: HoofsandWings on October 08, 2009, 11:01:40 AM
"Or, are you saying, that there are more projects than money and some things are just not getting done – RMEF needs to become the size of DU to get enough money to complete necessary projects?"
Yes that.
DU takes in 250 million dollars a year vs RMEF at 50 million.
See www.charitynavigator.org
Post by: halflife65 on October 08, 2009, 12:51:01 PM
Post by: lewy on October 08, 2009, 12:56:39 PM
Post by: royalbull on October 08, 2009, 09:07:49 PM
Post by: dewandgin on October 08, 2009, 10:11:16 PM
Post by: bobcat on October 08, 2009, 10:17:40 PM
Post by: huntandjeep on October 11, 2009, 07:37:12 PM
Post by: bucksnort on October 11, 2009, 08:17:35 PM
Post by: Bridger on October 12, 2009, 07:32:05 PM
Post by: norsepeak on October 12, 2009, 09:31:51 PM
Post by: h2ofowlr on October 12, 2009, 09:37:26 PM
Post by: Fish4Fun on October 13, 2009, 06:37:01 AM
Post by: fishm@n on October 13, 2009, 09:34:41 AM
Post by: Little Dave on October 13, 2009, 09:51:22 AM
Post by: droptine on October 13, 2009, 03:40:43 PM
Post by: WAPITIHUNTER on October 13, 2009, 03:58:15 PM
Post by: firedog on October 13, 2009, 09:08:25 PM
Post by: eastsidebugle on October 13, 2009, 09:18:00 PM
Post by: Fireant11 on October 13, 2009, 10:34:11 PM
Post by: BoomWhop on October 13, 2009, 10:44:57 PM
Post by: provider on October 14, 2009, 11:35:44 AM
Post by: Watimberghost on October 14, 2009, 03:39:56 PM
Post by: 3dvapor on October 14, 2009, 05:52:57 PM
Post by: halflife65 on October 14, 2009, 05:56:59 PM
Try this link to see what they've done in WA:
http://www.rmef.org/Conservation/WhereWeWork/Washington/
Post by: eastsidebugle on October 14, 2009, 07:31:22 PM