The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation presented longtime biologist, avid hunter and RMEF life member Casey Stemler with the Conservationist of the Year Award at its 40th Anniversary Celebration on May 4, 2024.
“I have a long history with RMEF so for me this recognition is super important,” said Stemler. “I’m being recognized for this, but I feel a little guilty because you cannot do this without partners and all the people on the landscape doing the work. Thank you for recognizing me but really, thank you for recognizing all the people.”
Stemler is the force behind the Department of Interior’s 2018 Big Game Winter Range and Migration Corridors Initiative (Secretarial Order 3362) to improve habitat in western migration corridors. (Click here to view a video.)
“Casey’s dedicated efforts led to unprecedented focus and support over the last decade for the conservation of western big game species resulting in millions of dollars in committed funding for mapping, research, barrier removal and land and wildlife conservation,” said Blake Henning, RMEF chief conservation officer.
RMEF is a major proponent and funding source of big game migration corridor conservation, having committed $650,000 in 2023 alone. Just last month, the U.S. Geological Survey released the fourth volume of the Ungulate Migrations of the Western United States, which documents 33 mule deer, pronghorn antelope and elk herd migration routes.
