1

Quarterly Newsletter: Q3 2015

Fall is in the Air…

Get Ready for the 3rd Annual Chapter Banquet!

The aspen trees are starting to turn into their glorious fall colors; the mornings are

cooler and hunting season is upon us! But that’s not the only thing that we are excited about

as the Muley Fanatic Foundation’s Southeast Wyoming Volunteer Committee are tirelessly donating their

time and skills into making the upcoming banquet a stellar success. If you haven’t already done so, make

plans to buy your tickets soon as we are looking at another sold out event that you don’t want to miss! We

have a lot of exciting things in store for the evening and think that you will like what we have been putting

together. You can find information on purchasing tickets on pages 10 and 11 of this newsletter. Keep in mind

that the early bird package deadline is November 1st!

On another note, we are excited to introduce our brand new chapter website. Find us online at mffsewy.com

This website is specifically dedicated to our corner of the state so you will be able to find all of the latest chap-

ter news, banquet information, project details, sponsor-

ship material, past newsletter editions, and much more!

You can even purchase banquet tickets on the website.

But that’s not all we have been up to. We are eager to

have all of our new chapter swag at the upcoming ban-

quet for purchase. You will find some great must-have’s

for both yourself and Christmas gifts.

Did you know that mule deer populations in the last 20

years have declined over 36 percent in the West? That’s

why the Muley Fanatic Foundation is proud to say that

“All funds raised in Wyoming STAY in Wyoming!” And

furthermore 70 percent of all funds raised by the South-

east Wyoming Chapter of the Muley Fanatic Foundation

stay right in our backyard (Laramie, Albany, and Carbon

Counties)!

DO THE RIGHT THING and help us raise Wyoming Bucks

for Wyoming Bucks (and Does and Fawns too!)

In This Issue….

MFF Headquarters Ultimate Sportsman’s Sweep-

stakes………………………………………………………………..2

Headquarters Update…………………………..…………...3

Tularemia Information……………………………………….4

Big Game Migrations………………………………………….5

Youth Project– Triumph HS………………………………..6

WY Mule Deer Initiative. …..……………………………...7

Fanatic Farming……………………………...………………...8

Stop Poaching…………………………………………………….8

Camo Cache Campaign..…………………………………….9

2015 Banquet……………………………………..10, 11 & 12

Meetings and Events…………………………………………13

2

3

4

Wyoming Game & Fish- The Wyoming Department of Health and the Wyoming Game and Fish Depart-ment would like to remind hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts to be aware of tularemia while enjoying the out of doors this fall.

This disease has been unusually active this year, so it’s particularly important to follow some common sense precautions to avoid being infected. So far there have been 16 documented human cases this year in Wyoming. Tularemia is generally a disease of rabbits, muskrats, beavers and squirrels, but can be trans-mitted to many other species through the bites of infected ticks and biting flies.

Direct contact with an infected animal, consuming undercooked meat, or even drinking contaminated wa-ter can also transmit the disease. To help prevent exposure, experts suggest these simple guidelines:

Use an insect repellent that is effective against ticks, biting flies and mosquitoes (for example DEET). Wear light colored clothing so that ticks are easier to spot.

Inspect hunting dogs/pets for ticks before returning home from the field and consult with your veteri-narian on tick prevention.

Avoid handling sick wildlife. Avoid drinking unpurified water from streams or lakes.

Wear gloves when field dressing any harvested animal especially rabbits, muskrats and beavers. Cook meat thoroughly before consumption, particularly rabbits and squirrels. Symptoms of tularemia in humans can include fever, swollen and painful lymph glands, inflamed eyes, sore throat, mouth sores, skin ulcers and diarrhea. If the bacteria are inhaled, symptoms can include sud-den onset of fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, joint pain, dry cough and progressive weakness and pneumonia.

Transmission of tularemia can occur at any time of year but the prevalence decreases after the first hard frost, which reduces the numbers of ticks and flies that transmit the disease.

Wyoming's Big Game Migrations and 50 Years of Wilderness Now celebrating 51 years of wilderness, this video highlights Wy-oming’s Big Game Migrations. Enjoy beautiful videography! View the video on Vimeo by clicking here.

Be Mindful of Tularemia When Outside this Fall

5

Sustaining Big Game Migrations in the West: Science, Policy, and People

Emerging Issues Forum

The science of big game migration is developing quickly and we are now gaining a better understanding of corridor habitats, animal behavior, and herd-level benefits associated with mule deer, pronghorn, elk, and other migrations in Wyoming and the West. As animals migrate between distant seasonal ranges, they traverse myriad jurisdictions and land ownership types, requiring managers to coordinate their efforts amid a diverse regulatory and policy landscape. The result is tremendous complexity, but also an oppor-tunity to learn and collaborate.

The forum will open with a half-day on November 9 to explore the science of long-distance big game mi-grations, from a global to local perspective. Day two will be about the intersection of people, policy, and wildlife migration. Through interactive panel discussions with outfitters, landowners, non-profits, state and federal agency leaders, and others, presenters and audience members will identify critical opportunities and gaps in public policy and private initiatives to further the management and conservation of big game migration in the West.

Be part of the conversation:

November 9 (1-5pm) and November 10 (8am-5pm), 2015

University of Wyoming Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center 222 S 22nd St Laramie, Wyoming

Cost is $90 for general registration and $25 for students.

You can register online at: http://migrationinitiative.org/content/sustaining-big-game-migrations-west-science-policy-and-people

6

Cheyenne, WY (KGWN)- David Kaiser is a student at Triumph High School and a pretty good shot.

He and six of his classmates were handed guns as part of their homework.

"I took this outdoor living class and it's teaching us all about hunter safety," said Kaiser.

Teaching them how to handle and respect something that's a part of daily Wyoming life.

"At some point in your life in Wyoming, you'll come into contact with guns, whether it's somebody else's guns or your guns," said Dr. Michelle Aldrich, the Triumph teacher.

And also preparing them for decisions they hopefully never have to make.

"It's really important to teach gun safety so that they know how to handle them safely and so that they're not making some bad choices that might end a life," said Dr. Aldrich.

But for now David and his friends and learning a new skill and having some fun.

"Before that I thought that hunter safety was just red necks going out and just Howdy Doodie blasting

cans and everything, but now I realize that there is a real respect and heritage to this you know," said

David.

"All of the ammunition and targets were donated from the Muley Fanatic Foundation." Our chapter sets

aside 10% of the funds raised for Youth Projects in our region of Southeast Wyoming.

You can view the entire video on KGWN Cheyenne by clicking here!

Triumph Students Hit The Mark

7

Congrats to Stephanie Perkins on a great buck

from a hunt she purchased at our Cheyenne ban-

quet last year!

Be sure to look at some of the great hunts/trips

up for auction on page 10 of this newsletter.

CODY – The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission voted to make significant investments in projects to benefit mule deer populations. For several years local public groups have been discussing ways to support key mule deer herds. The Commission approved funding of up to $500,000 in each of five new areas including several mule deer herds. The funding is intended to be used over five years.

“We have heard from people all across Wyoming who are concerned about mule deer populations. This is an invest-ment in the future of this iconic species,” said Wyoming Game and Fish Commission President Charles Price. “The focus of this effort is on habitat improvement and those are long-term, generational efforts, but we know that we have to continue to make this a priority.”

Mule deer populations have been in decline over the last few decades in Wyoming and other western states. Rec-ognizing the importance of trying to stop the population decline and to support mule deer herds the Wyoming Game and Fish Department launched the Mule Deer Initiative in 2007. This effort started with the Wyoming Range mule deer herd in western Wyoming. Local groups and members of the public formed a working group to develop plans for how to improve habitat for mule deer in that herd. The Commission invested in projects that came out of the Wyoming Range working group and subsequently on projects from a working group for the Platte Valley mule deer herd.

“In each project developed at the local level we have seen great partnerships. Funding from the Game and Fish Commission has been matched by many groups so we can start to make a positive impact on the landscape. This will build on those efforts and focus on mule deer herds all across Wyoming,” said Wyoming Game and Fish Director Scott Talbott.

The commitment from the Commission is to fund projects that will be developed by the public and local Game and Fish personnel. The Commission will review and approve funding for each project individually. This investment would go to new mule deer herds involved in local initiatives. These include the Baggs, Sheep Mountain, Upper Powder River, Owl Creek/Meeteetse, South Wind River/Sweetwater and Bates Hole/Hat Six herds.

Most members of the public as well as Game Fish biologists realize that investment in projects helping fawns sur-vive their first year of life is the primary way Game and Fish and its partners can address mule deer declines for the long-term. Enhancing and restoring habitat is seen as the most effective way to influence mule deer populations for future generations. Information about the Wyoming Mule Deer Initiative is available at: http://wgfd.wyo.gov/.

Game and Fish Commission Makes Commitment to Invest in Future of Mule Deer

8

STOP POACHING Sign Campaign

Hunting season is in full swing and we have already begun to see re-

ports of poaching cases being reported across all big game species. Call

the Stop Poaching Tip Line at 1-877-WGFD-TIP (1-877-943-3847). Tips

may also be reported online at http://wgfd.wyo.gov/ Informants can

choose to remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward for in-

formation leading to an arrest.

Should you feel the same way we do about poachers, please give us a

call and let’s talk about putting a sign up in your area. We have contact-

ed the authorities in charge of signage along roadways and have been

provided with set procedures to follow— we cannot place signs along

state highways, but other roads are available. Or, we can place the sign

on your property, maybe right where your deer herd winters.

The best part is, if you choose to sponsor a sign for $250 we can put

your name or business name on the sign so everyone will know who is

supporting wildlife in our area. The lower sign in the picture has a "Sign

Furnished By" area where we can place a decal with your name on

it. We will do all of the leg work with the appropriate county entity, dig

the hole, and install the sign. So please contact us at sewyo-

ming@muleyfanatic.com or call Jeff Cowley at (307) 630-6294 if you are

interested in being part of the solution.

YOUR NAME HERE!

Fanatic Farming Update

Hey y’all, Here’s the update for the most recent Fanatic farming project. We are happy to report that the crop is

going well and is just waiting for mule deer to come visit during their time on the transitional range.

9

10

11

12

We have many different sponsor opportunities to choose from to match your individual promotion goals, and

best of all, your TAX DEDUCTIBLE donation goes to support our mule deer herds right here in Wyoming!

If you or your business would be willing to sponsor one of the following to help with our upcoming November

21st banquet, please email sewyoming@muleyfanatic.com with your information. THANK YOU!

Youth Meals $500

Game Sponsor $1,500 (multiple needed)

Bar Sponsor $500-1,000

Additionally, we are also looking for talented individuals that would be willing to donate handmade items to be

featured in the silent auction, live auction, or general raffle. If you or someone you know is a consultant for prod-

uct then consider donating a few items to the cause. We always need volunteers too!

Family Fun Day with Pheasants Forever

We love to promote youth and family fun in the outdoors! This year's Pheasants Forever Family

Fun Day event was held on August 15th in Pine Bluffs. There was a great turnout and lots of fun

had by all ages with 125 people enjoying a day of rifle, pistol, shotgun, archery and paint ball

shooting. A huge thanks to the people to volunteered their time to help put this on and the Bow-

man’s for hosting at their place!

Laramie Membership Drive

Jeff Geyer and Michell and Eric Anderson spend July 10th showcasing our

chapter in downtown Laramie as part of the festivities for Jubilee Days.

Attendees were educated about area projects funded by monies raised

through local banquets, and given the opportunity to sign up as MFF

members. New members were entered in a drawing for a beautiful log

bench. The day resulted in a total

of 73 new MFF'ers signed up!

13

Buy Your Tickets Now!!!!

Saturday, November 21st—

Southeast Wyoming Chapter 3rd

Annual Banquet at Little America in

Cheyenne, WY

Early Bird Deadline is November 1st

Upcoming Events

If you’d like to get more involved, please join us for one of our next membership meetings.

October 20th

November 3rd

November 10th

November 17th

Time

6:00 pm - Membership Meeting

Location

Trout Room @ Wyoming Game & Fish Dept.

5400 Bishop Blvd, Cheyenne

We’re ALWAYS looking for volunteers!

For the most current updates, be sure to follow us on Facebook by clicking on the small icon below. You can also find more information about Muley Fanatic Foun-dation events throughout the state by visiting the web-sites listed below or by contacting us through phone or email.

Southeast Wyoming Chapter: Jeff Cowley, Chapter Chair

sewyoming@muleyfanatic.com (307) 630-6294

Chapter Website: www.mffsewy.com

Green River Headquarters: (307) 875-3133 josh@muleyfanatic.com joey@muleyfanatic.com Headquarters Website:

www.muleyfanatic.com