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With basin + bend, contributing to conservation is easy! That's because we leverage commerce for conservation. By simply purchasing your favorite hunting, fishing and outdoor gear from basin + bend (at the same price you would at any other retailer) you'll be supporting this partner and provide much needed funds to the project. Instead of donating an unknown "portion of the profits" to a conservation effort, we show you exactly how much is going to be donated to this specific project.
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation was founded in 1984 by four hunters from Troy, Montana who wanted to ensure a future for North America’s grandest game animal.
In 1984, four hunters from Northwest Montana recognized a handful of organizations doing great work for species like ducks, turkeys and upland birds. They also recognized there was no group dedicated to North America’s grandest big game animal, elk. In May of that year, they pooled their time, talent and resources and created the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, an organization dedicated to elk, elk hunting and the habitat they need to thrive.
In April 1985, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation held their first convention in Spokane, Washington. They also funded their first habitat project that year—a grant to help fund a prescribed burn in a place fittingly named Elk Creek on the Kootenai National Forest near Libby, Montana. In 1988, they facilitated their first land acquisition—the 16,440-acre Robb Creek property in Montana—and received their first ringing endorsement from the corporate community. At their annual convention that year, Ray Goff, former RMEF board member and vice president of Anheuser-Busch, announced a $500,000 gift from the company. That gift helped kick off their incredible growth and conservation achievements.
Since then, they’ve grown to more than 227,000 members whose support has protected and enhanced more than 7.3 million acres of North American wildlife habitat. Hundreds of thousands of these acres were completely off-limits to the public. They are now open for all to hunt, fish and otherwise enjoy. They employ more than 120 people and boast more than 11,000 volunteers working through more than 500 chapters across the United States.
Opening and securing public access is a key component of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s mission. Since 1984, RMEF has opened, secured or improved public access to more than 1.2 million acres of elk habitat across the country for hunters, hikers, anglers and other outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy.
RMEF continually seeks ways to enhance hunter opportunity by working with landowners, US Forest Service (USFS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), state agencies, and conservation partner groups. Their public access tools include land projects, easements, land exchanges and contributions.
Funds raised through basin + bend will be used for an upcoming public access project right in Colorado. Access projects like the recent Middle Creek project open up vast tracts of public land by leveraging the purchase of small parcels that have historically locked out the general public to large sections of public land.
Many of your favorite fishing, hunting and outdoor brands have already joined our Conservation First™ program. Take a look at our online store and we are sure you'll find something that you've already been eyeing!