Archives: SFW In Action
Western Hunting & Conservation Expo Crushes Previous Record Raising $9.7 Million for Wildlife Conservation
The 2022 Western Hunting & Conservation Expo (Hunt Expo) closed February 13 after four busy days with nearly 47,000 people walking the 460 booths on 680,000 square feet of the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Hosted by Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife (SFW) the Mule Deer Foundation (MDF), the Hunt Expo is a primary fundraiser and the record-shattering $9.7 million raised from show passes, auctions, tag sales, and other fundraisers will be a significant boon to conservation.
“This year’s Expo was an amazing showcase of how great things can happen when sportsmen and women come together for to the benefit of wildlife,” President of SFW Troy Justensen commented during the event. “It’s a great thing to witness this show and the gathering of such a diverse group of hunters and industry competitors who each support the same cause. There’s simply nothing like it.”
The 2022 Hunt Expo featured evening events that offered camaraderie, as well as opportunity to raise significant funds for Utah wildlife conservation. The evening events raised $585,000 through ticket sales with a new Thursday night Super Banquet engaging a crowd of 800 people in games and drawings, and the Friday and Saturday auctions attracting sold-out crowds of nearly 2,000 people each night. There was heated bidding for auction items with 12 tags being sold at record prices. The top sellers included the Arizona Statewide Mule Deer Tag that sold for $400,000, Utah’s Antelope Island Mule Deer tag that sold for $310,000, and the Utah Statewide Elk tag sold for $250,000. The Utah 9-Mile Gray Canyon Rocky Mtn. Bighorn Sheep sold for $220,000, the Utah Book Cliffs Rocky Mtn. Bighorn Sheep tag sold for $195,000, and the Utah Statewide Desert Bighorn Sheep tag sold for $125,000.
2022 Western Hunting and Conservation Expo – Final Banquet and Auction
2022 Western Hunting and Conservation Expo – Conservation Banquet and Auction
Some of the weekend’s major and unexpected highlights happened during the Friday Conservation Night event when Mr. Justensen presented two of SFW’s key conservationist volunteers with bronze SFW Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Awards. Steve Sorenson was recognized as SFW’s Conservationist of the Year and Paul Niemeyer given SFW’s Lifetime Volunteer Award. Both men were praised for immeasurable support of SFW’s wildlife conservation mission and contributing greatly to Utah wildlife.
2022 Western Hunting and Conservation Expo – SFW President Troy Justensen
Then during the Saturday night banquet, Justensen surprised everyone when he called to the stage MDF’s Director of Field Operations Mike Laughter and presented him with a bronze SFW Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Award for his efforts in helping protect the 8,100-acre Cinnamon Creek critical wildlife property in northern Utah’s Weber County.
“I wish we could recognize each of the many dozens of SFW and MDF volunteers who take leave from work and family to help pull off our biggest event of the year,” Justensen added. “Steve, Paul and Mike are among so many who give so much and do whatever it takes. We thank them.”
SFW’s Sheep Camp (formerly Full Curl Society) held its biggest event ever giving away 15 fully guided sheep hunts valued at over $500,000. The crowd of nearly 2,000 watched with excitement as names were drawn and called out in the Grand Ballroom. Exhibitors also noted the brisk sales on the exhibit show floor, suggesting significant pent-up demand after the two-year pandemic. Most outfitters booked hunting adventures or Expo attendees into 2024 and beyond. Outdoor manufacturers of rifles, optics, technical gear, and clothing also sold quickly.
“Congratulations to SFW and MDF for taking the Hunting Expo to the next level and making the 2022 show the most successful yet,” said Ryan Foutz, Managing Partner with King’s and an annual exhibitor at the Hunting Expo. “It’s noticeable that attendees and exhibitors are now coming from all over the Unites States and the world making this show one that we would never miss.”
The 2023 Western Hunting & Conservation Expo will be held February 2 – 5 at the Salt Palace Convention Center. Next year’s event will expand by 130,000 square feet offering even greater access to nearly 100 additional exhibitors. Stay tuned to the Hunt Expo website at www.huntexpo.com to plan your travel for next year’s event.
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Utah Fawn Study – An SFW Story
Ever wonder where all the funds raised at the Hunt Expo and other SFW events go? How it benefits you as a wildlife photographer, nature lover, hiker, biker and conservation minded hunter? We’re bringing the results directly to you here and now. We’re giving you an inside look at both the projects and the impact of your donations on the ground, for wildlife and for the benefit of all who hike, hunt and otherwise enjoy wildlife here in Utah. Watch this SFW video now.
SFW Commits $882,000 for Wildlife Conservation Projects in 2020
Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife (SFW) has committed $882,056 in 2020 big game captures and transplants, research studies, habitat and watershed improvement projects, and other projects that will benefit big game species throughout Utah. SFW’s funding of these projects comes from two sources:
1. Utah Conservation Permit funds raised through SFW’s live auctions at the Western Hunting and Conservation Expo and its 17 fundraising events held throughout Utah in 2018 and 2019.
2. $5 Application Revenue from the Western Hunting & Conservation Expo during the 2018 and 2019 Expo events.
Read the entire report here >>
What’s SFW been up to lately? Watch, and see.
SFW has spent the last 12 months raising money for wildlife and putting it to use in partnership with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources on the ground, across the state, and for multiple species in Utah. All sportsmen and all wildlife benefit.
Podcast with Bair
SFW Vice President John Bair sat down with Austin Atkinson of Huntin’ Fool and talks Hunting Expo and Utah’s unmatched wildlife conservation model.
2019 Western Hunting and Conservation Expo – Saturday Night Auction and Dinner
Expo $5 Application Fee Money Used to Bolster Utah Chukar Populations
Meet SFW’s newest additions, some 2,000 two-day-old chukar chicks. These little babies are currently being raised by SFW members at brood facilities in Richfield County. When mature this fall, the birds will be released on public lands in Paiute, Garfield and Sevier Counties. These chukar chicks, a large portion of the brood facilities, and the costs to raise the birds are funded with $5 application fee funds that were generated during the 2017 Western Hunting and Conservation Expo (www.huntexpo.com).
Chukar Chick
U.S. Secretary Ryan Zinke Visits Utah Monuments
By Presidential Executive Order, requested by the Utah Legislature and secured by U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch, U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke is now in Utah for four days to tour the Grand Staircase and Bears Ears Monuments.
Sunday night, Sec. Zinke held a 30-minute private meeting with SFW Founder Don Peay to learn of the significant wildlife conservation efforts, status of wildlife populations, and hunting opportunities found in this incredible 3.2 million acres of land. Sec. Zinke is himself an avid hunter from Montana.
Twenty-five years ago, these areas were nearly void of all wildlife, and the two deer units – the San Juan and Paunsaugunt deer herds – were closed to hunting due to the extremely low buck deer populations found there. Today these units are teaming with incredible herds of elk, mule deer, desert bighorn sheep, cougar, bear, antelope, wild turkey and other species. These results are attributed directly to the sportsmen conservation funding, sacrifices and investments of hunters-conservationists and professional work done by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and Bureau of Land Management partners.
There are 51,007 hunters who apply for hunts each year in these two units. That generates $29 million in economic activity, including $10 million of wildlife resources, and millions more for private landowners and conservation activities that keep these lands and herds healthy.
During a dinner at the Utah State Capital with state business and political leaders, Governor Herbert specifically recognized the efforts of SFW in helping the state restore and manage these species. No other conservation group was mentioned.
The great concern for all sportsmen is this: Every Utah National Park started out as a Monument, and the is NO HUNTING in National Parks.
Kevin Pritchett Vice Chair of the SFW Board said this: “These areas are very special to us, we have a lot of on-the-ground conservation efforts, and they are places where our children and many of our friends’ children bagged their first wild turkey.”
Chris Carling SFW VP of Marketing added, “My dad flew F-15 fighter jets for the US Air Force. However, one of the highlights of his life was bagging a 408-inch bugging bull elk with all of his sons and grandsons at his side in the Bears Ears area.”
SFW President Troy Justensen said, “The Paunsaugunt deer herd is one of the best herds in the world, and what happens in the Grand Staircase has dramatic impacts on that deer herd and hunting on the Paunsaugunt.”
Randy Johnson, a Director of the Full Curl Society said, “Some of the best Desert Bighorn sheep herds and sheep hunting in the world are found within these monument Areas. They must be preserved as a hunting heritage for our children and grandchildren.”
Sec. Zinke also learned of Utah’s massive 1.5 million acre Utah Watershed Restoration Initiative, and Utah’s many innovative conservation programs that have lead to robust herds and world-class hunting opportunities for all.
President Trump Signs National Monuments Review Order
President Trump signed an Antiquities Act Executive Order this morning demanding a review of national monuments.
Today during a White House press conference, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to review the designation of tens of millions of acres of land as “national monuments”. This action could restore multiple use protections on millions of acres of lands in Utah and other states, including the Grand Staircase and Bears Ears national monuments of southern Utah.
President Trump made it clear that the power was coming back to the local people and communities. Secretary Zinke, who is an avid Sportsmen, was at the signing. Today’s event will lead to a visit from Secretary Zinke to Utah to tour the national monuments. Zinke promises to provide a preliminary review with a specific recommendation on the Bears Ears within 45 days.
Utah’s entire delegation was also present during the signing, including U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch, Governor Gary Herbert, Congressmen Chris Stewart and Rob Bishop also attended. Senator Hatch, particularly, was singled out by President Trump for “his relentless efforts to restore power to the people”.
Don Peay SFW founder said, “The Western United States land and wildlife management is all about politics, public laws and policies. In our collective efforts we have given the small towns and sportsmen and ranchers a voice – a voice now being heard even in the White House.”
Tony Chavira and Tiffany Kimmerle, Co-Chairmen of SFW’s San Juan County Chapter, have spent their lives living, working and recreating throughout southern Utah. Both are encouraged by the action and commented, “It’s the local communities, ranchers and residents of San Juan and Kane counties that are affected most by the designation of these national monuments but our voices of concern over it have scarcely been heard. It is so gratifying to know we have a president who cares enough to listen to reason and address the federal government overreach that these monuments represent.”
The Antiquities Act of 1906 authorizes the president to declare federal lands as monuments and restrict how the lands can be used. Far too often, national monuments turn into National Parks, which eliminates hunting opportunities.
The language in President Trump’s order reads:
“The Antiquities Act Executive Order directs the Department of the Interior to review prior monument designations and suggest legislative changes or modifications to the monument proclamations,” the order’s language says.
SFW expects more exciting announcements from Washington in the coming weeks that will benefit sportsmen and wildlife in substantial ways.
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UPDATE: Bountiful Urban Deer Translocation
The Bountiful Urban Deer Translocation Project is headed by Channing Howard, Urban Wildlife Biologist with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. SFW is proud to have been the organization that proposed and initiated this pioneering project that is proving that translocating mule deer can be viable and indeed is successful. Many thanks to the SFW Beaver Utah Chapter for their foresight and initiative. SFW proudly stands at the DWR’s side and with its partner wildlife conservation organizations and higher education institutions as mule deer translocation research continues breaking new ground in wildlife management.
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Project background/goals: Mule deer populations have been under population objectives throughout much of Utah but in contrast, numbers have increased in urban and suburban areas. These resident urban deer create conflicts with humans including damaging landscaping and gardens, causing deer-vehicle collisions and are considered a general nuisance. Traditional urban deer management has included special public hunts or sharpshooters; however, these methods often have limited use within high-density municipalities due to firearm ordinances and perceptions about safety. As a result, Utah DWR, with USU, SFW and MDF, initiated a trap and translocate project to determine its efficacy as a potential management tool to reduce urban herds while supplementing declining wild herds.
Project goals include determining annual survival rate for deer at each release site and comparing with other translocation and survival studies; administering a survey questionnaire to determine public perceptions of urban deer pre-and post-treatment; assess the change in deer-vehicle collisions in the city; calculate the cost per deer using varied capture methods and assess body condition of captured urban deer. Cause of death will not be studied in this project, but other studies results will be taken into consideration.
November 13, 2014 – March 4, 2015
DWR with the help of SFW and its member volunteers trapped and relocated 211 mule deer from Bountiful, Utah.
• 100 adults fitted with radio collars (77 females) or ear tag transmitters (23 bucks)
– Trap site mortality 1.9% (4); transport mortality 0%
Release Sites
• Big Wash, Duchesne County
– 99 deer released in Big Wash
– 48 radio marked deer
• Raft River Mountains, Box Elder County
– 94 deer released in Raft River Mountains
– 52 radio marked deer
• East Canyon WMA, Morgan County (Not part of survival study)
– 14 deer released in East Canyon WMA
December 1, 2015 – February 18, 2016
DWR with the help of SFW and its member volunteers trapped and relocated 265 mule deer from Bountiful, Utah.
• 117 adults fitted with radio collars (77 does) or ear tag transmitters (23 males)
– Trap site mortality 2.6% (7); transport mortality 0.4% (1)
Release Sites
• Big Wash, Duchesne County
– 94 deer released in Big Wash
– 58 radio marked deer
• Raft River Mountains, Box Elder County
– 93 deer released in Raft River Mountains
– 59 radio marked deer
• Manti, Emery County (Not part of survival study)
– 69 deer released on the Manti
– 59 radio marked deer (10 with 3-month transmitters)
• East Canyon WMA, Morgan County (Not part of survival study)
– 2 deer released in East Canyon WMA (no radios)
Telemetry/Movements
• Raft River
– Deer have migrated back to winter range including some that summered in Idaho
– No tagged or radio collared deer reported harvested this year
• Big Wash
– Deer also making large movements and have been found north along Starvation Reservoir and just south of Roosevelt and west near Strawberry Reservoir
– Report of two deer harvested by a hunters near Roosevelt, including a doe that was in the extended archery area
• Deer will continue to be monitored up to two years post release
Sample Sizes and Fates for Bountiful Captures
Public Perception Survey
• Cross-sectional and longitudinal telephone survey of general attitudes towards deer, perceived problems and beliefs about management options
• 14 questions, added 15th in 2016 – Season of deer problems
• December 2014 – Pre-Translocation Survey
– 488 completed surveys
• November 2016 – Post-Translocation Survey
– 707 completed surveys
– 245 resampled
– 462 new respondents
• Damage to gardens and landscaping and vehicle collisions were viewed as the most serious problems caused by the deer.
• The majority of residents across sample groups believed trap and relocation was the most acceptable management solution.
• Compared to 2014, respondents to the 2016 survey provided weaker support for statements that there are too many deer in the city and that management action must be taken.
Capture Costs
• Created a template for cities to use to estimate costs
• Cost per deer most dependent on some fixed costs (ex: radio collars) and variable costs (ex: number of personnel and pay rate, miles to release site)
• First cost estimates for the Bountiful project FY2015 and FY2016
– $242-282 per deer
11-Month Apparent Survival Estimates for RR & BW Combined
• Adult females from all years tracking other Utah wild deer translocation projects
• Male survival lower possibly due to:
– Small sample size
– Different energetic needs
– Hunting allowed in study areas
Other Interesting Facts:
• All translocated urban deer tested for CWD returned negative results for all capture years and locations
– 214 CWD samples taken, no positives
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End of 2017 Season Update
SFW Puts Chukar on Utah’s Mountains
SFW purchased 2,100 Chukars chicks in 2016 and raised them to adults. Several hundred were recently released in Sevier County and surrounding areas. Some were released in Black Canyon, some at Manning Creek near the Elbow T Ranch southeast of Marysvale, and others at a site in the Breaks on Poverty Flat southwest of Monroe, Utah. More birds will be released ahead of the statewide youth pheasant, waterfowl and pheasant hunt day September 17th. Many thanks to Paul Niemeyer, DeLoss Christensen, Jake Albrecht and the SFW Sevier County Chapter team for all of their hard work with SFW’s Chukar and Pheasant programs.
