(Photo credit: Susan Summer Elliott)
MISSOULA, Mont. — A swath of land in eastern Nevada previously riddled with public access challenges is now entirely in the public’s hands.
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) partnered with private landowners to acquire more than 60 parcels totaling 7,156 acres scattered throughout Bureau of Land Management and Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest lands for conveyance to the NDOW to be incorporated into its wildlife management area (WMA) system.
“This project provides a multitude of benefits ranging from increased public access for hunting, fishing and other recreational activities to enhancing wildlife connectivity, conserving important habitat and improving wildlife management,” said Kyle Weaver, RMEF president and CEO.
The properties fall within the Schell Creek Mountain Range east of Ely and the Egan Mountain Range southwest of Ely, in the same region as a voluntary conservation agreement that conserved 1,480 acres of elk habitat. The acquisition will expand the Steptoe Valley WMA, which was originally established through a 6,400-acre RMEF and NDOW land conservation and access project in 1999.
“This most recent purchase protects vital wildlife habitat in the South Schell Creek Range and compliments the extensive wildlife habitat and public access portfolio NDOW and RMEF have worked for decades to secure for the wildlife and public,” said Caleb McAdoo, NDOW deputy director of operations. “We are proud to stand in strong partnership with RMEF on yet another monumental effort of adding to the state’s WMA system and protecting valuable wildlife habitat.”
When combined with historic and recent efforts, achieved only through the strong partnership of RMEF and NDOW, the Steptoe WMA now boasts more than 19,962 acres of land accessible by the public and managed for the conservation of critical habitat for elk, mule deer, pronghorn antelope, predators, raptors, waterfowl, greater sage-grouse, migratory birds and other wildlife. The WMA is also home to a renown fishery, Comins Lake, and abuts Cave Lake State Park, providing a wide variety of recreational opportunities for the public to enjoy Nevada’s great outdoors.
The parcels will be incorporated into the WMA plan and open to the public upon suitable access improvements.
Project funding partners include Conserve Nevada, NDOW, Nevada Dream Tags and RMEF’s Torstenson Family Endowment.
About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Now in its fifth decade of conservation accomplishment and fueled by hunters, RMEF has conserved more than 9.1 million acres for elk and other wildlife. RMEF also works to open and improve public access, fund and advocate for science-based resource management, and ensure the future of America’s hunting heritage. Discover why “Hunting Is Conservation” ® at rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.