Northern California is the only place on earth to find tule elk.
And thanks, in part, to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, there’s more tule elk landscape to roam.
In 2024, RMEF worked with private landowners and the Bureau of Land Management to conserve and open public access to 3,384 acres of habitat about 150 miles north of Sacramento in the Eel River watershed.
The acreage is under the umbrella of BLM-managed lands and links together more than 30,000 acres of public land – a boon for those who like to hunt, fish and take part in other outdoor recreational activities.
While the access component is great, the conservation benefits are even greater.
The land serves as part of important migration corridors and habitat for elk, mule and blacktail deer, wild turkey, black bear, mountain lion and other wildlife.
And since 14 miles of waterways cross the property, it features key riparian habitat for steelhead trout, chinook salmon and other fish species.
Looking at the big picture over two decades, RMEF so far helped protect nearly 40,000 acres of tule elk and other wildlife habitat in the immediate region with a landscape-scale goal to protect 30,000 more.
Since 1984, RMEF opened or improved public access to 1.6 million acres.
To view the sites and boundaries of RMEF land conservation and access projects, turn on the RMEF layer and use the code RMEF when you sign up for your onX subscription to receive a 20% discount.