Arizona Elk Society’s $100,000 Commitment Continues to Help Those Affected by the Wallow Fire

Phoenix, AZ – In July, when Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) put out the call for help to fund a program to help the landowners in and around the Wallow Fire area, the Arizona Elk Society (AES) was the first group to donate money to the program. As this program grows the AES is still stepping up to help. As more landowner come forward and ask for help, Arizona Game and Fish again turned to AES to help and AES again stepped up and provided further funding for the project. “This program is still progressing and the Arizona Elk Society is committed to funding the on-going efforts”, says AES President Steve Clark.

Initially Ron Eichelberger, AES’ Wallow Fire/AZGFD/Ranchers Liaison, responded immediately and alerted the AES Executive Board about the request for funding. Ron’s response to the request was, “this is the reason we started the Arizona Elk Society, to be able to respond quickly in emergency cases for the benefit of elk and our partners such as the Arizona Game and Fish and ranching community.” The result was the commitment of $100,000 to help the landowners impacted by the Wallow Fire.

That initial commitment proved to be just the start to an on-going effort to support the landowners in the Wallow Fire area. The size and intensity of the Wallow Fire has affected the amount and quality of forage and water on portions of the Apache National Forest. The number of landowners located in and adjacent to the burn areas that need help has increased as they experience more than anticipated wildlife moving onto the private lands and pastures, primarily the displaced elk. Elk have congregated in areas in Apache and Greenlee Counties just outside the north and east flanks of the burned areas, as well as some private properties wholly contained within the wildfire area.

The plan has two objectives. The first is to supply alfalfa to feed livestock as a replacement for what elk consume on private pastures. In return, property owners will agree to allow elk to persist on their property. The second is to hold these elk, to the extent possible, on private lands to keep them from further affecting already fragile riparian zones on the forest.

“One of our primary intents is to gain acceptance of the elk being present on these private lands until such time that the forest lands are producing grasses and other forage sources such that elk begin to naturally return to the forest lands,” says Mike Godwin, wildlife manager supervisor for the Game and Fish Pinetop Region.

Arizona Elk Society

The mission of the Arizona Elk Society is to raise funds to benefit elk and other wildlife through habitat conservation and restoration and to preserve our hunting heritage for present and future generations.

In support of our mission we are committed to:

-Conserving and enhancing wildlife habitat in Arizona.
-Protecting and promoting our hunting heritage.
-Promoting sound wildlife management and habitat through partnering with government agencies and other organizations.
-Implementing special programs for youth education regarding conservation, hunting and outdoor activities.
-Informing the general public about issues concerning wildlife conservation, as well as scientific and biological wildlife and habitat management.

Being a State based Organization all the money raised is used in Arizona for the benefit of Elk Habitat, Elk management and our Youth Programs.