Mule Deer Foundation Will Introduce Thousands of Youth to Shooting, Hunting, and the Outdoors at Their Annual Convention

Later this week the Mule Deer Foundation (MDF) will kick off their annual National Convention which is held in conjunction with the Western Hunting and Conservation Expo (WHCE). WHCE takes place this February 21^st – 24^th at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, UT and is expected to have over 25,000 outdoor enthusiasts visit over 500 guides, outfitters and manufacturers on the show floor over the four day event. Visit www.huntexpo.com for more information.

On Thursday, Feb 21^st the Mule Deer Foundation is hosting the Youth Wildlife Conservation Experience (YWCE) bringing nearly 500 youth to the Salt Palace Convention Center for wildlife conservation activities, indoor shooting experiences with air rifles, youth archery and much more. YWCE was made possible by a generous donation from Larry and Brenda Potterfield of MidwayUSA. MDF brought together program partners such as Crosman Corporation, Progressive Agriculture Foundation, Utah Department of Wildlife Resources, National Forest Service and special presentations from United States Olympians and Team USA Shooting members.

On Saturday, Feb 23^rd the Utah State National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) will be holding their annual state tournament at WHCE. Last year’s UT State Tournament drew nearly 200 archers from a dozen schools across the state but this year has shaped up to fly past last year’s event with nearly 700 archers aiming down range at the 2013 tournament.

Over the four day convention, MDF expects to see thousands of kids and have nearly 5,000 youth participate in the YWCE activities with the “YWCE Youth Passport.” The kids will participate at the youth archery range, air rifle ranges, outdoor & ATV safety area and much more!

Mule Deer Foundation

The Mule Deer Foundation (MDF) and its corps of volunteers work hard to ensure the conservation of mule deer and black-tailed deer and their habitat. MDF is a non-profit 501(c) 3 wildlife conservation organization headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Formed in July 1988, MDF now has over 14,000 members and almost 100 chapters nationwide who support its grassroots efforts. Through chapter fundraising events, MDF volunteers raise thousands of dollars to help fund habitat and conservation projects throughout the West.