It is quite simple, we plan and actively share with our members the tasks that we do. We understand who our stakeholders are and keep them informed on our activities. Then we work with other conservation organizations plus state and federal agencies tasked to support the land and wildlife, seeking to develop strong partner relationships. Whether the task is working in the fields of Arizona to improve habitat for wildlife or it is working on an educational project for youth or fellow hunters, it is fun to work together and share our skills. The founding members of Arizona Elk Society saw the need to give back in order to help the Arizona elk population and its habitat. The method they promoted were activities done "hands on" and "hand-in-hand" with our partners to truly benefit all members of the team and not just ourselves, thus the total team become stronger. Our members enjoy this approach and come out and help showing their support. This is the Arizona Elk Society, a group that takes its mission to heart showing by action what is means to a group of hunters who are true conservationists with a very clear objective to preserve the hunting heritage for future generations...
Upcoming Projects
Big Springs in Unit 8
November 3-5
We are planning a habitat restoration project in the upcoming weeks and are seeking volunteers to help with the effort. This is a great time of the year to get into the outdoors and experience the cool nights of fall, with cooler daytime temps, and possibly hearing the elk bugling around you.
The job site is a peaceful and beautiful area, as well as the surrounding forest. It is looking like we will need a 3rd weekend to finish building the elk exclosure fence around this natural spring. The reason we are building this is that the elk and livestock are ruining the hydrological function of the spring by compacting the dirt around the base of it. We want to restore the natural function of this spring. The water of this spring flows into Sycamore Creek, and eventually the Verde River.
Directions:
-From i-40, take the historic Route 66 exit.
-Once into Williams, from Route 66, take 4th Street south towards the Santa Fe Reservoir
-4th street will turn into County Road 73
-From the time you turn off Route 66 onto, 4th street, travel 7.55 miles south
-Here, take a left on Forest Road 139
-In 4.46 miles, our campsite will be on the south side beside FR139 (right side of road)
-We will carpool from the camp down a small road for ¾ mile each day, where we will then have to haul materials by Ranger and trailer and by hand down to the springs
We are looking for help in the following areas:
Kitchen help/cooks
Experience with Jackhammer
Setting and Concreting posts
Building a fence using split rail panels
Physical labor as we will have to carry materials by hand into draw
Ranger driver/material hauler
Trailer hauler from Phoenix valley to worksite
This is a great opportunity to have a direct impact on wildlife habitat in Arizona. This project will require physical labor, camping overnight and working outdoors. AES will provide meals, snacks, water and coffee for the weekend. Volunteers will need to bring their own camping gear and any other items for overnight.
If you would like to volunteer for this project, please give Russ Johnson a call at 406-539-1288 or email at russj@arizonaelksociety.org
This allotment had many issues that made many parts of it challenging to the family that had worked it for years grazing cattle. Many threatened and endanger wildlife species live in the area and with the restrictions to grazing,it wasn’t economically feasible to graze cattle.
Throughout the American West, thousands of waters have been built to benefit wildlife populations with around 850 built in Arizona (Rosenstock et al. 1999). Many of these were built decades ago and are need of repair and are lacking sufficient capacity to hold water during extended dry periods.
The Arizona Elk Society, in 2013, worked with the USFS to certify 14 Wildland Chain Saw operators, Sawyers, to work with AZGFD and the USFS to restore wildlife habitat throughout Elk range in Arizona. We have cut back brush and trees from water catchments in Units 22 & 23.
