| For the sixth year, the Jack Creek Preserve Foundation will be giving a hunt for either elk or black bear to a U.S. veteran that was wounded and disabled while serving in either Iraq or Afghanistan.
The Jack Creek Preserve, a 5,000 acre wildlife preserve near Ennis, Montana, consists of wild and scenic mountain country that has been set aside to conserve and protect wildlife and its habitat while also developing into a Youth Education Center. The major focus of the Foundation's mission is to provide educational opportunities that give young people a deeper understanding and involvement with habitat and ecology, wildlife management, ethical hunting, hunter conservationists, and bowhunting. Among the Foundation's board of directors are representatives of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Pope and Young Club.
Rich in wildlife resources, the landscape provides a wildlife corridor between the northern and southern portions of the Lee Metcalf Wilderness area. Bowhunting for elk and black bears is the primary hunting being conducted as part of the Foundation's efforts to directly support young hunters and others. The auctioned elk hunts that have been provided by the Foundation to various national organizations have consistently sold for serveral thousand dollars. Hunter success is generally about 50%. A 7X7 elk was taken in 2008 that scored 385.
The opportunity to participate in one of these high quality hunts will be given free to a U.S. military veteran that was wounded and disabled while serving in either Iraq or Afghanistan. The 2011 hunt will be for either archery-only bull elk, rifle cow, or bow or rifle spring bear.
Assistance is available from the Foundation in the form of either travel expenses assistance or helping with the purchase of the license. The JCPF is able to accomodate a veteran that may have suffered severe physical disabilities. Cabin lodging will be provided and Foundation personnel will assist the hunt recipient to insure that he or she enjoys a truly outstanding hunting experience.
The deadline to apply for the hunt is February 1, 2011. Applications can be obtained by e-mailing the Foundation at [email protected] or through the mail to Jack Creek Preserve Foundation, P.O. Box 3, Ennis, MT 59729. |
