Mule Deer Foundation supporting youth shooting sports in Wyoming through the Wyoming State 4H Foundation’s endowment.

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – 8/1/2013 –The Mule Deer Foundation continues to show support in Wyoming with a $20,000 donation to the Wyoming State 4H Foundation’s Shooting Sports Endowment fund. This funding is going to help 4-Hers across the state by increasing the number of instructors across the state along with supporting the annual state shoot where youth and families gather each year in Douglas, Wyoming. This donation follows shortly after the Mule Deer Foundation pledged $50,000 to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s Platte Valley Habitat Partnership (PVHP).

Mule Deer Foundation’s President and CEO, Miles Moretti said “MDF is not only leading efforts for mule deer conservation in Wyoming but this donation will help to increase shooting sports participation across the state.”

Mule Deer Foundation Chapters across the country utilized special commemorative M.U.L.E.Y. rifles to raise funds for local shooting programs in their Chapter’s immediate areas. This program is called the “Adopt-a-Team” program and is a great partnership between the shooting teams and our local MDF Chapters. The thought behind it was to have the shooting teams offer assistance with MDF Chapter activities such as banquets, conservation projects or sport shows and in return the shooting team would benefit by a donation to their endowment account and also learn about MDF and gain fundraising skills for their teams. Moretti goes on to say “The Adopt-a-Team program helps our dedicated chapters across Wyoming build relationships with shooting teams and programs across the state and pass on our outdoor heritage.”

The Adopt-a-Team program is in partnership with MidwayUSA Foundation and the Scholastic Shooting Trust. Check out the MidwayUSA Foundation website for more information on shooting teams in your area at www.scholasticshootingtrust.org.  Jon Zinnel, the Youth Programs Coordinator goes on to say “By working together and supporting many shooting teams across the west we will help to increase the number of youth that implement shooting sports as a lifelong activity.”
 

###########

For more information on the M.U.L.E.Y. program, MDF’s Adopt-a-Team, other youth programs or how to get involved with the Mule Deer Foundation please contact MDF Youth Programs Coordinator, Jon Zinnel at 801-973-3940 or jonz@muledeer.org.

For more information on the Wyoming 4H Shooting Sports Foundation please contact Wyoming State 4-H Foundation Director, Steve Mack at 307-766-2528 or smack@uwyo.edu.