Grants should help elk and other wildlife habitats. Grant money should benefit hunting and wildlife habitat By Bob Bahlmann Sports writer 7-30-08 Hunting is big business in Utah and some big grant money is now available and may find its way into Sanpete County. Central Utah elk are among the most popular quarries sought by hunters. Although some local hunters don’t like the competition, the annual elk hunt brings welcome revenue to Sanpete County. According to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) elk hunting in America is a billion dollar business. Data based on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation reveals that the average elk hunter spends $1,201 a year pursuing the species and contributes to an economic engine worth nearly $1 billion annually.   Recent grants awarded by the RMEF should benefit local elk herds and, perhaps, bring some of that money into the tills of Sanpete County businesses. Grants totaling $210,450 will go to projects statewide. “This is all about ensuring the future of elk, other wildlife and their habitat in Utah,” said David Allen, foundation president and CEO. “Grants are based on revenues from Elk Foundation auctions and raffles for Utah special hunting permits, our fund-raising banquets across the state and worthy project proposals.” In Sanpete County RMEF funds will be used to thin 1,200 acres of encroaching pinion to restore sagebrush, grasses and forage for elk and other wildlife on Six Mile Wildlife Management Area. In addition, seeding projects will restart plant succession to enhance winter range on 900 acres on Twelve Mile Wildlife Management Area. Near by projects will include improving riparian vegetation on 4,000 acres in Beaver County and improving winter range in Millard and Carbon Counties. In Emery County efforts will be made to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire. The Elk Foundation and its partners have completed more than 240 conservation projects in Utah, with a value of more than $22 million, since 1984. Partners for 2008 projects in Utah include Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, other agencies, landowners and organizations.