In December of 1997, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources released the first elk to the Southern Appalachian Coalfields of Eastern Kentucky. Over the next 25 years, a total of 1,540 relocated elk thrived to become the largest U.S. Elk Herd east of the Rocky Mountain.

In January of 2022, RMEF volunteers with support from Leupold showed up to assist KDFWR, in conjunction with Daniel Boone National Forest, to relocate approximately 50 elk from areas of high population density in the Stearns Ranger District to the Daniel Boone National Forest. The goal: expand elk distribution in Kentucky and substantially increase public access opportunities for elk hunting.

"Year after year, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation defends sportsmen's rights and advances conservation goals across the United States. Their efforts have always been aligned with the goals of Leupold and our core consumer, which is why we're incredibly proud to be a longtime partner and the official optics sponsor of RMEF.”

– Leupold’s CEO Bruce Pettet

To learn more about Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, click here