Participating Shoppers Eligible to Win Colorado Rifle Elk Hunt for Two

(July 3, 2007) Springfield, Missouri — Bass Pro Shops and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation have partnered to raise awareness for the need to conserve critical habitat for elk and other wildlife during the month of July. The partnership features in-store promotions that will allow shoppers to participate in a sweepstakes for a Colorado rifle hunt for two and other valuable prizes.

During July, shoppers will have the opportunity to donate $2 to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and enter a sweepstakes to win a grand-prize Colorado elk hunt for two valued at $8,500. Additional prizes include a $1,000 shopping spree at a Bass Pro Shop, a $500 Bass Pro Shop shopping spree, and a Bass Pro Shops special edition Elk Foundation knife. 

Bass Pro Shops is a corporate sponsor of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation -- a Missoula, Montana-based wildlife conservation organization that has protected or enhanced more than 5 million acres of critical habitat throughout North America since 1984.

"All of us at Bass Pro Shops salute the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and their mission to ensure the future of elk, other wildlife and their habitat," stated Bass Pro Shops Director of Conservation Martin MacDonald. "We are proud to partner with RMEF to bring awareness of their conservation efforts to all the visitors to our stores across America."
 
The month-long promotion at Bass Pro Shops will raise awareness for the need to conserve wildlife habitat and will celebrate the long-term partnership between Bass Pro Shops and the Elk Foundation. Activities at the stores during the month will feature elk calling contests, conservation education exhibits and seminars, and membership drives for the Elk Foundation.

“Our new public awareness campaign – Be the Future of Elk Country -- is aimed at reducing the loss of critical habitat across North America,” said David Parcell, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. “Bass Pro Shops has a tremendous conservation ethic and is playing a critical role to help us achieve our objectives.”

Bass Pro Shops is charter sponsor of the Be the Future of Elk Country public awareness and marketing campaign. The company also supports the Elk Foundation each year by funding the conservation organization’s popular Big Game Banquet knife.  Proceeds from knives sponsored by Bass Pro Shops and auctioned at 550 Elk Foundation chapters support conservation programs throughout the country.

Under its “Be the Future of Elk Country” mission campaign supported by Bass Pro Shops, the Elk Foundation has named its strategy to achieve its conservation objectives “Five for the Future.”

The strategy has identified the following five priorities:

Habitat Stewardship Program – stewardship and enhancement projects that improve wildlife habitat.

Permanent Land Protection Program – preserving large tracts of the most important and imperiled habitat.

Conservation Education and Hunting Heritage Program – passing on the passion for conservation and our hunting heritage to future generations.

Elk Restoration Program – restoring elk herds across their historic range through reintroduction and habitat improvement.

Elk Country Endowment – ensuring a future for elk country by ensuring a future for the Elk Foundation.

About Bass Pro Shops
Bass Pro Shops, an international catalog and internet retailer, is also America’s most popular outdoor store, offering shoppers the largest selection of quality outdoor gear, clothing and accessories from top industry names and at value prices. More than just hunting and fishing stores, Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World stores are also part museum, part art gallery, part education, conservation and entertainment centers. They offer equipment for hiking, backpacking, wildlife viewing, camping, outdoor cooking and more. A gift and nature center also serves up a wide variety of outdoor-related items from lamps and dishes to bird feeders and furniture.

Award-winning in their concept and design, Bass Pro Shops retail stores are rated high as tourist-destination picks. Almost 90 million people visit the stores annually. Widely recognized for their efforts in conservation and outdoor education, Bass Pro Shops stores also offer Outdoor Skills Workshops for adults, kids and families.  Headquartered in Springfield, Missouri, Bass Pro Shops currently has 42 retail locations in 24 states and Canada. In addition, Bass Pro Shops, also provides products and services for thousands of independent dealers world wide through its subsidiary company, American Rod & Gun. For more information regarding Bass Pro Shops store locations, products or special events, please visit www.basspro.com. To request a free catalog call 1-800-BASS PRO. 

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Founded in 1984 and headquartered in Missoula, Mont., the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring the future of elk, other wildlife and their habitat. The Elk Foundation and its partners have permanently protected or enhanced more than 5 million acres, a land area nearly twice as large as Yellowstone National Park. Nearly 500,000 acres previously closed to public access are now open for hunting, fishing and other recreation. The Elk Foundation has more than 150,000 members, a staff of 150 and 10,000 active volunteers. To help protect wild elk country or learn more about the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, visit www.elkfoundation.org or call 800-CALL-ELK.