In 1980, a small group of experienced hunters started the KWHF as a vehicle to help retain the then high populations of elk, deer, moose & wild sheep. Over the years, the KWHF has raised money to help acquire dozens of important parcels of private land for conservation and during frigid winters has helped keep wildlife alive by feeding.
Our Mission
The Kootenay Wildlife Heritage Fund’s mission is to ensure the future of big game in the Kootenay region, to assist in acquiring specific land for that purpose, and to promote our hunting heritage. Conceived in 1981, the Kootenay Wildlife Heritage Fund has participated in the acquisition of some 30,000 acres of big game habitat for big game species and for other wildlife that frequent these properties. Individual donations are our main source of income for helping to fund our big game resources. We need your continued support to carry on.
The "land Capability Analysis Report, conducted by the Canada Land Inventory states, "The most outstanding characteristic of the East Kootenay is its capacity to support large populations of big game. In this regard, the region is unique in North America and ranks highly on a global scale". Current big game populations come nowhere near the amazing carrying capacity of our region.
The Kootenay Wildlife Heritage Fund is autonomous and is managed by dedicated Kootenay residents, without involvement from government. "Land for Wildlife" must be acquired and maintained and we will continue to manage conservation properties to ensure continued enjoyment of our big game resources. We acquire these properties on behalf of all wildlife lovers, especially hunters, and we believe in our slogan, "For all of us, forever".
“Feeding is not controversial; it is an essential population maintenance practice that has been in use for centuries in Europe and over a century here in North America’s western states.”
Some of What the KWHF has Achieved
The founding directors of KWHF in 1979 met with the provincial ministers of the day and initiated the formation of the “habitat conservation Fund”.
We have enhanced more then 32,000 acres of wildlife habitat
We fed over 6000 elk deer and hundreds of big horn sheep during the devastating winter of 1996/1997 there by ensuring a nucleus for elk, deer and big horn populations.
Fed Elk at the mouth of Skookumchuck river from 1973 to 1993.
Communicated weekly with western North Americans top biologists.
In 2019 we held the first ever “Big Game Symposium” in Cranbrook BC. Where we brought together Western Canadian and international Biologists to discuss and inform on the future of our big game resources.
Assisted in acquiring 28,000 acres of winter range habitat.
For 20 years we have locally produced with RMoffice Solutions the “Land for Wildlife Calendar”. With local photographers, Larry Tooze, Brian Hay, Brian Varty and other local photographers.