U.P. Whitetails Association Inc. (Based in Delta County)
Three friends sitting at a kitchen table talking over deer management problems, projects that "should be done" in their own back yard (Upper Peninsula of Michigan) and wondering why so many sporting groups were sending most of their funding to Organizations out of state, started an Organization to benefit the Upper Peninsula of Michigan called U.P. Whitetails Association Inc. The organization was formed with the understanding that it would be a 100% volunteer non-profit organization, with 100% of all funding staying local. Meaning that all profit from any fund raising event for or by the organization shall benefit the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The organizations founders' way of thinking is very basic but yet very realistic. Deer and deer hunting are regulated by each state, not on the national level, as are ducks and geese. A voter in another state by law can-not vote on anything in Michigan to help manage our deer or National Resources. "We have to many projects in our own back yard to be sending our funding out of state".
With that very basic way of thinking U.P. Whitetails Association
Inc. has grown to seven organizations in seven counties
of Michigan's Upper Peninsula with 100% of all funding staying
local. The organization that generates the funding keeps
100% of that funding. We (the mother organization so
to speak) help each organization off the ground with the
informational knowledge of "how to", man hours
and support. We do however request that each organization
belong to the Joint Committee of U.P. Whitetails Association
Inc. to help give guidance to the organizations. In return
we are given their friendship and the knowledge that others
are helping to save the white-tailed deer and their habitat
for future generations in Upper Michigan.
We have also supplied information to new start up organizations in other states!
In 1988 one of the founders made the best investment of his life! He financed the start up funding of the organization in the amount of $1000.00. Fourteen years later the Organizations have raised well over a million dollars and have put every cent back into the local community and projects. No wages, No buildings to up keep, No utilities, No taxes on buildings, only projects and banquet expenses to worry about!