Mason Family Foundation
Jerry Mason grew up in Ohio in a family that did not hunt. His first exposure to hunting was 1963 mule deer on a private family ranch in south central Utah. He used a “borrowed” open sight 30-06 rifle. The hunt in Jerry’s mind was successful although, it is uncertain if harvested an animal.
However, what did happen is he caught the “wildlife conservation bug.” Over the next 4 decades, Jerry committed much of his spare time when not building rockets or enjoying time with his growing family, to studying wildlife and their management, and also the role hunting in wildlife conservation. Jerry was first and foremost a conservationist, then a hunter. He devoted more of his time and treasury to conserving wildlife than he did to actually hunting. He served as a member of Utah’s Board of Big Game Control, and the President of the Utah Wildlife Federation where he led efforts to establish objective-based management of big game animals and other wildlife in Utah. Jerry formed the Mason Family Foundation to further wildlife conservation efforts and education in Utah.
MORE ABOUT JERRY
In 1996, Jerry spearheaded statewide programs to engage Utah youth in wildlife conservation activities. Working with Utah State University and Utah Wildlife Federation, he distributed more than 50,000 copies of Wildlife of Utah Centennial Coloring Book. Over 20,00 copies were distributed free to Utah teachers in grades K-6 as part if a statewide coloring contest. More than 12,00 entries were submitted. The entries were judged by representatives from Utah Governor’s Office and various state education and resource management agencies. The top 1% were displayed in the Utah State Capitol Rotunda during the 1996 Utah Youth for Wildlife Centennial Celebration. The celebration attracted over 3,000 participants to the capitol to view the top coloring contest entries and learn more about wildlife conservation efforts in Utah. In 1999 and 2000, the Mason Foundation supported a statewide essay contest for students in grade 9-12. Participating students submitted 250 word essays on how to enhance citizen participation in the wildlife management decision-making process. Over 500 essays were from throughout Utah.
JERRY'S TENETS OF WILDLIFE, THEIR MANAGEMENT, AND ROLE OF HUNTING IN CONSERVATION EXEMPLIFIED NY THE EXHIBIT INCLUDE:
- Humans also have the responsibilty to learn about the consequences of their actions on wildlife and act to benefit wildlife.
- It is important for hunters to understand that managing for hunting opportunity must be balanced with the well-being of the species.
- It is important for people to understand that wildlife harvest produces not only food and recreation, but is a primary source of revenue to manage all wildlife.
- It is important for people, particularly youth, to understand the fundamentals of wildlife biology to include the reproductive processes, wildlife adaptions to their environment, predator-prey relationships, and the importance of habitat.