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BIG GAME AUCTION AND RAFFLE PROGRAM
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife began auctioning big game permits in 1994. The first auction permit was a single bighorn sheep permit and the auction was conducted by a local conservation organization. Three years later, in 1997, the first raffle tags were sold for a permit to hunt big game. Raffles were conducted for deer, elk, bighorn sheep, and moose.
Since the inception of the program in 1994, the primary objective of auction and raffle permits has been to generate revenue specifically for the management of the hunted species. As such, specific code was adopted in RCW 77.32.530 and WACs 232-28-290 and 232-28-292. These codes established the fiscal requirements for auction and raffle funds and describe structure of auction and raffle procedures and hunting opportunities.
Currently, six auction and six raffle permit opportunities exist; including one auction and one raffle permit for deer, Westside elk, Eastside elk, bighorn sheep, moose, and mountain goat. Since 1994, auctions have been conducted by conservation organizations via a contract with WDFW, whereas raffles are conducted by WDFW. Over 1 million dollars have been generated solely for the management of the respective big game species. This revenue typically funds activities that would otherwise not occur due to budget limitation, including surveys, status reviews, animal captures, transplants, habitat improvement projects, research projects, and disease monitoring.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How much revenue is generated from annual auction and raffle tags?
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How were the proceeds used?
By law, the revenue from a particular species auction and raffle tags must be spent on management of that species. Given that, the expenditures (since July 1999) for deer and elk have been marked for special projects, including a buck mortality study on black-tailed deer, investigations of deer hair loss syndrome, elk augmentations, elk carry-capacity study, and elk calf survival investigations. Expenditures for bighorn sheep, moose, and mountain goats has been primarily for annual surveys for these species (83%), with smaller costs associated with special research projects (8%) and raffle tag marketing (9%).
Who auctions the tags each year?
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