[ODFW-News] Raffle hunts net $116,000 for wildlife and hunter access projects

[ODFW News]

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 	
Contact: 	Anne Pressentin Young (503) 872-5264, Ext. 5356	
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us
	
For Immediate Release	Tuesday, May 21, 2003

Raffle hunts net $116,000 for wildlife and hunter access projects throughout state

PORTLAND - Two programs to benefit bighorn sheep management, hunter access and wildlife habitat in Oregon raised nearly $116,000 over the weekend through 10 raffle hunts. 

The raffle tags award the winning bidders an extended hunting season for deer, elk or bighorn sheep in an expanded hunting area. Any legal hunting weapon may be used to fill a raffle tag. Winners also may harvest an additional deer and/or elk with general or controlled season tags during authorized seasons. 

The raffle hunt program is one way the Access and Habitat Program and the bighorn sheep management program raises funds. 

This year's deer and elk raffle hunt winners were drawn from a pool of 41,381 tickets. The elk raffle tickets, deer raffle tickets and combination elk and deer tickets raised $31,957, $29,292 and $14,393 respectively. The winners are:

Statewide Deer Hunt: Michael Caven, Cottage Grove, Ore.

Statewide Combo Hunt: Alfredo Ayala, Albany, Ore.

Northeast Oregon Deer Hunt: Calvin Spratling, Pendleton, Ore.

Southeast Oregon Deer Hunt: John Ward, Klamath Falls, Ore.

Central Oregon Deer Hunt: Richard Bernards, McMinnville, Ore.

Northeast Oregon Elk Hunt: Josh Rinard, Sandy, Ore.

High Desert Elk Hunt: Randy Hopp, Newberg, Ore.

Western Oregon Elk Hunt: William Sylvester, Brownsville, Ore.

Statewide Elk Hunt: Dick Wasson, Salem, Ore.

This year's bighorn sheep raffle hunt winner was Butch Kuflack of Hermosa Beach, Cal. His ticket was drawn from 5,795 entered, which raised $40,300 for the program. 

The raffle hunt revenues returned to the Access and Habitat Program will be distributed through grants to individual and corporate landowners, conservation organizations and others for cooperative wildlife habitat improvement and hunter access projects throughout the state. Created by the Oregon Legislature in 1993, the A&H Program is funded by a $2 surcharge on hunting licenses.  For more information on the Access and Habitat Program contact program coordinator Susan Barnes at (503) 872-5260, Ext. 5349.

For more information about the bighorn sheep program, contact Don Whittaker at (503) 872-5260, Ext. 5341.

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