From: http://www.heralddemocrat.com/articles/2007/08/10/sports/outdoors/out03.txt

A highly-prized permit to hunt a Desert Bighorn Sheep in west Texas will highlight the auction at the Oct. 5 EXPO Banquet & Conservation Hall of Fame Celebration at the Hyatt Lost Pines Resort near Austin.

Hosted by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation, the official non-profit partner of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, the event also features the induction of the Hall of Fame's first class — the late Perry R. Bass and the Texas Bighorn Society.

Depending on results of the annual August sheep survey conducted by the Department, the winning bidder will be allowed to hunt a trophy ram immediately or on a next available permit basis. The hunt will be conducted on one of the state's premier wildlife management areas - Elephant Mountain, Sierra Diablo or Black Gap.

While this is by no means a guaranteed hunt, the hunter success ratio is very high. The last two similar permits resulted in 180-plus class rams. The hunt is for up to 10 days in the field with expert guides provided by the Department. First-class meals and camp will be provided by the Foundation. One non-hunting companion may also participate.

The Foundation hopes this permit will set revenue records by surpassing $102,000, with permit proceeds going into the Desert Bighorn Sheep program. Persons wishing to bid may do so in person or by telephone.

The Texas Bighorn Society, an all-volunteer organization, was instrumental in the reintroduction of desert bighorns to Texas, providing both labor and funding to make the program a huge success.

Tables and/or tickets for the event may be reserved at http://tpwf.org/banquet.

For more information or biographical information about the inductees, contact ddavis@tpwf.org.

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The banquet's internet home page is at: http://tpwf.org/banquet/

You may register to attend at: http://tpwf.org/banquet/register/

Location of the function is:
Hyatt Lost Pines Resort & Spa
575 Hyatt Lost Pines Road
Lost Pines, TX 78612

Driving directions are at: http://lostpines.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/services/maps/index.jsp

For more information please contact: Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation, Director of Development, Kelli Sellers, at 214-720-1478 x205 / ksellers@tpwf.org