Cut from: http://www.azgfd.gov/artman/publish/article_409.shtml

October Game and Fish Commission meeting overview

During its Oct. 21 meeting in Phoenix, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission awarded three special tags per big game species, but allocated one tag per each of the nine big game species to be sold via a "super raffle" this coming year. The "super raffle" concept is part of a 20-year evolutionary process associated with this program.

The special tag program actually began in 1984 when the Arizona Legislature passed a bill allowing the commission to take two bighorn sheep tags and use them for fundraising purposes for that species. The program has been a remarkable success. Over the next 20-plus years, the program has evolved to include all big game species. The special tag program has raised more than $11 million for Arizona wildlife management efforts.

Last year, the program was expanded again when the Legislature increased the number of special tags from two per big game species, to three tags per species. Also last year, the Game and Fish Commission told the various wildlife conservation organizations that it would like to see them all work together. They took that to heart, and the organizations joined together and came up with the "super raffle" concept, where all the organizations could participate in a single fundraising effort using a special tag per each of the nine big game species.

For the other two tags per species, the commission allocated those tags as follows:

Pronghorn: Two tags to the Arizona Antelope Foundation.
Black bear: One tag to the Arizona Bowhunters Association and one tag to Safari Club International - Arizona Chapter (SCI-AZ).
Bighorn sheep: Two tags to the Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society.
Buffalo: One tag to the Arizona Elk Society and one to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
Elk: One tag to the Arizona Elk Society and one to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
Javelina: One tag to SCI-AZ and one to the Arizona Bowhunters Association.
Mule deer: One tag to the Mule Deer Foundation and one to the Arizona Deer Association.
Turkey: Two tags to the National Wild Turkey Federation.
Whitetail deer: Two tags to the Arizona Deer Association.

The commission also approved a notice of final rulemaking to amend Article 1, dealing with definitions and general provisions to reinstate limits on nonresident hunt permit tags.
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A follow on news article from: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/sports/article...03outraffle1103.html

'Super raffle' to aid conservation
Margie Anderson
Special for The Republic
Nov. 3, 2005 12:00 AM
The Arizona Game and Fish Commission has approved a "super raffle" that will raise funds and award a year-round permit tag for each of the nine big-game species.

Several conservation organizations worked together on the concept, which is part of a special tag program the state started in 1984.

The Legislature allowed special tags to be used in fund-raising efforts for individual species, and the program has since generated $11 million for Arizona wildlife management.

Super raffle winners will receive licenses as well as tags, which will be good for the entire year and not the usual limited seasons. Applications will allow sportsmen and women to buy multiple raffle tickets for multiple species.

Applications for the raffle should be available by the end of November, with a drawing targeted for the first Saturday after July 4, which next year will be July 8.

Proceeds will go toward conservation efforts for the species: elk, mule deer, whitetail (Coues) deer, antelope, buffalo, bighorn sheep, turkey, bear and javelina.

A turkey tag will allow for either a Merriam's or a Gould's turkey.

Ticket prices will vary by species. Javelina, turkey and bear will be $5 each; deer, buffalo and antelope $10 each; elk $20; and bighorn sheep $25.

Another raffle, sponsored by Swarovski Optik, will cover the super raffle's promotional costs. Swarovski Optik donated an optics package including a spotting scope, a power rifle scope, 10x42 binoculars, a rangefinder and a tripod with adapters. Tickets will be $10.

Applications will be available at all Game and Fish offices, on the Game and Fish Web site, in hunting regulations books, and in the magazines of various supporting associations, such as the Arizona Elk Society and the Arizona Antelope Foundation.

The super raffle committee also hopes to have applications available at major sporting goods stores.

The other program special tags were awarded as follows: two pronghorn, Arizona Antelope Foundation; black bear, one each to the Arizona Bow- hunters Association and Safari Club International-Arizona Chapter; two bighorn sheep, Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society; buffalo, one each to the Arizona Elk Society and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation; elk, one each to the Arizona Elk Society and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation; javelina, one each to SCI-AZ and the Arizona Bow- hunters Association; mule deer, one each to the Mule Deer Foundation and the Arizona Deer Association; two turkey, National Wild Turkey Federation; two whitetail deer, Arizona Deer Association.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: RamDreamer,

By the way, the drawing will be a public event and will take place on July 8, 2006.

Note that the season dates will be 365 days long - August 1, 2006 through July 31, 2007.

The website for this raffle is now up: http://www.arizonabiggamesuperraffle.com/