In researching the auction tag column, I found that a number of Western States offer raffle opportunities to obtain premier tags outside of the states normal draws.  Usually these “SuperTags” are administered by the state wildlife department, while the auction tags are through conservation organizations. 

Arizona offers a Super tag that is species specific.  According to an article on BigGamehunt.net

“The final tally for all nine tags was $478,860, and although down from last year’s record high of $557,641, this year was a tremendous success, given the current economic conditions,” says Charlie Kelly, president of the Arizona Big Game Super Raffle

The uniqueness of the special tags is that the hunting season is year-round with very few limitations on hunting areas, allowing tag winners the time to pursue a trophy animal, many of which are only found in Arizona.  

Huntinglife.com wrote about a New Mexico Governor’s elk tag raffle put on by the Rocky mountain Elk Foundation, but I was unable to find a specific web page that dealt with the raffle.  Read about this once in a lifetime tag at http://huntinglife.blogspot.com/2007/03/new-mexico-governor-elk-tag-raffle.html

Washington has a Web page dedicated to the Conservation fund raising tags

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.

Oregon offers both Auction tags, as well as a tag raffle for twelve different tags.  The auction tags brought in $346,000, While over 70,000 raffle tickets were sold in 2007 for between $6 and $11 per ticket depending on the tag.  At a minimum, the raffle raised over $400,000 for the 12 tags.

All funds raised by deer and elk auction and raffle tags go directly to the Access and Habitat Program. Funds raised by bighorn sheep, pronghorn, and Rocky Mountain goat auction and raffle tags go directly to the management of those species.

 Idaho has a Super Hunt tag Raffle. 

Every year, 34 lucky hunters walk into the field with special Super Hunt tags in their pockets. These tags allow a hunter to pursue an elk, deer, antelope or moose in any open hunt in Idaho. Sportsmen who have won this privilege call it a “hunt of a lifetime.” The thrill is quadrupled for two Super Hunt Combo winners who are able to hunt all four species in any open hunt. This unqualified freedom to pursue world-class big game in Idaho is an experience winners will long remember.

Colorado offers both auction tags and raffle tags.  Yopu can find out more on the Raffle and Auction page.

 Auction and raffle licenses have been existence in Colorado for bighorn sheep, mountaingoat and moose for a number of years. Legislation passed in 2001 created auction and raffle licenses for three additional big game species – deer, elk and Pronghorn.

There are differences in the number of auction and raffle licenses available for bighorn sheep, mountain goat and moose versus deer, elk and Pronghorn. The legislation and regulations that created the sheep, goat and moose licenses established two licenses per species, one to be sold at auction and one to be sold through a raffle. The legislation and regulations creating the deer, elk and Pronghorn licenses established four licenses per species, two to be sold at auction and two to be sold through a raffle.

Non-profit, conservation organizations have been authorized by the Wildlife Commission to auction and raffle various licenses.

Montana also offers a raffle for a SuperTag for each of the big game species.

Eight lucky hunters will win a SuperTag license to hunt moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, antelope, elk, deer, bison, and mountain lion in any hunting district in Montana—including Montana’s legendary trophy districts. Revenue from the new SuperTag sales is used to enhance hunting access and boost FWP enforcement efforts.

So if you are unable to pony up six figures for an auction tag, save up your lunch money for a raffle tags in one or more of these Western States.  Who knows?  You may win the tag of a lifetime while helping support wildlife conservation.