Arizona Big Game Super Raffle

PHOENIX – As the deadline draws near to enter the 10th annual "Arizona Big Game Super Raffle," the Arizona Game And Fish Department is receiving inquiries about what the raffle is and how it works.

The raffle is conducted by a nonprofit entity to raise money for wildlife conservation efforts. A volunteer board of directors, comprised of representatives from sponsoring organizations, oversees the operation of the raffle.

Here's how it works: The Arizona Game and Fish Commission awards the Arizona Big Game Super Raffle a total of 10 Special Big Game Tags, one for each of the state's big game species -- bighorn sheep, elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn antelope, buffalo, turkey, bear, javelina and mountain lion.

Raffle tickets then are made available for $5 to $25 each, depending on species. Raffle tickets can be ordered online (www.arizonabiggamesuperraffle.com), or by requesting an order form by mail (AZBGSR, P.O. Box 41355, Mesa, AZ 85274). There is no limit on how many raffle tickets can be ordered.

Every dollar raised for each species through the raffle is returned to the department and managed by the Arizona Habitat Partnership Committee (AHPC) for that particular species. With input from local habitat partners across the state and sponsoring organizations involved in the fundraising, project priorities are determined that will provide the most benefit to each species.

According to the Arizona Big Game Super Raffle website, mail orders must be received by Friday, July 10. The deadline to order raffle tickets online is 10 p.m. (MST) Sunday, July 12. Winners will be permitted to hunt for 365 days between Aug. 15, 2015 and Aug. 14, 2016, in most game management units statewide.

The names of the winners will be drawn at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 23, during the Sportsmen's Open Forum at department headquarters (Quail Room), 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix. The drawing will be webcast at http://www.azgfd.gov/webcast. Winners do not need to be present. Winners will be contacted by phone.

For more information, visit http://www.arizonabiggamesuperraffle.com.