Montana Mule Deer Raffle

[Elky Welky]

Good morning hunt talkers! Montana BHA was awarded the statewide mule deer auction tag, and instead of auctioning it off to the highest bidder, MT-BHA is running a raffle to raise funds for mule deer, and letting everyone have a chance at this awesome tag.

For as little as $20, you could find yourself holding Montana’s statewide mule deer license, valid during the entire open hunting season in 2024 (archery, rifle, and muzzleloader), in any hunting district (including the limited-entry districts) in the entire state of Montana. There is no limit to the number of entries you can buy.

An opportunity traditionally offered only to the highest bidder, Montana BHA wanted to see this chance-of-a-lifetime be raffled off equitably rather than auctioned. When there’s a unique and highly coveted chance to hunt our public wildlife, we should all be able to throw our name in the hat; don’t you think?

Open to residents and nonresidents, raffle proceeds will go to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks to support their mule deer conservation and habitat work. So rather than just one person supporting this beneficial conservation work, we all have the opportunity to chip in what we can, and one lucky winner will be drawn at random.

If that wasn't good enough, Mystery Ranch, First Lite, and Weatherby are throwing in $3,600 worth of gear to deck out your hunt.

The deadline to purchase entries is April 30, 2024. Checks must be postmarked by this date. The drawing will take place on May 15, 2024. You can purchase as many entries as you'd like until the purchase deadline.

Here's the link to enter:

Enter to Win the Montana Statewide Mule Deer License!

montana.bhafundraising.org

And if you want more details, check out these articles in Meateater and Field and Stream:

Montana BHA is Raffling a Statewide Mule Deer Tag

If you've ever put in for a coveted tag, you’re used to horrible draw odds. But you still throw your name in the hat. Why? Because you still have a chance. This year, Montana Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) has taken the statewide mule deer tag, which has been auctioned off to the single...

www.themeateater.com

Montana Conservation Group Holds Open Raffle for Coveted Statewide Mule Deer Tag

Hunters have paid more than $40,000 for Montana's statewide mulie tag. This year, anyone can put in for the price of one $20 raffle ticket.

www.fieldandstream.com

 

[Deleted member 48080]

Anyone else not able to make a transaction on it? It's denying a working card for me.

 

[Elky Welky]

Anyone else not able to make a transaction on it? It's denying a working card for me.

Because of some weird state laws and credit card transaction fees, it has to be debit card or check by mail. If that isn't working then you may have to contact your bank and let them know it isn't fraud (this happens to me all the time with online purchases with a debit card).

 

[Deleted member 48080]

Because of some weird state laws and credit card transaction fees, it has to be debit card or check by mail. If that isn't working then you may have to contact your bank and let them know it isn't fraud (this happens to me all the time with online purchases with a debit card).

Huh. It seems weird that the state would allow the super tag raffle tickets for the same tag with a CC, but not this one. Hopefully that doesn't hurt ticket sales.

 

[Elky Welky]

Huh. It seems weird that the state would allow the super tag raffle tickets for the same tag with a CC, but not this one. Hopefully that doesn't hurt ticket sales.

I think it is because credit card companies charge transaction fees. Because this money is almost entirely earmarked for mule deer and not administration costs, too many people using credit cards would eat up all of the small amount allowed for admin fees and cut into the profit. My guess is the state has contracts with credit card companies to reduce those transaction charges, or has some other clever way of covering those costs.

 

[ismith]

Huh. It seems weird that the state would allow the super tag raffle tickets for the same tag with a CC, but not this one. Hopefully that doesn't hurt ticket sales.

If the lack of mule deer doesn’t I doubt not being able to pay with a credit card will.

 

[Ben Lamb]

The law was changed a few years ago to allow for online sales through debit only, or mail-in checks. Before that, no online raffles were allowed and all raffles had to be "mail in" only. You could advertise them, but only collect physical cash.

This was part of the prohibition on gambling to help ensure that casinos were taking your cash rather than making it easier for the local humane society to raffle something off - one of the last pre-digital age protectionist rackets in MT (The other being the milk trade which is far more protectionist and puritanical).

The state isn't a charty engaged in gamblng, so the law didn't apply to them and as such, specific legislation enabling the raffle (supertags) created the carve out that allows FWP to sell super-tag chances but keeps NGO's from offering normal raffles.

It's a significant hurdle. RMEF led the change in the law, IIRC, to what it is now. I can't imagine the legal hurdles that had to be undertaken to get this raffle off the ground.

 

[Oak]

Edit: Ben's post loaded for me after I replied and he explained much better.

 

[huntandfly]

Got a few tickets, hope they generate a good amount of interest and raise some money for mule deer

 

[Marshian]

I’ll be curious once the raffle ends, how many tickets get sold and how the odds for winning this compare to winning the mule deer super tag. That being said, I plan to buy a few tickets here regardless.

 

[Mountain Man]

I purchased some tickets to support the cause. I’d like to see this new approach receive support from those of us who will never in a million years be able to afford an auction tag. I don’t understand why so many people are undercutting this effort to bring this opportunity to us working class folks.

 

[JLDemo]

What's another raffle, I'm in.

Region 700 doe tag allll day.

 

[DFS]

What's another raffle, I'm in.

Region 700 doe tag allll day.

Good luck getting access to private to shoot that doe.

 

[Trial153]

One less auction tags might bring the nation wide number to below what..500-600 for the year? I will
Support it even it means mailing a check.

 

[JLDemo]

Good luck getting access to private to shoot that doe.

Statewide tags mean statewide access. Duh.

 

[The Hedgehog]

Often hear of people buying all the doe tags they can to NOT fill them to somehow save a deer or make a point. I don’t think it works that way. Not buying them makes the point.

Best of luck on the ticket sales.

 

[Forkyfinder]

Often hear of people buying all the doe tags they can to NOT fill them to somehow save a deer or make a point. I don’t think it works that way. Not buying them makes the point.

Best of luck on the ticket sales.

You think that people will just "not" buy them? I like that too, but the idea of buying one and not using it is a little more practical. I buy all that I can...

 

[BuzzH]

Often hear of people buying all the doe tags they can to NOT fill them to somehow save a deer or make a point. I don’t think it works that way. Not buying them makes the point.

Best of luck on the ticket sales.

As long as everyone doesn't buy them. Trouble is for $10 each that MT charges, pretty tough for most to resist.

I still can't believe the prices are like that...unreal. But then again, I remember buying 5 tags in the river bottom, OTC for either sex whitetails, for $5 each.

 

[The Hedgehog]

You think that people will just "not" buy them? I like that too, but the idea of buying one and not using it is a little more practical. I buy all that I can...

How so? Explain that to me.

 

[Forkyfinder]

How so? Explain that to me.

I have heard of several people wanting to shoot extra does/cows and getting those tags.

Provided there's a limited supply, people buying it with the express intent not to use it would only help right?

Everyone not buying one would be great - but I think you know a lot of people that see the barely double digit dollar amount and are excited they get to "kill" something else.