$400K Arizona Mule Deer Auction Hunt

[Chesapeake]

I wonder how you hunt with a "boy and arrow"? Do you send the boy out to poke the deer with the arrow?

[MuleDeer]

Nice buck but not a fan at all of auction tags. Wish WA would stop before they end up like Utah.

Why aren't you a fan of auction tags?  They are matched 1-for1 with any raffle tag, and provide a huge boost of revenue to put on the ground for that species.  90% goes to the state that provides the tag, for conservation work for that species, and 10% goes to the group that auctions it, for them to use on conservation.  What's not to like about that program?
Example: The Antelope Island tag sold for $410,000 this year, with 90% going onto the island for wildlife conservation, and 10% going into other conservation projects by the groups that sold the tag.  And, there will also be 1 raffle tag winner for the same tag, which will cost that person $5.  So two winners, providing $410,005 towards conservation, instead of just the $5 raffle winner.  A big difference for our wildlife

[The scout]

not that anyone cares but I don't have a problem as long as the money is actually goes to better the herds, as with a lot of things when there is a lot of money involved usually greed and corruption soon follow

[Reidus]

I've heard that after 200 million, you can't hardly spend it fast enough.

[buckfvr]

Id like to see how and when the monies are spent.   Where theres that much money, there is a high likely hood that some of it will go for things not originally intended.

[MuleDeer]

Id like to see how and when the monies are spent.   Where theres that much money, there is a high likely hood that some of it will go for things not originally intended.

Look it up.  It's all published for the public to view, to make sure it is spent in the right areas.  For any non-profit, they are required to publish their IRS 990 forms, showing where every cent goes that they spend.  For the conservation tags, state agencies are required to report where those funds go, and both entities are audited yearly just for that purpose.  There is nothing hidden, you just have to go look it up.

[MuleDeer]

Id like to see how and when the monies are spent.   Where theres that much money, there is a high likely hood that some of it will go for things not originally intended.

Example from an article written specifically about the auction tags on Antelope Island, both deer and bighorn:

In 2015, the revenue from the Antelope Island permits was used to pay for a $60,000 renovation of four water springs on the island so they could produce and hold more water for the wildlife, Shaw said. Each year, park officials also plant 40-60 acres of vegetation on the island to help support the animals.

"It is extremely expensive and extremely labor intensive because you have to have somebody grow the starts and then we have to have somebody plant them by hand," Shaw said. "And it's very expensive to grow native seeds. We do lots of habitat manipulation in order to better grow vegetation that will support those animals."

With the revenue generated from this year's record-selling permit, Shaw said there are plans to build another water spring that will hold around 100,000 gallons of water and will cost about $350,000.

Along with the Antelope Island State Park mule deer and bighorn sheep permits, DWR auctions off around 30 other hunting permits each year at the Western Hunting and Conservation Expo and 90 percent of those proceeds are used to help with wildlife conservation projects around the state, Sheehan said.

Sheehan said in order to manage growing wildlife herds and to help maintain sustainable numbers on the island, several deer and bighorn sheep are relocated from the park to other areas around the state each year. Fifty bighorn sheep were recently moved from Antelope Island to other areas, and during the past two years, 200 mule deer were also relocated, Sheehan said.
 
If you want a dollar by dollar breakdown, it is recorded and can be accessed thru Utah DWR.

[cbond3318]

i was on Antelope Island Thursday and couldn't help but think of how unclimatic this hunt would be, bout the same as buying the antler set off eBay except do it from your laptop while outside.

[tgomez]

For $400,000.00 the antlers and bones better be made of solid gold, and the blood of the finest wine. That's the most rediculous wasteless spending ever! Rather keep the $.

[WAPatriot]

I think it's ridiculous on this website how people judge individuals for the way they choose to spend their money. Especially for spending their money on awesome hunts that in the end support animals and protect our traditions.

[jackelope]

For $400,000.00 the antlers and bones better be made of solid gold, and the blood of the finest wine. That's the most rediculous wasteless spending ever! Rather keep the $.

So you're against funding conservation by donation?
 

[jackelope]

I think it's ridiculous on this website how people judge individuals for the way they choose to spend their money. Especially for spending their money on awesome hunts that in the end support animals and protect our traditions.

It's not just on this website. There's lots of drama over these type hunts all over the west. Trust me, it's not just a hunt-wa thing.

[257 Wby Mag]

I appreciate these rich folks donating copious amounts of $$$ to our wildlife..