Anybody want to rifle hunt the Centralia Mine property?

[BrownGoinDown]

Some of you may remember my posts during last years elk season when my coworker was missing in the Margaret Unit. As most know, this ended tragically as we lost an amazing person and dedicated outdoorsman.

A Dave Sherwood Memorial Scholarship fund has been set up through Centralia College and in support of this, TransAlta is selling tickets for a weekend elk hunt on TransAlta's Centralia Mine property.

Here are the details:

For $25 a ticket, you will be entered into a raffle. The winner will be allowed to hunt for a big bull elk (minimum three-point) on TransAlta controlled property inside Game Management Unit 667. The hunt will take place during the modern rifle general hunting season in November.
The drawing will take place on May 1 at the Hanke House at Centralia College. All proceeds will go toward a scholarship in Dave’s name at the college administered by the Centralia College Foundation.
The winner is responsible for buying a Washington state hunting license and tag, and will be accompanied by a TransAlta representative during the hunt.
Tickets can be purchased by cash or check through either Sandy Yanish or Michael Wagar at TransAlta’s main office in Centralia. To buy one through a debit or credit card, you need to go to the Hanke House at Centralia College, located at 600 Centralia College Boulevard (736-9391 ext. 290, foundation@centralia.edu), home of the Foundation.
Tickets are also on sale at Joe’s Outdoor Sports Shop in the Lewis County Mall, the Ethel Market on Highway 12 and Wholesale Sports Outdoor Outfitters in Lacey.
This raffle and elk hunt is in honor of Dave, who passed away from a tragic accident while hunting for elk near Mount St. Helens this past November. Dave was a popular and respected manager at the Centralia plant.

I hope anyone interested will buy tickets and support this. It is a rifle only hunt, you will be accompanied by a TransAlta employee, and the drawing will take place before any special permit applications are due.

Thanks

[trophyhunt]

Nice thing to do for the man, I hope they collect a good amount of money. How much land are they talking about hunting? Is it common for elk to stay on the property? And the flyier says only one weekend to hunt it, does that mean 2 days of hunting only?

[Special T]

 

[bobcat]

That's a huge area and with no hunting pressure it's like an elk farm. Areas that have been mined and then restored are planted with grass so the elk live there year around and have no reason to leave. The only elk hunting I know of that goes on there is the couple of disabled hunter permits they have each year, and those are always 100% success and I believe they are two day hunts but normally only take one day to fill the tag. Maybe employees are allowed to hunt elk there though, I don't know about that. But it would definitely be a good hunt to win. I don't have any extra money but I'll be throwing $25 in for one ticket.

[SkookumHntr]

Seems like there is a raffle to hunt the mine every other year or so. My buddy drew it once and didnt get a bull.

[kirkl]

Do you have to have a west side elk tag?

[Curly]

I assume you would not need an elk tag or hunting license to buy raffle tickets, but obviously if you were drawn you would need to buy a westside modern firearm elk tag.

[Special T]

Sounds like a yes, but you find out about the raffle BEFORE you have to buy a tag... you can always buy the combo and not pick up the tag to determine where youhunt. 

[Curly]

It is nice that the drawing is on May 1.  That would put it prior to the WDFW special permit drawings, right?

[bobcat]

It is nice that the drawing is on May 1.  That would put it prior to the WDFW special permit drawings, right?

Yes, the deadline to submit special permit applications should be in mid May.

[Arteman]

Anybody know a cut off date the tickets need to be purchased by?  Sounds like a win win situation, if you dont get drawn the money still goes to some good.  It was a sad deal what happened to this man, his family, and friends.

[droptine]

It is a good deal.  We are going to sell by phone up to the day of the draw.  The May draw date is so if you draw the hunt you have time to change your hunting method before the state applications are due.  This will allow someone that hunts with a bow or black powder to change weapons if they draw.  But if you do not draw you still can put in for the state hunts like allways.  There are always a few good bull on the property every year,  I think that if you do not shoot a bull during the hunt it will be because you did not want to kill a bull.  You will see lots of Elk during the weekend!  The Lucky hunter will be guided by some good people from the plant and the mine and you will have a great time.  Buy some ticket and GOOD LUCK.. Thanks' 

[kckrawler]

It is a good deal.  We are going to sell by phone up to the day of the draw.  The May draw date is so if you draw the hunt you have time to change your hunting method before the state applications are due.  This will allow someone that hunts with a bow or black powder to change weapons if they draw.  But if you do not draw you still can put in for the state hunts like allways.  There are always a few good bull on the property every year,  I think that if you do not shoot a bull during the hunt it will be because you did not want to kill a bull.  You will see lots of Elk during the weekend!  The Lucky hunter will be guided by some good people from the plant and the mine and you will have a great time.  Buy some ticket and GOOD LUCK.. Thanks'

Do you happen to know if there are rules about non-hunting guests going along for the weekend?

[ANDERWAGON]

This is cool, I have to say someone at TransAlta knows how to treat people.  I was impressed  with them back in November when I read they had sent employees and a private helicopter to aid in the search and now this.

TransAlta

[droptine]

Yes.  In the past we have let the hunter bring one person with them.