Tag Lottery Raises Wildlife Lab Dollars

This year's drawing for one bighorn sheep hunt in Hells Canyon raised more than $58,000 for Idaho's Wildlife Health Laboratory in Caldwell. One bighorn tag is awarded each year through a lottery. This year's lottery was conducted by the Idaho Chapter of the Wild Sheep Foundation. One other tag is offered annually at auction. The lottery provides hunters of moderate means a chance to secure a special hunting opportunity for bighorn sheep, while helping raise funds to ensure that Idaho's herds remain healthy. Diseases of bighorn sheep have drawn concern across the West over the past few years. This year's winner was William Garroutte Jr. of Watsonville, CA. The lottery has raised $787,099 since its inception in 1992. The money will be used to investigate diseases of interest to both the Department of Fish and Game and livestock producers.