Big-Ticket Items Donated To Raise Big Bucks

Sun., March 16, 1997

Rich Landers Outdoors Editor

Auctions at the The Big Horn Sports and Recreation Show are major fund-raisers for the region’s most active sportsmen’s club. The auctions also are among the best places to find bargains on outdoors equipment and guided trips.

The bargain part doesn’t necessarily please the donors who supply the Inland Northwest Wildlife Council with valuable offerings.

Once again, David and Rose Stevens of Wilson Creek, Wash., have offered a trophy mule deer hunt on the 10,000 acres they control in Grant County.

Trophy hunters have been paying more than $7,000 for one of the 10 or so permits the Stevens offer each year to take a mule deer buck on their place.

Last year the auction tag sold for less than half the going price.

With more than 60 hunters on a list waiting to pay more than $7,000, the Stevens had to reconsider offering the tag again this year. “But we decided to go ahead with the donation because the Wildlife Council does so much good for wildlife,” Rose Stevens said. This year, however, she said she planned to tell the people on the waiting list about the auction.

“It would be better for the council if we got out the word about how valuable this hunt is,” she said. “Especially after this winter.”

Deer herds have taken a terrible beating this year. To prevent starvation for the deer that winter on their property, the Stevens have spent more than $20,000 on feed, she said.

The auction is the council’s biggest money maker next to ticket sales and booth sales, said council treasurer Jodi Wallet.

The fishing auction features gear ranging from reels to guided walleye fishing trips and personal fly fishing lessons.

The youth and family auction has items such as guided hunting trips for kids, a Chesapeake retriever puppy and a freezer full of sirloin steak.

The hunting auction includes rounds of sporting clays, guided hunts, a Beretta shotgun and much more. , DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: BENEFIT Three wildlife benefit auctions sponsored by the Inland Northwest Wildlife Council during the Big Horn Show are scheduled as follows at Spokane Interstate Fairgrounds. Friday, 7 p.m., items geared for fishing. Saturday, 2 p.m., items geared for youths and families. Saturday, 7 p.m., items geared to hunting.

This sidebar appeared with the story: BENEFIT Three wildlife benefit auctions sponsored by the Inland Northwest Wildlife Council during the Big Horn Show are scheduled as follows at Spokane Interstate Fairgrounds. Friday, 7 p.m., items geared for fishing. Saturday, 2 p.m., items geared for youths and families. Saturday, 7 p.m., items geared to hunting.