Texas’ Big Game Lottery

Hunting

Revenue from auctions for bighorn sheep hunting permits has been significant since the concept caught on nearly 20 years ago in Western States. The record bid was $310,000 for a Montana bighorn tag in 1994. Money from that bid has been used for sheep management in Montana and other states. But Texas officials have bigger ideas.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is selling $10 tickets for the new “Big Game of Texas” lottery. The drawing will award one lucky sportsman tags for the Texas Grand Slam - a bighorn sheep, white-tailed deer, mule deer and pronghorn.

Department officials estimated the lottery could raise as much as $1 million a year. The value of the hunts, including meals, guiding and taxidermy - has been pegged at about $50,000.

Resident and non-resident hunters have until Oct. 3 to buy their $10 ticket at electronic license vendors or through a special toll-free phone number, (800) TX-LIC-4U. , DataTimes