The Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) announced a special opportunity for a chance at one of the most highly coveted tags in big game hunting. In partnership with the Arizona Game & Fish Department (AZG&F), and Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society, WSF will be offering raffle ticket chances for a Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep tag through June 30th. This special raffle tag will be valid in most hunting districts in Arizona from Aug 15, 2025–Aug 14, 2026.
To hunt for wild sheep in the Lower 48 states, one must apply and get drawn in annual state draws, be the successful bidder for a special Conservation Permit at auction or win a permit in a state sanctioned lottery or raffle.
“With a limited resource like wild sheep, hunting opportunity is tightly controlled, which is as it should be,” commented WSF President and CEO, Gray N. Thornton. “The good news is, there are multiple ways to get to go sheep hunting and all of them supply significant funding for the conservation and management of these treasured resources. States like Arizonia offering a special tag like this for raffle is one of them.”
Every dollarraised from this tag will be directed to the Arizona Game & Fish Department Habitat Partnership Committee for their continued stewardship of the state’s wild sheep resources.
“The Wild Sheep Foundation is honored to be able to help as many people as possible who are interested to have a chance at this special tag, and at the same time help the Arizona Game & Fish Department raise the most money possible for the state’s wild sheep populations,” Thornton added.
Since 1983, WSF has raised and directed over $8.5 million to Arizona thought the marketing and auctioning of the state’s Conservation Permits for bighorn and desert bighorn sheep conservation. This is the first tag the Foundation is raffling for AZF&G.
“Whether an auction, raffle, lottery, or state draw, tags being added to license and permit fees, it’s how we fund big game conservation in this country,” Thornton concluded. “Paying into a sustainable use system for the opportunity to hunt is another way to look at this successful model. Buying tickets for a chance at a special tag might add a level of gambler’s excitement to it, but it’s all going to the same good cause.”
Full details and raffle tickets may be purchased at this link.
The Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF), based in Bozeman, Mont., was founded in 1977 by sportsmen and other wild sheep conservationists. WSF is the premier advocate for wild sheep, having raised and expended more than $145 million, positively impacting these species through population and habitat enhancements, research and education, and conservation advocacy programs in North America, Europe, and Asia to “Put and Keep Wild Sheep On the Mountain”®. In North America, these and other efforts have increased bighorn sheep populations from historic lows in the 1950s-60s of 25,000 to more than 85,000 today. WSF has a membership of more than 11,000 worldwide. www.wildsheepfoundation.org
