Tickets also will be on sale June 4, from 5-6:30 p.m. at the Oregon Hunters Association State Convention in Seaside. The raffle drawing will be conducted that evening at 7:15 p.m.

Raffle ticket purchases and auction bids support the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Access and Habitat (A&H) Program, an incentive program for landowners to improve wildlife habitat and hunting access on Oregon’s private lands. The program was created by the 1993 Oregon Legislature and reauthorized in 2003.

Landowners, timber and agricultural corporations, sportsmen groups, and natural resource agencies can apply for grants through the A&H Program for projects to improve wildlife habitat or increase public hunting access to private lands. Proposals are reviewed by a seven-member citizen board and recommended projects are forwarded to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission for a final decision.

During 2003-2005, the A&H Program approved 40 new projects and awarded more than $1 million with about $3.5 million secured in matching funds. Access to more than 2 million acres of private land was gained for hunters and nearly 15,000 acres of private land was improved for wildlife habitat.

The program is funded by a $2 annual surcharge on hunting licenses and other ODFW budgets, along with the funds generated through the auction and raffle hunts. All revenues fund approved project grants and administrative expenses.