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Idaho man wins bighorn lottery tag that raised a record $185,000 for sheep conservation

NEWS PROVIDED BY
Idaho Fish and Game
July 30, 2020, 23:00 GMT


For the Meridian hunter whose ticket was pulled for the 29th Annual Bighorn Sheep Tag Lottery, the winning ticket represents the hunt of a lifetime. For Idaho Fish and Game, it means more than $185,000 in funding to benefit wild sheep conservation in Idaho.

Aaron Neilson was the lucky winner of the 2020 Bighorn Sheep Tag Lottery. The Idaho Wild Sheep Foundation held the drawing outside the MK Nature Center in Boise on July 29. Neilson was among about 1,500 hunters from across the nation who bought a total of nearly 19,000 entries.

This year's lottery raised a record of about $185,000. Revenue from the bighorn lottery tag has been trending upward in recent years after a record in 2018 of $114,531, and this year’s receipts are more than double the five-year average of $78,619.

The lottery tag is offered under a partnership between Fish and Game and the Idaho Wild Sheep Foundation, which has hosted the bighorn lottery since 1992. In the 29 years that the Foundation has hosted the lottery, it has provided nearly $1.6 million to Fish and Game for bighorn sheep conservation.

In recent years, the proceeds have helped Fish and Game with monitoring disease in bighorn sheep populations, preventing interaction between bighorn sheep and domestic sheep, and improving relationships between sportsmen and private landowners.

The Idaho Wild Sheep Foundation is a non-profit organization formed to enhance wild sheep populations in Idaho, and with partners in adjacent states, for public enjoyment, education, and fair chase hunting, and to promote professional wildlife management, and protect sportsmen's rights.

The Idaho Wild Sheep was founded in 1982 by two dozen concerned sportsmen who wanted to put more bighorns on Idaho’s mountains. From that core group, many of which are still very active on the board and committees, the organization has grown to a thriving group with over 600 members.

For more information please contact the Idaho WSF office at 208-345-6171 or visit their website at www.idahowildsheep.org

I guess it’s better to be lucky!

Aaron seems to draw more tags than the average bear! Assuming it’s the same guy...

Congratulations Aaron!

With all you've done for hunting, plus your extreme commitment to it, this tag is well deserved.

Aaron, great congratulations to you

Aaron, That sounds a little shady there partner.

Aaron, after drawing the Idaho super tag last year and now the Bighorn tag, I’m wondering what your magic formula is. Congratulations on beating exceptionally long odds in back to back years!

I had a friend, Kern Chew, who was the raffle winner of the very first two Mexican Desert Sheep tags FNAWS ever raffled off. He drew in back to back years, even though he only bought one ticket the 2nd year. You must be a nephew of his.

Way to go, Aaron! Happy hunting.

Wow, that is very cool. I guess you can't win if you don't play...

I hope he kills a new record ram. Go get’em.

Glad to hear one of 'our guys' got the ticket.

Just has me wondering how many chance's he bought and what they all cost.

All goes to a great cause regardless.

Best wishes toward getting a big 'un!
Hope you'll post a report with pictures once it's done.

George

quote:

Originally posted by DLS:
Aaron, after drawing the Idaho super tag last year and now the Bighorn tag, I’m wondering what your magic formula is. Congratulations on beating exceptionally long odds in back to back years!

I had a friend, Kern Chew, who was the raffle winner of the very first two Mexican Desert Sheep tags FNAWS ever raffled off. He drew in back to back years, even though he only bought one ticket the 2nd year. You must be a nephew of his.

Thanks friends...pretty excited about the sheep tag for sure.

I hate to say it DLS...but I won another Idaho elk super tag this year too

So cool! Keep us posted on your prep and the hunt too!

Ive been on the local banquet committee for NWTF and Freinds of the NRA for years.

People do win things by buying one ticket.

Mostly, those that spend a good bit of money on raffle tickets are the ones who win the prizes.

Congrats on your special elk as well

We can now call him the Idaho Man.

Congrats Aaron. Gotta apply to win!

WOW!!! Congrats Contact Glen Landrus https://www.linkedin.com/in/glen-landrus-b680a690