Grand Slam Wildlife Hunting Raffle

The bill directs the parks and wildlife commission (commission) to create the grand slam wildlife raffle, which will annually issue one hunting license for each of the following species:

• Shiras moose;
• Rocky mountain elk;
• Mule deer;
• White-tailed deer;
• Rocky mountain bighorn sheep;
• Desert bighorn sheep;
• Rocky mountain goat;
• Pronghorn antelope;
• Black bear; and
• Mountain lion.

Raffle tickets cost $50 each. An individual may purchase up to 25 tickets. One ticket enters the purchaser into the raffle drawing for each of these species, so 10 raffle winners will each be able to hunt one of the big game species in Colorado.

The hunting season runs from August 15 through December 31for each of the species except for black bear and mountain lion. The hunting season for black bear is September 2 through December 31 and for mountain lion is August 15 through April 15 of the following year.

The proceeds from the sale of tickets are used to administer the raffle, increase the big game population, and create a grant program. The grants will be made to nongovernmental organizations that engage in:

• Wildlife habitat conservation or restoration;
• The recruitment of new hunters; or
• Fostering and protecting the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.

The grants are made by the grand slam grant committee, which consists of the director of the division of parks and wildlife and 4 members who are big game hunters and each of whom represent one quarter of the state. Procedures and duties are established for the grant committee. Before the end of each year, the grant committee will make a report to the agriculture, livestock, and natural resources committee of the house of representatives and the agriculture, natural resources, and energy committee of the senate.

The grant committee may authorize a nonprofit organization to conduct the raffle. The organization may retain up to 5% of the ticket sales to conduct the raffle and to fund projects of its own choosing that benefit wildlife in Colorado.

The commission may promulgate rules governing raffle licenses, the conduct of the raffles, record-keeping requirements, the expenditure of proceeds, and any other rules necessary to implement the raffle.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)