By MIKE DONAHUE
Moapa Valley Progress
The Nevada Department of Wildlife is again joining forces with the Clark County Fair and Rodeo for the 7,500-square-foot Wildlife Exhibit tent at this year’s fair, April 11-15, according to fair representative Shane Robison. This will be the fifth year that the NDOW exhibit will be featured at the Fair.
A big game raffle with $25,000 in prizes is already under way in conjunction with the exhibit, Robison said. Among the 20 available prizes are a Swarovski SLC HD 15X56 binoculars; a Weatherby Mark V ultra-lightweight 6.5-300 rifle, and a M48 Liberty 28 Nosler rifle.
“This year’s grand prize is a Nevada bull elk hunting permit in management unit 231 near Pioche,” Robison said. “The permit is transferable so if the winner is not a hunter, he or she can sell or give it away.”
New this year, the grand prize winner can elect to receive $10,000 in cash in place of the elk hunting permit, Robison said. “Our goal is to try and appeal to non-hunters as well as hunters.”
The raffle tickets are $20 each and are currently available at the fair office on the fairgrounds from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Once the air opens they can be purchased at the Wildlife Exhibit. The raffle drawing is scheduled Sunday, April 15 and the winner doesn’t have to be present.
The raffle is a tool to help fund the exhibit itself.
The chance to win an elk hunting permit is always a big draw at the fair. But Robison said the exhibit is much more than just the raffle. It’s one of the fair’s most popular attractions. The success of the exhibit can be attributed to the efforts of many different people including NDOW conservation education supervisor Doug Nielsen.
“Working on the wildlife exhibit at the fair has been a really good relationship for us,” Nielsen said. “It’s always a great thing to be at the Clark County Fair and help introduce people to Nevada wildlife.”
In addition to the wildlife raffle, other educational displays inside the exhibit include information on Nevada wildlife habitat; an area for information on hunting and fishing; boating and safe boating tips; state parks; forestry; a small food area, and an indoor archery range.
“The archery range is always a popular event for the kids,” Nielsen said, “especially for those who have never shot a bow. The wildlife exhibit is really good for people who are new to Southern Nevada and don’t realize what’s out there.”
Nielsen said there will be different activities scheduled daily in the exhibit including a scavenger hunt that can be completed inside the tent.
