The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) has partnered with the Pacific Northwest Sportsmen’s Show to raffle two special volunteer experiences for raffle entrants. Only one entry per individual, per raffle is allowed. There are other opportunities to win additional entries through ODFW’s Passport experience at the Pacific Northwest Sportsmen’s Show and Central Oregon Sportsmen’s Show. Entry is free! Enter using the buttons below.
The raffle includes two incredible outdoor adventures that are “the trip of a lifetime”. One takes the winner and a guest of the winner’s choosing to fish one of the Oregon Coast’s marine reserves. These areas have not been fished, are closed to the public year round to fishing and contain a wide variety of rock fish species. The second trip involves the live capture and health check of bighorn sheep. These are both incredibly special, exclusive trips to experience the Oregon outdoors like few have or could.
Winners will be randomly selected and announced on March 31st. Winners will be contacted by email and by phone. It’s important your contact information is accurate. No purchase is necessary.
One lucky winner and a guest will have the experience of a lifetime with ODFW biologists on a Bighorn sheep capture and health check here in NE Oregon. You’ll have the opportunity to get up close and personal with these animals while staff execute the health check. You can participate (as willing and able) in biological sampling such as blood draws, radio collaring, temperature and respiratory measurements, shots, and ultrasounds to assess body condition.
This opportunity will occur in the mountains of eastern Oregon on wild terrain in the winter of 2026 (January or February). The exact date will be finalized within weeks of the actual event occurrence and is weather dependent. Helicopters are used in the capture operation and cannot fly in high winds. In the event of a weather delay, the capture will be rescheduled. Food on-site during the capture and health check and lodging will be provided. To participate in this experience the winner and guest must complete ODFW volunteer registration paperwork and processes. Transport will be provided for the winner and guest from a nearby location in NE Oregon to and from the base camp site of the Bighorn sheep capture and health check. Winner and guest will be responsible for getting themselves to NE Oregon. The winner and guest must be 18+ years of age, capable of being outside in cold weather and standing for long periods of time.
One lucky winner and a guest will have the rare opportunity to fish in Oregon’s Cape Falcon Marine Reserves by joining ODFW staff on a “hook and line survey” to gather data for scientific research. A “hook and line survey” is a method used to study and monitor fish populations by catching them with traditional fishing rods and lines, allowing researchers to collect data on species, size, and abundance in a specific area. Oregon’s five marine reserves are closed to fishing and ocean development year-round making this research experience a unique opportunity for the winner. The winner will learn about the Oregon Coast ecosystem, the implementation of marine reserves, and about the different marine species inhabiting the marine reserves. The winner will fish for different groundfish including rockfish, lingcod and cabezon while whales are also often observed during survey trips.
To participate in this experience the winner and guest must complete ODFW volunteer registration paperwork and processes. The date of the experience will be scheduled 1-2 weeks in advance but rescheduling, as well as short-notice cancelation, depending on weather is possible. The research experience will have an 8-hour duration and will occur on a small fishing vessel, approximately 40 ft in length that will be moving in the swell and waves. The winner and guest are advised to know their physical working limits under those conditions and when/if using sea sickness medication. Foul weather gear and sea sickness medication are not provided by ODFW. Lunch will be provided. Scientific surveys will not be interrupted due to normal sea sickness symptoms. Winner and guest will be responsible for getting themselves to the Port of Garibaldi on time to join ODFW staff at 7 am for departure. The winner and guest must be 18+ years of age, capable of being outside in cold weather and standing for long periods of time.
