HELENA, Mont. - Feb. 16, 2016 - People can now sign up to participate in a live auction for a Montana Shiras moose license. The event will take place during the Helena chapter dinner on Friday, March 4. License proceeds benefit the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MFWP) moose conservation program, which enhances public hunting opportunities for other species as well.

"We want to draw people to the Helena fundraising banquet and raise funds for Montana waterfowl habitat conservation," said Steve Christian, one of the banquet organizers. Ninety percent of funds raised are used directly for Montana moose research projects, groups handling the auctions may keep up to 10 percent of the proceeds for administrative costs.

Last year, the winning bid was $60,000, almost triple what the state has received for a Shiras moose license. Montana Ducks Unlimited was again chosen by MFWP to hold the auction this year. Participants may bid at the March 4 Helena banquet live auction or over the phone during the event. For more information on how to register, go to www.ducks.org/montana/events.

MFWP has offered the statewide moose license auction to non-profit conservation organizations since 1997. The license is good anywhere in the state where moose can legally be hunted for the 2016 season, as described in the 2016 Montana hunting regulations.
Ducks Unlimited has been conserving waterfowl habitat in Montana since 1984 with much of that habitat also benefiting the Shiras moose. There is no better example of prime moose habitat than the pristine wetland and river complexes in Montana from the Rocky Mountains to the prairies. These areas are used by many important wildlife species, including moose as they move from their summer ranges to their wintering habitat.

DU has members in every county and four full-time conservation staff in Montana who are widely recognized for their knowledge of wetland habitat conservation. Since 1984, DU has spent more than $23 million on habitat conservation in Montana, conserving more than 77,000 acres.

DU strongly supports public access, especially through its work with Montana and federal fish and wildlife agencies to restore and protect habitat that will enhance public hunting by attracting more wildlife. We respect and support these agencies' position on outdoor recreation and wildlife management in Montana. The protection and enhancement of our shared waterfowling heritage is a core value of our organization.

Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest non-profit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 13 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever. For more information on our work, visit www.ducks.org. Connect with us on our Facebook page at facebook.com/ducksunlimited, follow our tweets at twitter.com/ducksunlimited and watch DU videos at youtube.com/ducksunlimitedinc.

Media contact

Becky Jones Mahlum

bjonesmahlum@ducks.org

701-355-3500