Packed house at MVWU banquet

A record-breaking $295,000 elk tag sale headlined this year’s Meadow Valley Wildlife Unlimited (MVWU) fundraising banquet, held Saturday, March 22 at the Caliente Fire Station. 

The event welcomed around 475 attendees for an evening of auctions, raffles and outdoor-themed prizes.

By 4:30 p.m., volunteers were busy distributing raffle tickets as guests filled the venue and scanned the tables displaying this year’s selection of prizes. Attendees had the chance to win more than $24,000 in items, including firearms, artwork and outdoor gear.

The evening’s meal featured grilled steak or chicken, paired with sides of salad, baked beans and Dutch oven potatoes. Dessert was a highlight this year, with colorful cupcakes catered by local baker Kayla Cakes. A drink station provided water and soda along with raffle tickets, while the Knotty Pine served draft beer and wine throughout the evening.

The highlight of the night was the Nevada Heritage Tag auctions, which drew enthusiastic bidding. The turkey tag sold for $8,000, while the Rocky Mountain elk tag set a new record at $295,000. The tag allows the holder to hunt anywhere in Nevada with an extended season.

Funds raised from the auctions will support the Nevada Heritage trust fund account through the Nevada Division of Wildlife (NDOW). Proceeds will contribute to wildlife conservation, habitat restoration and outdoor education programs. MVWU has been awarded the opportunity to continue to act as an NDOW vendor for the auction.

The annual banquet continues to be one of Lincoln County’s largest community events, bringing together outdoor enthusiasts and conservation supporters. Organizers have publicly thanked the community for their continued support in both sponsorships and attendance. For more information on MVWU’s conservation efforts, future events or ways to get involved, visit www.mvwu.org.