Are you ready for the experience of a lifetime? McNeil River State Game Sanctuary is a phenomenal place to view brown bears in their natural element with no barriers. Those lucky enough to receive viewing permits will walk with trained guides through active bear country to the viewing platform adjacent to McNeil River Falls. The experience of being near brown bears feeding on salmon at McNeil River Falls is magical and unforgettable. The Alaska Zoo and the International Association for Bear Research and Management (IBA) were awarded two (2) M Block McNeil bear viewing permits to raffle, courtesy of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G).

Your raffle ticket purchase will directly benefit wild bears, the zoo and IBA’s bear-focused conservation nonprofit as well as non-game conservation work with ADF&G.

Of the raffle proceeds:

- 30% of the funds go to benefit bear conservation, awareness and management work by the Alaska Zoo and IBA

- 70% of the funds go to support non-game wildlife conservation programs within ADF&G.

Raffle tickets:

- 1 ticket for $20

- 7 tickets for $100

- 40 tickets for $500

- 100 tickets for $1,000

- Link to purchase will be live on this page starting at 12:01am on February 1st, 2024

- You may enter as many times as you wish and purchase as many raffle tickets as you wish. Raffle tickets are digital and will not be issued, but rather placed in the random drawing.

Click here for Tickets

M Block permit dates: Permit dates are for bear viewing at McNeil on July 25th, 26th, 27th and 28th of 2024.

Raffle package: Two (2) M Block Permits (see table below for statistics), view full statistics for permits across the season here. In addition to the viewing permits, the package will include the following: Airfare for two (2) with Kachemak Air Service, up to two (2) nights stay in a local Homer hotel (TBD*), two (2) Beluga Air outdoor gear packages including one good tent, 2 pairs of hip waders, a cooler, a mess kit and 2 sleeping bags with pads if needed.

Winning the Raffle:

Each ticket purchased gives the purchaser a chance to win this 2-permit raffle package. The winner will be drawn at random at 10am on May 1st, 2024. At this time, the winner will be notified by phone and email.  Each ticket purchased gives the purchaser a chance to win this 2-permit raffle package. The winner will be drawn at random at 10am on May 1st, 2024. At this time, the winner will be notified by phone and email. The chosen winner has until 5pm on May 3rd, 2024 to reply and officially accept the award, otherwise another winner will be chosen. The raffle permits and package may be kept by the winner or gifted to another recipient. The final decision on who the permits and package will be awarded to (permit holder’s name) must be given to the notifying authority no later than May 8th, 2024. At this time, the final paperwork will be completed to award the permits to the named individual. Please note that the permit holder may opt out of the hotel or outdoor gear packages, however this will not result in cash redeemed.