The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) invites nonprofit organizations to help wildlife by auctioning big game hunting license tags for the 2015-16 season.

There will be 12 or 13 of these special fundraising tags reserved for 501(c)(3) nonprofit groups to sell, which will allow the highest bidder to hunt bighorn sheep, deer, elk and pronghorn antelope in California.

Nonprofit organizations compete for a chance to auction these special fundraising tags, which hunters can only buy through such auctions.

Organizations that have previously applied or expressed interest in future opportunities to sell these tags have been notified by email.

The possibility of winning such a rare prize attracts bidders to the groups’ fundraising events, which helps them raise more money for their organizations.

California Fish and Game Code, section 4334 requires the proceeds from the sale of these few tags to be returned to CDFW to fund programs that benefit bighorn sheep, deer, elk and pronghorn antelope.

In last year’s auctions, tags for hunting one bighorn sheep, one pronghorn antelope, two elk and eight deer raised more than $338,000 for the research and management of these wildlife species.

A call for applications and the required application form are available on the CDFW Web site at www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/fundraising/ .

Applications must be received by 3 p.m. on Sept. 29.

Representatives of nonprofit groups may also request a printed application package by calling the CDFW Wildlife Branch at 916-445-4034, sending a fax to 916-445-4048, or by writing to Regina Abella, CDFW Wildlife Branch, 1812 Ninth St., Sacramento, CA 95811.