The Mule Deer Foundation is based out of SLC, Utah. I suspect they are using a paid fund raiser out of Kentucky for this "drawing". I got the same mailing.
I don't intend to support this drawing, and have been with holding support from the MDF for a couple years now. There are many good people at MDF, and I know quite a few personally. Many of their goals and ideas are good as well.
But not enough money goes back onto the ground, and overhead is too high. And not all of their projects are worthy, though most are. They are also in bed with SFW, which is a huge red flag for me.
It bothers me to know that such a large percentage of what I donate to this group does not benefit wildlife. So I donate to other groups, with better track records. That doesn't mean they are bad people, perhaps just not particularly concerned with being great stewards of donated funds.
This Raffle reinforces my beliefs, and I know nothing of the particulars of this raffle aside from the mailing. Paid fund raising is a fact of life for many groups, but rather than donate to feel good about myself, when I donate I want to know the funds are going to projects I support, and not going largely to overhead. There are some neat prizes being offered, but it doesn't appear they are donated prizes, and their is no information about what percentage of the money goes to MDF and what percentage stays with the commercial company running this sweepstakes for profit.
While not exactly a scam, it may not be the best use of your hard earned cash.
Bill