Nearly 1,700 pounds of deer and elk antlers were auctioned off March 19 at Hot Lake RV Park near La Grande by the Wallowa-Union County Chapter of the Oregon Hunters Association and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. The effort raised about $11,500 that will fund local wildlife habitat projects and youth hunting events and programs.

About 90 registered antler buyers from around the state gathered at the park. Most of the antlers had belonged to elk.

The going rate for antlers right now is about $5.50 per pound, OHA chapter president Jim Ward said. But because we had a couple of good auctioneers and it was for the benefit of hunting, we averaged about $7 per pound.

Ward added that the chapter will use its share of the revenue to help purchase food and equipment for the annual Ladd Marsh youth day, purchase pheasants for youth hunts and buy teaching aids for hunter safety courses.