HUNTING -- A Canadian hunter has set a world record high of $410,000 for a bid to hunt one of the giant mule deer bucks at a Utah state park in November.

The auction, which raises money for wildlife management, was held last weekend during the 10th annual Western Hunting and Conservation Expo at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City. The event is sponsored by the Salt Lake-based Mule Deer Foundation.

Troy Lorenz of Prince George, British Columbia, topped his own former record auction bid of $390,000, which he made last year.  After filling that high-roller tag at Antelope Island State Park with a buck that scored 231 points on the Boone and Crockett scale, Lorenz saw the potential for bucks worth an even higher price tag.

The special tag auction gives the high bidder the right to one of two annual tags for hunting the fabled bucks of Antelope Island.

Bids for the Antelope Island mule deer hunt have generated more than $1.8 million for wildlife conservation on the preserve in the middle of the Great Salt Lake.  Projects funded by the auctions include developing water sources for wildlife in the arid area.

The Mule Deer Foundation hosts the expo in partnership with Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife. The show draws hunting outfitters from across the world.

The first Antelope Island State Park permit was auctioned in 2011 after being authorized and mandated during the 2011 legislative session. Lawmakers approved the auction of one mule deer permit and one bighorn sheep permit each year, as well as a public draw for another mule deer and bighorn sheep permit on the island.

Antelope Island is known for its genetically "pure" herd of about 700 bison, but is also home to about 130 bighorn sheep and some 500 mule deer bucks — many of which are genetically endowed with world-class antlers.