U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service This blue goose, designed National Elk Refuge by J.N. “Ding” Darling, is the symbol of the National Wildlife Refuge System. 2018 Elk Hunting Information and Regulations USFWS The National Elk Refuge provides winter habitat for elk and bison herds. Note for the 2018 Elk Hunting Season: ■ Hunter Safety Certificate (if required ■ Period 10: December 4 – December 10, by WGFD) antlerless elk only The Youth Only Hunt is scheduled for ■ Period 11: December 11 – December 14, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of 3. W hat are the 2018 elk hunting periods? antlerless elk only Thanksgiving weekend (see Section 15). Elk hunting on the NER (Hunt Area 4. How do I get a permit for hunting elk Horses are no longer allowed when 77) is scheduled from October 13, 2018 to on the NER? hunting south of Flat Creek (see Section December 14, 2018. Only Hunt Periods 1 7: Transportation Related Activities). and the Youth Only Hunt (Hunt Period 7) The application process for a NER allow for the taking of no more than one permit for elk hunting is done online 1. Who manages hunting on the bull elk. All other periods are restricted via the WGFD Access Yes! Hunter National Elk Refuge? to the taking of antlerless elk only. Management Area Program at https:// wgfd.wyo.gov/plpwfrontend2008/. There ■ Hunting on the National Elk Refuge Period 1: October 13 – October 22 are four options for obtaining a Refuge (NER) is managed through a cooperative Any elk; must apply with a full-priced permit to hunt elk. effort between the NER, Grand Teton license; may harvest no more than one National Park, and Wyoming Game & bull elk. 5. How do I apply? Fish Department (WGFD), with the ■ Period 2: October 23 – 29, goal of achieving optimum herd size. The antlerless elk only Note that only youth hunters applying NER posts information and updates ■ Period 3: October 30 – November 5, with a full-price license will be able to related to the Refuge and Refuge hunting antlerless elk only apply for Hunt Period 7. programs on its website: http://www. ■ Period 4: November 6 – 12, fws.gov/refuge/national_elk_refuge Option 1: Initial Draw Refuge Permits antlerless elk only To enter the initial draw, hunters must 2. W hat must I have while hunting elk ■ Period 5: November 13 – 19, complete the online WGFD Access on the NER? antlerless elk only Yes! application between August 1 and ■ Period 6: November 20 – 21 September 21, entering the drawing ■ NER permit for elk hunting antlerless elk only for one hunt period. The results of ■ WGFD unused elk hunting license, ■ Period 7: November 22 - 24 Youth the computerized random draw will except Archery Only (type 9). Note a Only Hunt. Any elk; must apply with be posted on the application website full price elk license is required for Hunt a full-priced youth license; may harvest by 8:00 am on September 25. Periods 1 and 6. no more than one bull elk. ■ WGFD Conservation Stamp ■ Period 8: November 25 – 27, (if required by WGFD) antlerless elk only ■ WGFD Elk Special Management ■ Period 9: November 27 - December 4, Permit antlerless elk only 2018 Elk Hunting Information and Regulations Page 1 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Elk Refuge not to scale Hwy 89 Flat Creek Hunt Areas Jackson National Fish Hatchery Refuge Linked symbols Hatchery boundary designate Gate Federal accessible highway features Fishing (For Peterson Gate Hunt retrieval & Long Hollow, loop see Section 13.) Hunt retrieval spur Parking # Spur road Any weapon numbers area Direct access Archery only route area Public road Limited range area Horse-free hunting area Area closed (south of to hunting Miller Flat Creek) and hunter House access Visitor Pump House center Area closed to hunting and Administrative hunter access ofce until October 20 2018 Elk Hunting Information and Regulations Page 2 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Elk Refuge Option 2: Leftover Refuge Permits Limited Range Area (Orange on map) ■ Horses used for hunting are restricted If permits are left over from the initial Hunters must carry and are restricted to the Any Weapon Area north of draw, the online WGFD Access Yes! to possessing only limited range Flat Creek (including West Hunt Program will allow hunters, starting at weapons, including handguns, muzzle Lot) as depicted on the hunt map. 8:00 am on September 25, to select one loading rifles, shotguns with slugs, Horses are allowed Refuge-wide for leftover permit, whether or not they or archery equipment legal for retrieval purposes. were successful in the initial draw. taking elk as defined by the WGFD. Handguns are further restricted to Other related activities that are illegal on Option 3: Alternate Draw Refuge Permits straight-walled cartridges with a barrel the NER: ■ Alternate permits become available length no longer than 12 inches. Collecting natural or cultural resources, beginning Hunt Period 2 and are including but not limited to antlers, typically valid for four days. Hunters Any Weapon Area (Yellow on map) skulls, and artifacts. can apply weekly for the alternate Hunters may hunt with any legal weapon ■ Possession or use of alcoholic beverages. draw by accessing the online WGFD for taking elk as defined by the WGFD. ■ Possession of non-certified weed-free Access Yes! program between Friday hay. at 9:00 am and Sunday at 11:59 pm. 7. W hat Refuge-specific laws regulate ■ Starting or maintaining any fires. During the application process, hunters hunting on the NER? can choose if they want to be considered 8. W hat are the requirements for for a Tuesday - Friday or a Saturday In addition to all Federal and WGFD animal retrieval? - Tuesday permit for the upcoming requirements, the following Refuge specific regulations are enforced. hunt week. The results for alternate ■ Following harvest, elk hunters Hunters must be knowledgeable of all permits will be posted on the application may use retrieval roads starting at regulations prior to hunting as violations website by 8:00 am each Monday 10:00 am. If retrieving after dark, may result in forfeiture of the animal, morning. Hunters who were successful hunters should notify Refuge staff by criminal penalties, and permit revocation. in obtaining a Refuge permit for another leaving a message on the NER Hunt hunt period may still apply for an Hunting-related activities that are illegal Information Line. alternate permit each week.Alternate on the NER: ■ Hunters may not leave animal parts, permits for Hunt Periods 6 through ■ Intentional herding or harassment of including gut piles and carcasses, within 8 are shortened to accommodate the wildlife. 100 feet of parking areas. Youth Only Hunt. ■ Discharging firearms other than for ■ No game retrieval is permitted within Option 4: Field-issued Refuge Permits lawful hunting (i.e. target shooting and Grand Teton National Park. This This option, administered by the National sighting in). includes retrieval to Gros Ventre Road Elk Refuge, supplements hunting ■ Indiscriminant shooting, shooting parking areas at Milepost 1.1 and 2.3 permits during the later Hunt Periods. multiple times into a running herd, or across Hwy 89. Hunters must bring For more information, call the NER or injuring multiple animals. their vehicle inside the gate to load the Hunt Information Line at 307 / 201 5437. ■ Shooting from parking areas or public animal at the Hwy 89 lot. roads. 9. What should I do before I pursue an 6. W hat hunting areas can I hunt, ■ Possessing more than seven cartridges injured animal off or onto the NER? and what are their restrictions? per license per day. Elk hunting is allowed in three hunting ■ Interfering with or harassing other Prior to December 1, if an injured areas (see map). All hunt areas must be hunters. animal crosses from the National accessed from designated parking lots ■ Using decoys outside of the Archery Forest onto the Refuge, or if retrieval or direct access routes that correspond Only Area or using blinds that would be more efficient through the to the legal hunting method permitted completely obstruct visible fluorescent Refuge, hunters should call the NER in that area. All Refuge hunting orange or fluorescent pink garment. Hunt Information Line and leave a areas have specific restrictions. message detailing their situation and Transportation-related activities that are their plan for recovery. Following Archery Only Area (Green on map) illegal on the NER: this notice, the hunter may pursue or Hunters must carry and are restricted ■ Driving off designated roads. retrieve the animal as planned, giving to possessing only a bow or crossbow ■ Stopping or unloading hunters along consideration to limiting resource legal for taking elk as defined by the Refuge roads. damage. On December 1, Forest WGFD. Archery hunters are exempt Service lands adjacent to the NER from the hunter safety certificate ■ Parking outside of designated hunt parking lots. are closed to all human presence requirement. Hunters within the Archery per Winter Travel Restrictions. Only Area must maintain a minimum ■ Overnight camping or parking. distance of 200 yards from residences. ■ Bicycling off designated roads. If the injured animal crosses into The archery hunting area along Hwy 89 ■ ATVs are permitted on public roads Grand Teton National Park, the may be accessed by either the Fishing but must be registered, insured, and hunter must immediately notify Teton or Hatchery Gate parking areas. Only operated by a licensed driver. ATVs and Interagency Dispatch at 307 / 739 3301. archery hunters may use these entrances. snowmobiles are not allowed on Refuge retrieval roads. 2018 Elk Hunting Information and Regulations Page 3 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Elk Refuge 10. What regulations apply to the Hunters who have both a WGFD 16.