STATE HERD TAGS SEASON DRAW HARVEST INFO

SIZE AWARDED 11,000 594 Archery and crossbow season Kentucky allows Kentucky sees a robust The Decade or takes place for two weeks in nonresidents to apply for annual elk harvest. In KDFW. September. Four firearm hunts elk tags (up to 10 percent 2019, 242 elk were (two for bull, two for cows) of the permits). Application killed; in 2018, 368 elk; occur over five-day periods in period opens January 1, in 2017, 335 elk. September, October, and each year and closes April November. 30. 1,200 260 Hunt period 1 consists of three Michigan is for residents- Michigan hunters usually Michigan DNR. four-day segments in only, and elk hunt permits kill about 200 September and early October. are drawn in early July per year. Hunt period 2 is nine days in each year. A weighted mid-December. Over 250 total preference point system licenses are usually drawn, grows applicants’ chances about two-thirds for any elk as they go. (can shoot a bull) and two- thirds for antlerless animals only. 450 15 Tennessee holds an archery Only residents can apply About a dozen elk are TWRA Elk Page hunt (seven days) beginning for a Tennessee elk hunt, shot each year in the last Saturday in September, with an application period Tennessee. an any-method hunt (rifle, running from mid-June to muzzleloader, or archery) mid-July annually. beginning the second Saturday in October. Hunters in certain areas outside of the core elk zone may tale an elk during an open season. 400 10 Wisconsin’s first modern elk Elk hunt applications are In 2019, 10 bulls were Wisconsin DNR Elk hunt took place in 2018. There accepted from March 1 harvested (10 licenses Page are two seasons: about a month from mid-October to through May 31. Only were issued; five went mid-November, and then for Wisconsin residents may to state hunters and nine days in the middle of apply. five to Ojibwe tribe December. Only bulls in the members). Clam Lake herd are legal. Over 70 percent of the Clam Lake elk range is public land, so finding

a place to hunt is not a problem. Open counties include Ashland, Bayfield, Price, Rusk, and Sawyer.

MINNESOTA 250 44 Staggered either-sex seasons Elk in is In 2019, 15 elk were Minnesota DNR Elk (bulls or cows are fair ) a once-in-lifetime affair for taken. In 2018, it was 17 Page. and antlerless-only seasons run those lucky enough to elk. for nine-day periods from late draw. Although August through early applications were up this December. There are also a year, about 2,000 few special bull-only licenses applicants for 40 to 50 annually. Hunting currently only licenses is the norm. takes place in Kittson County, Hunters can apply as re-building takes place in the individually or in parties of Grygla herd. Ample public two (still only a one-elk lands are available, but elk are limit). Applications are hard on crops and hunting accepted starting in mid- permission may be attainable May, with the drawing in on private lands. Many of the late June. bulls taken in Minnesota are truly eye-popping in both antler size and body weight. 250 The main elk herd in Buchanan, Virginia DWR Elk Dickenson and Wise Counties Page. cannot yet sustain a hunt, but outside of those counties, elk are fair game during any open deer season. 200 5 Fall 2020 kicks off Missouri’s Only residents may apply. MDC Elk Page. first elk season. The season The application period is runs for nine days in mid- May 1 to 31. Currently, October (archery), and nine only five tags are awarded. days in mid-December (firearms). Only antlered elk are legal. The open zone spans Carter, Reynolds, and Shannon Counties.

ARKANSAS 450 26 There are both public-land-only Only residents Elk harvest hovers at AGFC Elk Page. and private-land-only licenses, may apply for the public about 40 to 50 animals with two two-day youth hunts land permits. The per year in Arkansas and two five-day regular hunts application period opens (combines public land (in October) for public and May 1 and ends June 1. tags, private land tags private lands. Bows, and elk shot out of the muzzleloaders. or rifles (.24 core zone) caliber or larger) may be used. Elk licenses are good only in the Core Elk Management Zone. During open deer seasons outside of the Core Elk Zone, hunters can legally take any elk. 1,350 164 An early archery season runs in Pennsylvania is a resident- In the 2019 season, 127 PGC Wildlife or Hunt mid-September, a general only lottery. For residents elk were killed in Wild PA. firearms season lasts for six who draw, the license itself Pennsylvania, and that days in early November, and a costs a whopping $11.90. included some absolute late-season antlerless hunt Drawing takes place whopper bulls, including runs for eight days in early August 15 each year, after several 700-plus January. a summer application pounders. Ten of 62 period. cows weighed over 500 pounds. Bull hunters went 27 for 27.