Years of
hard work by key partners and DNR staff will give ten Wisconsin hunters the
opportunity of a lifetime this fall...
The
planned hunt is within the Clam Lake elk range of Sawyer, Bayfield, Ashland,
and Price counties in far north-central Wisconsin. Original restoration
efforts occurred within this range with the release of 25 elk from Michigan
in 1995. This northern herd is projected to reach a population level of over
200 animals this year, including a high proportion of bulls. Check out this helpful Facebook Live session with DNR big game
ecologist Kevin Wallenfang to learn more.
Ten tags
will be made available for a bull-only hunt in Fall 2018. Four tags will be
awarded to Wisconsin residents through a random drawing. One additional tag
will be awarded to a Wisconsin resident through a raffle conducted by the
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Consistent with federal court rulings, the elk
harvest quota is being shared equitably with the six Wisconsin Chippewa
tribes.
Only Wisconsin residents are eligible to purchase an elk tag. The application
fee is $10 and applications will be available starting May 1 through the Go
WILD system at GoWild.wi.gov. Prior to receiving their carcass tag, all
drawing winners will be required to complete an elk hunter education course
prior to the start of the season.
The elk harvest quota for 2018 was determined by the department’s Elk
Advisory Committee, which, in addition to DNR biologists and researchers,
includes representation from Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation; Wisconsin
Wildlife Federation; Jackson County Forest and Parks; Wisconsin Conservation
Congress; U.S. Forest Service; Wisconsin Bowhunters Association; Great Lakes
Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission; U.W. Stevens Point, and Ho-Chunk
Nation.
Those interested in purchasing raffle tickets may do so at RMEF.org/Wisconsin.
Wisconsin’s inaugural elk hunting season will adhere to the following
guidelines:
- season
will be open from October 13 to November 11, 2018 and December 13-21,
2018;
- only
bull elk may be harvested;
- Areas
where Kentucky elk were released between 2015-2017 will be off limits to
hunting until the population increases to levels identified in the elk
management plan;
- only
Wisconsin residents are eligible to receive a harvest tag; and
- harvest
tags may be transferred to a Wisconsin resident youth hunter 17 years or
younger.
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Translocation
efforts will continue in 2019 through partnership with Kentucky Department of
Fish and Wildlife Resources.
Wisconsin DNR has one year remaining in an agreement with Kentucky
Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources to bring additional elk to
Wisconsin - July 2017 marked the third year of the partnership and additional
elk are planned to be released in the Flambeau River State Forest in 2019.
For more information regarding elk in Wisconsin, go to
dnr.wi.gov and search keyword “elk.”
Videos,
podcasts, photos, discussions with other hunters – you’ll find all that and
more on our social media pages
Be sure to follow DNR on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for more updates. Share your photos, stories and
thoughts with others and show why you enjoy spending time in the
outdoors. Be on the lookout for more helpful videos and podcasts to help
you prepare for fall hunting seasons.
For more information regarding elk management
in Wisconsin, visit dnr.wi.gov and search keyword "elk."
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