Minnesota to offer elk hunt in 2005 (2005-06-07)

Big game hunters will once again have a chance to harvest an elk in Minnesota this year. Five elk permits will be offered through a lottery drawing in the primary elk hunt zone around Grygla.

The hunt will reduce the population from the present level of 35 to 30, according to the goal stated in the elk management plan. One of the five permits will be for a legal antlered bull, while the remaining four permits will allow the harvest of antlerless elk only.

In Minnesota, a legal antlered bull is defined as a male animal with at least one 10-inch long antler. Hunters may apply individually or in parties of two. A nonrefundable application fee of $10 per hunter must accompany applications.

Successful applicants will be notified by mail. They must purchase an elk license for $250. Each party will be authorized to harvest one elk.

Applications may be made on the DNR elk application form or an 8.5-inch by 11-inch sheet of paper. Applications and instructions can be obtained online at www.dnr.state.mn.us at any area or regional wildlife office, or by calling (651) 296-6157 or toll free 1-888-MINNDNR (646-6367). Applications submitted on paper must include the hunter's name and address, drivers license number, Social Security number, daytime phone number and signature. To apply, a hunter must be 16 years of age by Sept. 17, 2005.

Applications must be postmarked by July 15 and mailed to: Elk Hunt, DNR Regional Wildlife Office, 2115 Birchmont Beach Road NE, Bemidji, MN 56601.

One of the five licenses will be issued in a preferential drawing to qualified landowners within the elk zone. The drawing for this license will occur first. Unsuccessful landowner applications will then be added to the general drawing. Four more applicants will then be selected in a general drawing for a total of five successful parties. From this pool of five successful parties, a second drawing will take place to determine which party will receive the bull license.

The remaining parties will be issued antlerless licenses. Alternates will be selected in case successful parties opt not to purchase their permit. If no qualified landowners apply, all five licenses will be drawn from the general pool of applicants.

The hunt is once in a lifetime, which means that parties that choose to purchase their license will not be eligible to apply for future elk hunts.

The 2005 bull elk hunt season will be Sept. 17-25. The antlerless elk hunt will be Dec. 3-11.

All successful applicants will be required to attend an orientation session at Thief Lake Wildlife Management Area headquarters prior to the hunt. They will be required to register any elk harvested at this location. Some biological information relative to elk physical condition will be collected at the check station.

Elk will be tested for chronic wasting disease as part of Minnesota's chronic wasting disease surveillance program.

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