Elk (Courtesy: Wisconsin DNR)
MADISON, Wis. - The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources announced the results of the 2024 elk hunt, which opened on Oct. 12 and closed on Friday.
The DNR celebrated a milestone this season: For the first time, hunters had the opportunity to hunt in both the Northern and Central Elk zones. Previous hunts only occurred within the Northern Elk Zone.
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According to the DNR, the eight Wisconsin hunters who participated in this year’s hunt were randomly selected from a pool of more than 25,500 applicants. The DNR received 17,761 applications to hunt in the Northern Elk Zone and 7,750 applications for the Central Elk Zone.
The random drawing ensures that each applicant has an equal chance of selection within the respective management zones, the DNR said. Applicants were required to identify their management zone of choice during the elk hunting application process.
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In the Central Elk Zone, the DNR said all four hunters successfully harvested a bull elk on the third day of the season. Two hunters in the Northern Elk Zone successfully harvested a bull elk, and Ojibwe Tribal hunters met their four-bull harvest declaration. The DNR said a 10-year-old mentored hunter was able to harvest a mature northern Wisconsin bull elk.
2025 elk hunt
The 2025 elk hunt application period for Wisconsin residents is expected to open in early spring and run through May 31, 2025. During the application process, the DNR said hunters must select which management zone they would like to hunt in.
The DNR said, for each $10 application fee, $7 goes directly toward elk management, habitat restoration and research.
For more information on elk in Wisconsin, visit the DNR's Elk in Wisconsin webpage.