2003 Elk Forecast Notes
ALASKA
- Alaska experienced an extremely warm winter. A proposal
to split Afognak Island into three new hunt areas was being considered. Elk
inhabit Etolin, Afognak, and Raspberry Islands. Contact: Alaska Dept. of Fish
& Game, Wildlife Division, 211 Mission Rd., Kodiak, AK 99615; (907) 486-1880;
www.state.ak.us/adfg/adfghome.htm.
ARIZONA - A
severe drought was plaguing Arizona at press time. However, elk were handling
the stress better than most species. The number of archery elk tags has been
increased for 2003. Contact: Arizona Game and Fish Department, 2221 W. Greenway
Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85023-4399; (602) 942-3000; www.gf.state.az.us/welcome.html.
ARKANSAS - No
major changes were expected in ArkansasÂ’ very limited elk season. Elk range
over 315,000 acres of public land. Contact: Arkansas Game and Fish Comm.,
#2 Natural Resources Drive, Little Rock, AR 72205; (501) 223-6360; www.agfc.com/.
CALIFORNIA
- Two archery-only elk hunts were established last year, and bowhunters enjoyed
a 50 percent success. Ten tags are available to residents only. Contact: California
Dept. of Fish and Game, 1416 Ninth St., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 653-7203;
www.dfg.ca.gov/.
COLORADO - New
for 2003 is a cow-only archery license, which costs $250.25. This means bowhunters
could legally harvest two elk. Contact: Colorado Division of Wildlife, 6060
Broadway, Denver, CO 80216; (303) 297-1192; www.dnr.state.co.us/.
IDAHO - Elk population
varies by region - declining in the Clearwater region, stable in northern
Idaho, and increasing in southern and central regions of the state. Nonresident
elk tags are sold first-come, first-served and could sell out before the season
opens. Contact: Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game, P.O. Box 25, Boise, ID 83707;
(208) 334-3700; www.state.id.us/fishgame/fishgame.html.
KENTUCKY
- A very restrictive elk season offers 12 tags: 6 bull, 6 cow. Two bull tags
are given to RMEF and Shikar Safari to auction. Contact: Kentucky Dept. of
Fish and Wildlife Resources, #1 Game Farm Road, Frankfort, KY 40601; 1-800-858-1549;
www.state.ky.us/agencies/fw/index.htm.
MICHIGAN - Elk
range over 600 to 800 square miles between Gaylord and Atlanta in the northern
Lower Peninsula. Contact: Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources, Wildlife Management
Section, P.O. Box 30444, Lansing, MI 48909; (517) 373-1263; www.dnr.state.mi.us/.
MONTANA - For
nonresidents, a lottery format includes a $20 fee for a bonus point. Nonresidents
cannot predict exactly which year they will draw a tag. Contact: Montana Fish,
Wildlife and Parks, 1420 East 6th Ave., Helena, MT 59620-0701; (406) 444-2612;
www.fwp.state.mt.us/index.html.
NEBRASKA - Only
residents are eligible for the elk drawing, and there is no special archery
season. Successful applicants can use any legal weapon. Contact: Nebraska
Game and Parks Commission, 2200 Nth. 33rd St., Lincoln, NE 68503;
(402) 471-0641; www.ngpc.state.ne.us/homepage.html.
NEVADA - Tags,
limited in number, are difficult to draw. Residents will have a depredation
hunt in south-central Elko and north-central Lincoln Counties. Contact: Nevada
Division of Wildlife, P.O. Box 10678, Reno, NV 89250; 1-800-576-1020; www.nevadadivisionofwildlife.org/.
NEW MEXICO - Season
dates vary, but all hunts are held between August 30 and September 30. Several
units are dedicated to primitive weapon (bow/muzzleloader) only hunts. Contact:
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, P.O. Box 25112, Santa Fe, NM 87504;
1-800-862-9310; www.gmfsh.state.nm.us/.
NORTH DAKOTA -
North DakotaÂ’s elk licenses are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for residents
only. ItÂ’s possible one tag will be raffled by the RMEF that could go to a
nonresident. Contact: North Dakota Game and Fish Dept., 100 North Bismarck
Expressway, Bismarck, ND 58505-5095; (701) 328-6300; www.state.nd.us/gnf/.
OKLAHOMA - Six
bowhunters harvested bull elk in Oklahoma in controlled hunts last year. Contact:
Oklahoma Dept. of Wildlife Conservation, Game Division, P.O. Box 53465, Oklahoma
City, OK 73152; (405) 521-2739; www.wildlifedepartment.com/.
OREGON - Nonresident
licenses are available over-the-counter except in controlled hunt areas where
nonresidents are limited to 5 percent of licenses. Contact: Oregon Dept. of
Fish and Wildlife, P.O. Box 59, Portland, OR 97207; (503) 872-5260; www.dfw.state.or.us/.
PENNSYLVANIA -
This will be the third modern-day elk season in Pennsylvania. The elk license
drawing is held September 28, and nonresidents are eligible for the November
season. Contact: Pennsylvania Game Commission, Bureau of Wildlife Management,
2001 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797; (717) 787-5529; www.pgc.state.pa.us/.
SOUTH DAKOTA -
Only residents are eligible for highly controlled elk hunt in the Black Hills.
Hunters are encouraged to do their research. Contact: South Dakota Game, Fish
and Parks, 412 W. Missouri, Pierre, SD 57501; (605) 773-3485; www.state.sd.us/gfp/index.htm.
UTAH
- A severe drought was continuing in Utah, which could impact elk herd
health and hunting tactics this fall. Application deadline is in January.
Contact: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, PO Box 146301, Salt Lake City,
Utah 84114-6301; (801) 538-4700; www.nr.utah.gov/dwr/dwr.htm.
WASHINGTON - Archery
season was changed to begin after Labor Day and run 14 days. Definition of
“legal bull” has changed. So check regulations. Contact: Washington Dept.
Fish and Wildlife, 600 Capitol Way N., Olympia, WA 98501-1091; (360) 902-2200;
www.wa.gov/wdfw/.
WYOMING - Elk
populations are currently above the management objective of 83,185 elk. A
new $10 Elk Special Management Stamp will be required in units 70 thru 72,
and 74 thru 98. Contact: Wyoming Game and Fish Dept., 5400 Bishop Blvd., Cheyenne,
WY 82006; (307) 777-4600; http://gf.state.wy.us/.
CANADA
ALBERTA
- Nothing has changed with AlbertaÂ’s elk seasons. Nonresident aliens
must use the services of an outfitter. Contact: Alberta Natural Resources
Service, Main Floor, North Tower, Petroleum Plaza, 9945 108th St., Edmonton,
Alberta, CA T5K 2G6; (403) 427-2079; www.gov.ab.ca/srd/index.html.
BRITISH COLUMBIA
- License fees were increased for both residents and nonresidents. Archery-only
season is short, running from September 1 to September. 9. Contact: British
Columbia Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, Wildlife Branch, P.O. Box
9374 Str. Prov. Gov., Victoria, BC, CA V8W 9M4; (250) 387-9717; www.gov.bc.ca/wld/.
MANITOBA - Elk
numbers in the Turtle Mountains are increasing, but they declining in Riding
Mountain area due to an effort to reduce herd and control bovine tuberculosis.
Contact: Manitoba Dept. of Natural Resources, Wildlife Branch, Box 24, 200
Saulteaux Crescent, Winnipeg, MB R3J 3W3; 1-800-214-6497; www.gov.mb.ca/natres/wildlife/index.html.
SASKATCHEWAN -
Elk hunting in Saskatchewan is open to residents only. No data were available
at press time. Contact: Saskatchewan Environment & Resource Management,
Fish and Wildlife Branch, 3211 Albert Street, Room 436, Regina, SK, S4S 5W6;
(306) 787-2314; www.serm.gov.sk.ca/fishwild/.
