Missouri will hold its first elk-hunting season in modern history this fall, the Missouri Department of Conservation announced Wednesday.
The Missouri Conservation Commission on Wednesday approved issuing five permits to hunt bull elk for the 2020 season, according to an MDC news release. Four general permits will be for the public, and one permit will be reserved for qualifying area landowners.
The elk hunt comes after the Conservation Department's restoration efforts of the species that was once native to Missouri but was hunted to extinction in the state during the late 1800s. MDC reintroduced about 100 elk to a remote area of the Missouri Ozarks in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Their numbers have grown to more than 200, and their range has expanded in recent years to cover portions of Carter, Reynolds and Shannon counties.
"Our plan was to offer a limited season for hunting elk in Missouri once the herd reached a minimum of 200 animals with an annual herd growth rate of at least 10 percent, and a herd ratio of at least one bull for every four cow elk," MDC Elk and Deer Biologist Aaron Hildreth said in the news release."Those goals have been met."
Hildreth said MDC hopes to eventually reach a population of 500 elk and will use hunting to manage herd size and location.
The first elk season will include a nine-day archery portion from Oct. 17-25 and a nine-day firearms portion Dec. 12-20.
The five permits will be for bull elk and will be valid for both portions. All permits will be assigned through a random-lottery drawing.
"The timing of the season was designed to come after the peak of elk breeding during late September and early October and to avoid the elk season coinciding with portions of the firearms deer season," Hildreth said.
MDC will require a $10 application fee for those applying for the general permits. Qualifying landowners will not be required to pay the application fee when applying for the landowner permit. Those selected for the five permits must pay a $50 permit fee.
MDC will limit the random lottery to one application per person, per year with a 10-year "sit-out" period for those drawn for a general permit before they may apply again. If selected for a landowner elk permit, qualifying landowners will not be required to wait 10 years before again applying for a landowner elk permit. Qualifying landowners may apply once each year for a general elk-hunting permit and for a landowner elk permit but are eligible to receive only one permit annually.
The landowner elk permit is limited to resident landowners with at least 20 acres within the "Landowner Elk Hunting Zone" of Carter, Reynolds and Shannon counties. The landowner permit may only be filled on the landowner's property.
General permits can be used in Carter, Reynolds and Shannon counties, except the refuge portion of Peck Ranch Conservation Area.
"The allowed hunting methods for each season will be the same as for deer hunting," Hildreth said. "The permits will allow for the harvest of one bull elk with at least one antler being greater than 6 inches in length. Successful hunters must Telecheck their harvested elk, like for deer."
To apply for an elk-hunting permit, applicants must be Missouri residents at least 11 years old by the first day of the hunt. Those selected to receive a permit must have their hunter-education certification or be exempt by age (born before Jan. 1, 1967) before they may purchase the permit.
Interested hunters may apply for the random elk-permit lottery May 1-31 at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits or through a permit vendor.
Qualifying landowners must submit their property information before applying through MDC's Landowner Permit Application at mdc.mo.gov/landownerpermits.
Applicants can check to see if they have been selected for an elk-hunting permit online starting July 1 at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits.
For more information on elk hunting in Missouri, visit huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/elk.