MISSOURI’S FIRST ELK SEASON – At the April 8 meeting, the Missouri Conservation Commission approved five resident only permits for hunting bull elk for the 2020 season. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) announced the state’s first elk season for fall 2020. Four permits will go to the resident public draw and one permit is reserved for qualifying area landowners.
Update 5/13/2020 (Podcast with Aaron Hildreth)
[Terron Hunt] was able to chat with Aaron Hildreth, a biologist at the department, about this new season. Aaron has led the charge with this introduction of elk into Missouri, and is a key player in getting this new season up and running. If you’re an elk hunter, this podcast is for you.
“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.”
– Aaron HildrethMDC Elk and Deer Biologist
Fee and Usage Details
- $10 application fee for general permits application.
- Landowners are not required to pay the $10 application fee when applying for the landowner permit.
- $50 permit fee for those who draw a tag.
- One application per-person, per-year.
- 10-year “sit-out” period if you draw a general permit.
- Landowners are not subject to a “sit-out” period.
- Landowners can apply for both general and landowner permits but can only draw one.
- Permits are not transferable.
- Landowner permits are only valid on the landowner’s property.
- You must have 20 acres to apply as a landowner.
- Review hunting zones on the MDC website.
“The allowed hunting methods for each season will be the same as for deer hunting. Each permits will allow one bull elk with at least one antler being greater than six inches in length. Successful hunters must Telecheck their harvested elk, like for deer.”
– Aaron HildrethMDC Elk and Deer Biologist
Missouri Elk Restoration
Elk are historically native to Missouri. Unregulated hunting led to extinction / extirpation in the late 1800s. With the help of numerous partners and supporters, MDC reintroduced about 100 elk to a remote area of the Missouri Ozarks in 2011, 2012, and 2013. Most were cow elk with some calves and immature bulls. The local herds now number over 200. Their range has expanded over the years to cover portions of several counties in southern Missouri. Carter, Reynolds and Shannon counties are now home to elk.
How do you feel about more states reintroducing elk and elk hunting?
