Elk hunting

News & notices

Lottery closed

The 2024 lottery closed June 16. Results will be posted online when they become available. Postcards will be mailed to winners.

Elk & deer identification

Individual elk are beginning to appear in a wider geographic area outside of their range. Make sure you know the difference between deer and elk in the field.

Landowner licenses

A limited number of landowners in Minnesota's elk range can apply for this hunt. Review the requirements and instructions on the landowner elk hunting page.

Seasons

Either-sex

Season Date Licenses available Zone
A Sep. 21-29 3 20

Antlerless

Season Date Licenses available Zone
B Sep. 21-29 2 20

Either-sex

Season Date Licenses available Zone
C Sep. 21-29 5 30

Zones

Map showing elk zones open to hunting in northwestern Minnesota

Elk zones open to hunting in northwestern Minnesota • Printable map

Click map for larger view or download for printing

The Grygla area elk zone will continue to be closed to elk hunting because the area's population is below the goal outlined in the elk management plan.

Methods

Firearm legal for big game
Legal archery methods

Licenses

Hunters

This is a once-in-a-lifetime hunt. Using license code 625, hunters must select a season, zone and license type when applying. A lottery will be conducted for each season, giving hunters who chose an antlerless license better odds of being selected.

  • Season A is for either-sex licenses in zone 20.
  • Season B is for antlerless licenses in zone 20.
  • Season C is for either-sex licenses in zone 30.

Minnesota residents may apply individually or in parties of two:

  • A party of two only receives one elk tag to share and is both individual's once-in-a-lifetime hunt.
  • Elk hunters are required to attend a mandatory pre-hunt orientation meeting the Friday before each hunt.

There is a non-refundable application fee of $5 per hunter. Total license cost for selected applicants is $288.

Landowners

Elk licenses are available for a limited number of landowners each year. Details and application requirements are available on the landowner elk hunting page.

General information

For each zone, up to three drawings may occur:

  1. The first drawing will determine which applicants with more than 10 years of application history are eligible to purchase one of the five available licenses in each zone.
  2. The second drawing will determine which landowners can purchase one of the landowner available licenses. The selected landowners will be awarded the season of their choice.
  3. The third drawing will determine which applicants for the general drawing (including non-successful landowner applicants and non-successful 10-year pool applicants) are eligible to purchase the remaining licenses in each zone.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime hunt for Minnesota residents. Successful applicants who choose not to purchase a permit will be eligible for future elk hunts and receive an application point towards their 10-year application history preference.

Management

Hunting is only one aspect of the DNR's effort to manage elk for the public trust. We are committed to socially and ecologically responsive and responsible elk management for the benefit of all Minnesotans now and into the future.

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