Heads up, Wisconsin hunters: if you’re planning to join the 2025 elk hunting season, the clock is ticking to throw your hat in the ring for a license. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is reminding those interested that applications are due by May 31, according to a release from the agency. This year, the dream of bagging an elk can only be made possible if you submit your application in time.
Since initiating the elk hunt back in 2018 within the Clam Lake Elk Range, and adding the Black River Elk Range in 2024, Wisconsin has continued to offer this regulated hunting opportunity due to a thriving elk population. Applicants need to decide to either apply for the Black River Elk Range, with its quota of nine elks—four antlered and five antlerless—or the Clam Lake Elk Range, where eight antlered elk will be made available. It’s worth noting that the state’s share of the Clam Lake Elk harvest is split evenly with Tribal hunters. Hunting season is set to commence on Saturday, Oct. 18, stated the DNR announcement.
For those feeling lucky, know that each application will initially be entered for an antlered harvest authorization, with a random drawing ensuring everyone has an equal shot at selection. And to maintain a fair chase, the random drawing doesn’t discriminate based on your chosen hunting weapon.
Further, after the coveted antlered tags are assigned, antlerless authorizations will be randomly drawn. But here's the catch: if you're one of the chosen ones, you can either accept the antlerless license or opt to decline, without that decision counting against the once-in-a-lifetime limit for Wisconsin residents to draw an elk license. People selected will be notified in early June, a process overseen by DNR team members themselves.
Restrictions apply specifically to Wisconsin residents for this hunting opportunity, with applications readily available online via Go Wild or at various in-person license agents. It's worth noting that each $7 fee from the applications goes directly into facilitating not just elk management, but also researching and enhancing habitats that are key for elk and other wildlife species.
For those who are successful in the drawing, there’s one more step required before you can set out on your elk hunting adventure. All winners must participate in a mandatory Wisconsin Elk Hunter Education course. This experience is designed not only to delve into elk history and hunting regulations but also to understand elk biology, behavior, and fine-tune your scouting and hunting techniques.
