Minnesotans interested in taking part in this year’s elk hunt have through July 3rd to apply for a license.
DNR elk coordinator Kelsie LaSharr says the amount of licenses given out each year varies…
“Every year we attempt to get up and do a minimum count of the elk in the northwest. For the past decade or so, that’s been with a fixed wing aircraft, so we get up, we fly these specific survey blocks where the elk tend to be in the winter time and we count every single elk we see. And so that helps us understand where we’re at population wise.”
LaSharr says they’ll be offering four elk licenses this year, which is a reduction from previous years…
“When we went up to do our aerial survey this year, we didn’t see as many elk as we had anticipated. So we’re actually below goal and below those legislative limits for two of our herds. So we have reduced the elk harvest opportunities for this year because we want to make sure that we’re allowing these elk populations to continue to thrive.”
More information is available on the DNR’s website.
(content: courtesy MNN)
