Looking to bag something a little bigger than a deer? You might want to try hunting elk.
Applications for hunting elk on Arkansas’ public land will open May 1. The deadline for applying for a permit is June 1.
Only Arkansas residents with a Resident Sportsman Hunting License or a Lifetime Sportsman’s Permit are allowed to apply for the public land elk permit. There is a $5 nonrefundable application fee, and applicants must be six years old or older at the beginning of the hunt to be eligible.
In total, there are 29 permits available for the public land hunts. Twenty-six of the permits will be determined through the online application draw and three permits will be given as part of onsite draws at the 23rdAnnual Buffalo River Elk Festival.
The permits for both draws will be announced during the Buffalo River Elk Festival on June 27.
Once selected, the public land elk hunts will be conducted on certain areas of the Buffalo National River, the Gene Rush WMA, Richland Valley Sonny Varnell Elk Conservation Area, and Bearcat Hollow WMA.
In addition, permits for private land elk hunts will go on sale May 15. These permits will be sold through the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC)’s online license and permitting website. These permits will be added to individuals’ hunting licenses.
For the private land elk hunt, hunters must contact AGFC immediately after harvesting an elk to receive check station information. This number is 870-204-0576.
In addition, hunters must call the AGFC Wildlife Hotline (1-800-440-1477) every day to determine if the elk season’s quota has been met. There is a limit of one elk per individual per year.
READ MORE: Conservation by the Numbers