Hunting Opportunities Available at the National Elk Refuge

National Elk Refuge Manger Brian Glaspell has issued a reminder of upcoming dates and deadlines related to both bison and elk hunting for the 2018 season. Hunting on the Refuge is managed through a cooperative effort between the National Elk Refuge, Grand Teton National Park, and Wyoming Game & Fish Department, with the goal of achieving optimum herd size.

The National Elk Refuge’s 2018 bison hunting season will begin this Wednesday, August 15 and run through Thursday, January 31, 2019. Bison hunters must already have a Wyoming state bison license, issued by the Wyoming Game & Fish Department, to apply for a Refuge bison permit. Individuals who have not already applied and been selected for a 2018 Wyoming bison license are not eligible to hunt bison this year.

Current bison hunting information and regulations are posted on the National Elk Refuge web site at https://bit.ly/2B9aZmI, including permit information, hunt area restrictions, and retrieval requirements. Additionally, a map is available for both hunters and the general public to note the areas where hunting is allowed. Hard copies of the map and regulations are also available at the Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center and Wyoming Game & Fish Department’s Jackson office, both located on North Cache Street in Jackson.

The application period for obtaining a National Elk Refuge 2018 elk hunting permit began on August 1 and runs through September 21. The Refuge elk hunt is scheduled for October 13 – December 14 this year, with the Youth Only hunt offered November 22 – 24. Similar to the bison hunt, elk hunting information, regulations, a map, and commonly asked questions are all available electronically on the Refuge’s web site at https://bit.ly/2xWJUO7 as well as through printed copies at the same locations listed above.

For further information on either the bison or elk hunting programs, please contact the National Elk Refuge administrative office at (307) 733-9212 or the Wyoming Game & Fish Department at (307) 733-2321.