2009 Minnesota elk hunt applications

Hunters who want to participate in this fall's Minnesota elk hunt may apply for one of 30 licenses to be awarded through a DNR lottery. Application deadline is July 24.

Licenses will be available in three zones: the traditional Grygla area, Kittson County-South and Kittson County-North. Maps of the three hunt zones and additional application information can be found at www.dnr.state.mn.us/ hunting/elk/index.html.

Fifteen licenses (two either-sex and 13 antlerless) will be offered in the Grygla area, 10 either-sex licenses in Kittson County-South and five licenses (one either-sex and four antlerless) in Kittson County-North.

Six licenses - three in Grygla, two in Kittson County-South and one in Kittson County-North - may be issued to qualified landowners in their elk zone in a preferential drawing. Unsuccessful landowner applications will then be added to the general drawing, from which the remaining applicants will be selected. Alternates will be selected in case successful parties opt not to purchase a permit.

There will be three seasons in each zone:

• Sept. 12-20, two either-sex and three antlerless licenses in Grygla, two either-sex in Kittson-South, and one either-sex in Kittson-North.

• Sept. 26-Oct. 4, five antlerless licenses in Grygla, four either-sex in Kittson-South and two antlerless in Kittson-North.

• Nov. 21-29, five antlerless licenses in Grygla, four either-sex in Kittson-South and two antlerless in Kittson-North.

Because the majority of interest will be for the either-sex licenses, the DNR will have a two-stage internal lottery process, meaning hunters will apply for only their preferred area. Once those hunters have been identified by preference area, a random drawing will determine whether they get an either-sex or an antlerless license and the dates on which they can hunt.

Hunting license applications may be made at any of the 1,800 statewide locations where hunting and fishing licenses are sold. Hunters may apply individually or in parties of two. There is a nonrefundable application fee of $10 per hunter. Successful applicants will be notified by mail and must purchase an elk license for $250. Each party will be authorized to harvest one elk.

All successful applicants will be required to attend an orientation session at Thief Lake Wildlife Management Area headquarters in Middle River prior to the hunt. Hunters should be aware that all three zones include private land; permission to hunt these lands should be obtained prior to license purchase.