State hunters see high success rates during Wisconsin’s recently-completed elk season

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) celebrates the completion of the 2025 elk hunting season. The state’s eighth managed elk hunt opened on Oct. 18 and concluded Dec. 19.

“This elk season marks another rewarding hunt for 13 lucky state hunters,” said Christina Kizewski, DNR Central Elk Zone biologist. “The opportunity to establish a close relationship with the elk hunters and witness the excitement each one had was very special.”

The 13 Wisconsin state-licensed hunters who participated in this year’s hunt were randomly selected from a pool of more than 26,000 applicants. The DNR received 17,737 applications to hunt in the Clam Lake (Northern) Elk Range and 8,452 applications for the Black River (Central) Elk Range.

An eight-bull quota was established for the Clam Lake Elk Range. Four licenses were awarded to state hunters, and, per treaty rights, the Ojibwe Tribes declared a harvest of four bull elk. In the Black River Elk Range, five antlerless and four bull licenses were issued to state hunters, up from a four-bull quota in 2024.

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The random draw process ensures that each applicant has an equal chance of selection within the respective management zones. Applicants were required to identify their management zone of choice during the elk hunting application process.

State-licensed hunters found success in both elk ranges, in which a total of seven bulls and five antlerless elk were harvested statewide. In the Black River Elk Range, nearly all license holders found success, filling five of five antlerless tags and three of four bull tags.

“All five antlerless elk were harvested in areas where the reduction of a few elk was intended, making it a successful harvest for the hunters as well as meeting harvest objectives,” said Kizewski.

Some hunters found success during the first opportunity to hunt elk, from mid-October to mid-November, while others filled their tags in the December timeframe.

In the Clam Lake Elk Range, all four state-licensed hunters harvested bull elk in the first two weeks of the season. Tribal hunters have until Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, to complete their pursuit of elk within Wisconsin’s Ceded Territory.

Hunters can apply for 2026 elk hunting season starting in March 2026

The DNR’s Elk Management Program is driven by the revenue received from hunter application fees, which contribute directly to the future of the state’s elk population. For each $10 application fee, $7 goes directly toward elk management, habitat restoration and research.

The 2026 elk hunt application period for Wisconsin residents is expected to open with the new license year on March 1 and run through May 31, 2026. The 2026 elk hunting season will open on Saturday, Oct. 17.

For more information on elk in Wisconsin, visit the DNR’s Elk webpage.