NW MN Elk licenses now available

The deadline to apply for one of 30 elk licenses offered by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is June 11^th.  Seasons will run from late August to mid-October.

There are currently three recognized herds in northwestern Minnesota:  Grygla, Kittson Central, and Kittson Northeast, which is also referred to as Caribou-Vita.  The available licenses were decreased relative to 2020.

During February 2020, the DNR counted 126 elk in most of the state’s elk range in Kittson, Marshall and Beltrami counties.  The Grygla and Kittson Central herd counts were 24 and 102 elk, respectively.

The Grygla and the Caribou-Vita herds remain below goal, which is why the Grygla area elk zone remains closed to hunting and minimal permits (two bull-only licenses) are available for the Caribou-Vita zone. The Kittson Central herd is predicted to be above goal, providing the majority of this year’s hunting opportunities.