Drawing conducted for Nonresident Elk Licenses
by Wyoming Game & Fish
February 24, 2009
One of the most anticipated drawings of the year for nonresident hunters was conducted last week with 7,254 hunters receiving full price elk licenses. Another 1,089 reduced price cow/calf elk licenses were also issued.
The numbers of licenses issued this year were similar to previous years, but applications were down some 14 percent from the 2008 drawing. This year 17,443 nonresident elk applications were processed compared with 20,252 applications processed in 2008. License draw coordinator Aaron Pelto said that a reduction in applicants was anticipated due to the economy, but said there were still more than twice as many hunters wanting licenses as there were licenses available.
Nonresidents who did not draw or get into the drawing this year will still have another opportunity to get a license this summer. In the past, licenses leftover from the resident draw were issued in a supplemental drawing in July. This year the Game and Fish is proposing to eliminate the leftover drawing and sell licenses on a first-come, first-serve basis. This will be done through the department’s Electronic License Service through the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s Web site. Licenses will also be issued at Game and Fish regional offices, automated license selling agents, and through the submission of manual application forms to the Game and Fish Headquarters office in Cheyenne. Under this proposal, leftover elk licenses, as well as deer and antelope leftover licenses, will be available after all big game license draws are completed in July. This proposed change will be presented at the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission meeting in March.
Nonresidents can find if they were successful in the drawing by accessing the Game and Fish Web site http://gf.state.wy.us or by calling (307) 777-4600. Mailing of licenses for those who drew and refund warrants for those unsuccessful in the drawings will begin Feb. 27.
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