The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is reminding hunters that applications for the 2026 elk hunt must be submitted by May 31, 2026. This year’s drawing comes at a time when Wisconsin’s elk restoration program continues to exceed expectations, with elk numbers reaching their highest level since reintroduction.
The growing herds have allowed wildlife managers to authorize a record 20 elk tags for the 2026 season, up from 17 tags in 2025. The Northern Elk Management Zone (Clam Lake Zone) will have a quota of eight bull elk, while the Central Elk Management Zone (Black River Falls Zone) will offer six bull elk and six antlerless elk tags. The increase reflects continued growth of Wisconsin’s elk population and confidence in the long-term success of the restoration effort.
Hunters will also notice several changes for 2026. Applicants can now apply separately for bull and antlerless elk licenses, and must select a hunting unit grouping when applying. In addition, the elk season will move to a single continuous format, running from October 17 through December 13, replacing the split-season structure used since Wisconsin’s first modern elk hunt in 2018.
Wisconsin’s elk hunt remains one of the most difficult tags to draw in North America. More than 26,000 hunters applied for the 2025 season, competing for only a handful of licenses. Yet those application fees play an important role in conservation. Of the $10 application fee, $7 goes directly toward elk management, habitat improvement, monitoring and research.
The state’s elk restoration effort began with transplanted animals in the Clam Lake area in 1995 and expanded to the Black River region in 2015. Both herds have continued to grow, allowing Wisconsin to expand hunting opportunities while maintaining healthy population objectives. Today, Wisconsin supports thriving elk herds in both management zones and has become one of the Midwest’s premier elk hunting destinations.
Hunters interested in applying can do so through Wisconsin’s Go Wild licensing system or at license sales agents statewide. Successful applicants will be notified in early June.
Wisconsin hunters can also use the Hunterizer app to explore elk season dates, license requirements, hunting regulations, shooting hours, bag limits, harvest reporting requirements and zone maps. The app’s “What Can I Hunt Today?” feature allows hunters to instantly see open seasons and opportunities anywhere in Wisconsin on any date of the year.
