In partnership with Wyoming Game and Fish Department, this year the Refuge will be offering two 2-day Youth Elk Hunt opportunities in November 2023. By adding an additional day and splitting the weekend into two 2-day hunts there will be more opportunity for youth hunters to participate in the Youth Only Elk Hunt on the Refuge. The Refuge Youth Only Elk Hunts will occur Thursday and Friday (Youth Elk Hunt 1) and Saturday and Sunday (Youth Elk Hunt 2) of Thanksgiving weekend. For those two 2-day periods, full-priced youth license holders who have applied for and been drawn for a Refuge permit for that period may take any elk. There will be one more opportunity for youth hunters to draw Refuge permits for these time periods. Youth hunters may apply for that draw from Friday, November 17-Sunday, November 19.
Another change coming in the 2023 season is a daily tag limit for elk. Hunters will only be permitted to fill one elk tag per day on the Refuge. The goal for the daily tag limit is to maximize safety and reduce common law enforcement issues while continuing to provide a quality hunting experience on the Refuge.
Also new this year, folks looking to make a reservation for the Refuge’s disabled hunter parking permits must make reservations at the Wyoming Game and Fish Department Jackson Office at 420 North Cache Street in Jackson, WY.
In addition to the changes above, the Refuge will be implementing a Hunting Permit Review (Redline Process). The Hunting Permit Review is used to withdraw eligibility from individuals who violate, cause damage to resources or property, or create unsafe conditions while hunting on the National Elk Refuge. The specific circumstances of each violation or incident will be thoroughly considered when determining if an individual is disqualified from applying for a Refuge Hunting Permit as well as the duration of the disqualification. An individual’s Wyoming elk licenses would not be affected if they were disqualified from receiving Refuge access permits.
Hunters can also expect to see minor updates to the hunt brochure and species maps for 2023 to increase clarity and simplify hunt regulations. A full description of the application process and other permit opportunities, as well as Refuge season dates, regulations, and additional information can be found on the National Elk Refuge hunting webpage. Also available on the website is a printable, four-page Refuge regulation and information brochure and individual species maps for the 2023 hunting season (Adobe PDF). The brochure is also available on Wyoming Game and Fish’s website under Ranch Rules.
Hunting on the refuge is managed through a cooperative effort between the National Elk Refuge and Wyoming Game & Fish Department with the goal of providing quality outdoor recreation while achieving and maintaining population objectives. For further information about the Refuge’s hunting program, please call the Refuge administrative office at (307) 733-9212.
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