POLL: Elk were hunted to extinction during the late 1800’s. Should elk hunting be banned?

Conservation officials have announced the five Missourians who were drawn for the 2021 elk hunting season slated for this fall and winter.

Of the 9,714 permit applications, including one drawn from 84 resident landowners, the five people who will receive a permit to harvest one antlered elk in Missouri include:

• Michael Duncan, of Lesterville, who was drawn from among the resident-landowner applications for an antlered-elk hunting permit
• Michael Ellison, of Gainesville, who was drawn for an antlered-elk hunting permit
• Tyson Wall, of Iberia, who was drawn for an antlered-elk hunting permit
• Robert Rothermich, of Pomona, who was drawn for an antlered-elk hunting permit
• Chris Irick, of Pleasant Hope, who was drawn for an antlered-elk hunting permit

These five will be able to buy their elk-hunting permit for $50. Each harvest bull elk must have at least one antler minimum of six inches long.

Archery method hunting begins Oct. 16-24 with the firearms portion running Dec. 11-19. Each permit is valid for both the archery and firearms portions of the elk-hunting season.

The five permits may be used within Carter, Reynolds, or Shannon counties excluding the refuge portion of Peck Ranch, according to MDC.

This is the second elk season for Missouri. Elk are a native species in the state but were hunted to extinction in the state through unregulated hunting during the late 1800s, according to MDC. About 100 elk were reintroduced to the Ozarks starting in 2011. Most were cows with some calves and immature bulls. Their numbers have more than doubled since then.

MDC hopes to reach a target population of 500 elk and will use hunting to manage herd size and location.

During the first elk season for Missouri in 2020, all five hunters that were drawn harvested an elk.

This article by Sara Karnes was first published by The Springfield News-Leader. Lead Image: Here’s a look at who harvested elk in Missouri – Elk are a native species in the state but were hunted to extinction in the state through unregulated hunting during the late 1800s.

We invite you to share your opinion whether elk hunting should be banned? Please vote and leave your comments at the bottom of this page.

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