The DNR is preparing for the official launch of the 2026 elk hunting season on Saturday

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is preparing for the official launch of the 2026 elk hunting season on Saturday, Oct. 17. Marking the ninth season since elk were successfully reintroduced to the state, this year's hunt reflects ongoing efforts to balance wildlife conservation with population management.

Interest in the season remains high, with more than 34,000 Wisconsin residents entering the random drawing for a total of 16 state-administered hunting licenses. The applicant pool included 13,970 hopefuls applying for bull elk tags in the Northern Elk Management Zone, alongside 20,728 applicants vying for bull and antlerless tags in the Central Elk Management Zone. Quotas for the Northern Zone were established at eight bulls, split equally between state and tribal hunters. In the Central Zone, state hunters received six bull and six antlerless tags.

A notable change for the 2026 season is the implementation of unit-specific elk tags. According to DNR biologist Christina Kizewski, this new framework allows wildlife managers to target harvest pressure in regions experiencing higher levels of human-elk interaction, while maintaining lower harvest limits in areas where population expansion remains the primary goal.

Selection through the state's random drawing guaranteed equal opportunity for all applicants within their chosen management zones. During the application process, prospective hunters selected specific unit groupings and were permitted to apply for bull tags, antlerless tags, or both, though regulations allow a hunter to accept only a single license.