News & notices
Lottery now open
Review the seasons section and apply online or in person from June 12 - July 7 for a chance to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime hunt.
Elk & deer identification
Individual elk are beginning to appear in a wider geographic area outside of their range. Make sure you know the difference between deer and elk in the field.
Managing elk
Learn about elk history, species management in northwestern Minnesota and planned elk restoration and mangement in northeastern Minnesota.
2026 seasons
Either-sex | |||
| Season | Date | Licenses available | Zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Sep. 12-20 | 1 | 10 |
| C | Sep. 12-20 | 1 | 20 |
| E | Sep. 12-20 | 1 | 30 |
Antlerless | |||
| Season | Date | Licenses available | Zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| B | Sep. 12-20 | 1 | 10 |
| D | Sep. 12-20 | 2 | 20 |
| F | Sep. 12-20 | 2 | 30 |
| G | Sep. 26-Oct. 4 | 4 | 30 |
Methods
Zones
Click map for larger view or download for printing
Click map for larger view or download for printing
Licenses
Hunters
This is a once-in-a-lifetime hunt. Using license code 625, hunters must select a season, zone and license type when applying. A separate lottery will be conducted for each season.
Minnesota residents may apply individually or in parties of two:
- A party of two only receives one elk tag to share and is both individual's once-in-a-lifetime hunt.
- Elk hunters are required to attend a mandatory pre-hunt orientation meeting the Friday before each hunt.
Two of the total licenses available in 2026 are reserved for individuals with ten years or more of elk license application history. Hunters will automatically be entered into this pool based on their application history.
There is a non-refundable application fee of $5 per hunter. Total license cost for selected applicants is $288.
Landowners
A limited number of licenses are available to agricultural landowners eah year. Details and application requirements are available on the landowner elk hunting page.
General information
This is a once-in-a-lifetime hunt for Minnesota residents. Successful applicants who choose not to purchase a permit will be eligible for future elk hunts and receive an application point towards their 10-year application history preference.
Management
Hunting is only one aspect of the DNR's effort to manage elk for the public trust. We are committed to socially and ecologically responsive and responsible elk management for the benefit of all Minnesotans now and into the future.
- Visit our elk management page to learn about the many things we do to manage this native animal that once roamed Minnesota from Rushford to Roseau.
- Access reports and surveys in the elk reports and statistics archive.
The Kittson County Central Elk Zone consists of that portion of the state lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at the intersection of County State-Aid Highway (CSAH) 1 and State Trunk Highway (STH) 175; thence north along CSAH 1 to 380th Street; thence east to 250th Avenue; thence north along 250th Avenue to the section line between sections 29 and 30 of Township 164 North, Range 48 West; thence north on the section line between sections 29 and 30 of Township 164 North, Range 48 West to the U.S./Canadian border; thence east along the U.S./Canadian border to the north east corner of section 30 Township 164 North, Range 46 West; thence south along the east section line of section 30 Township 164 North, Range 46 West to 370th Avenue; thence south along 370th Avenue to County Road (CR) 51; thence south along CR 51 to CSAH 4; thence west along CSAH 4 to State Ditch 85 (330th Street); thence east along State Ditch 85 to State Ditch 72 ; thence east along State Ditch 72 to 480th Avenue (county line); thence south along 480th Avenue to 220th Street; thence west along 220th Street to CSAH 10; thence west along CSAH 10 to U.S. Highway 59; thence north along U.S. Highway 59 to STH 175; thence west along STH 175 to the point of beginning.
The Kittson County Northeast Elk Zone consists of that portion of the state lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at the intersection of County State-Aid Highway (CSAH) 4 and County Road (CR) 51; thence north along CR 51 to 370th Avenue; thence north along 370th Avenue to the west section line of section 29 Township 164 North, Range 46 West; thence north along the west section of section 29 Township 164 North, Range 46 West to the U.S./Canadian border; thence east along the U.S./Canadian border to the north east corner of section 25 Township 164 North, Range 45 West; thence south along the eastern section line of section 25 Township 164 North, Range 45 West to 480th Avenue; thence south along 480th Avenue to State Ditch 72 (310th Street); thence west along State Ditch 72 to State Ditch 85 (330th Street); thence west along State Ditch 85 to CSAH 4; thence north along CSAH 4 to the point of beginning.