Lottery & licenses
The elk lottery is closed and winners have been notified. A record number of applicants – 4,425 potential hunters – entered this year's lottery. The previous high was 2,820 in 2019.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime hunt offering two bull-only licenses, 18 either-sex licenses and 24 antlerless licenses. Using license code 625, hunters must select a season, zone and license type when applying. A lottery will be conducted for each season, giving hunters who chose an antlerless license better odds of being selected.
Seasons A through F are for the either-sex licenses in Zone 20. Seasons G through L are for the antlerless licenses in Zone 20. Season M is for the two bull-only licenses available in Zone 30.
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 given hunt.
There is a non-refundable application fee of $5 per hunter. Total license cost for selected applicants is $288.
Either-sex licenses | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Dates | Zone | Licenses available |
| A | Aug. 22-30 | 20 | 3 |
| B | Sept. 5-13 | 20 | 3 |
| C | Sept. 19-27 | 20 | 3 |
| D | Oct. 3-11 | 20 | 3 |
| E | Oct. 24- Nov. 1 | 20 | 3 |
| F | Dec. 5-13 | 20 | 3 |
Antlerless licenses | |||
| Season | Dates | Zone | Licenses available |
| G | Aug. 22-30 | 20 | 4 |
| H | Sept. 5-13 | 20 | 4 |
| I | Sept. 19-27 | 20 | 4 |
| J | Oct. 3-11 | 20 | 4 |
| K | Oct. 24- Nov. 1 | 20 | 4 |
| L | Dec. 5-13 | 20 | 4 |
Bull-only licenses | |||
| Season | Dates | Zone | Licenses available |
| M | Sept. 5-13 | 30 | 2 |
The Grygla area elk zone will continue to be closed to elk hunting because the area's population is below the goal outlined in the elk management plan.
Zone information
Seasons
- Saturday, Aug. 22, to Sunday, Aug. 30: Four antlerless tags and three either-sex tags will be available in the Kittson central (Zone 20) zone.
- Saturday, Sept. 5 to Sunday, Sept. 13: Four antlerless tags and three either-sex tags will be available in the Kittson central (Zone 20) zone and two bull-only tags will be available in the Kittson northeast (Zone 30) zone.
- Saturday, Sept. 19, to Sunday, Sept. 27: Four antlerless tags and three either-sex tags will be available in the Kittson central (Zone 20).
- Saturday, Oct. 3, to Sunday, Oct. 11: Four antlerless tags and three either-sex tags will be available in the Kittson central (Zone 20).
- Saturday, Oct. 24, to Sunday, Nov. 1: Four antlerless tags and three either-sex tags will be available in the Kittson central (Zone 20).
- Saturday, Dec. 5, to Sunday, Dec. 13: Four antlerless tags and three either-sex tags will be available in the Kittson central (Zone 20).
Landowners
Information
Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations
Hunting licenses - find license agents, get applications or purchase licenses by phone or the Internet.
Management plan
Learn about Minnesota's elk and plans to manage them on the elk management page.
Status & statistics
Find information about elk harvest and populations on the Status & Statistics tab of the elk management page.
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.