Eight Wisconsin residents have won a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hunt elk during the 2024 elk season, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources announced.

The season opens Oct. 12. Four winners will be able to hunt in the Black River Elk Zone for the first time since elk were reintroduced to the state.

The application period was open from April 10 to May 31, 2024, and the DNR randomly selected the winners from more than 25,000 applicants. The drawing is random, with all applicants having an equal chance of selection.

The DNR received applications from 17,761 hunters for the Clam Lake Elk Zone and the winning applicants are from Green Bay, Madison, Hortonville and Birchwood.

The DNR received 7,750 applications from hunters for the Black River Elk Zone and the winning applicants are from Athens, Wisconsin Rapids, Tomah and the Waupun area.

All winners must participate in a Wisconsin elk hunter education course before obtaining an elk hunting license. The class covers Wisconsin elk history, hunting regulations, biology, behavior and hunting techniques.

The DNR approved an eight-bull harvest quota for the Clam Lake Elk Zone and a four-bull harvest for the inaugural season in the Black River Elk Zone and presented the harvest quotas to the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board in May.

Per treaty rights, Ojibwe tribes may declare up to four bulls of the eight-bull harvest quota within the Ceded Territory, which includes the Clam Lake Elk Zone.

The DNR thanks everyone who applied for this year’s elk licenses. Applications contribute directly to the future of the state’s elk population. For each $10 application fee, $7 goes directly toward elk management, habitat restoration and research. For more about the elk hunt, visit the DNR’s Elk Hunting webpage.

Read last week’s column:Manitowoc Salmon Derby is July 4-7 with live entertainment, food and fishing tournaments

Salmon Derby prizes to be awarded July 7

Northeastern Wisconsin Great Lakes Sport Fishermen’s 49th annual Salmon Derby is running July 5-7 at Manitowoc Marina.

Derby headquarters is under the big tents with food and live entertainment.

July 7, prizes in the Salmon Derby and Super Tournament will be awarded starting at 3 p.m. The day will also feature the Kolache Brothers performing 12:30-4 p.m. Get the latest at newglsf.org.

Hunter safety course registration begins at Maribel club

Hunter safety registration starts July 10 for Maribel.

Maribel Sportsmen’s Club will hold its fall 2024 hunter safety course on Thursdays, Aug. 15 and 22, both from 6-9 p.m., and finish up on Saturday, Aug. 24, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Pre-registration is required by calling Bob Schuh at 920-682-3106. Cost is $10 per person and is open to both adults and children.

Before registering, please make sure your child is big enough to properly hold and use a firearm and able to read at an 11- to 12-year-old age level.

Deer harvest quotas and framework presented

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources presented the deer harvest quotas and framework for the 2024 Wisconsin deer hunting season to the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board June 26.

The statewide antlerless quota for the 2024 season is 272,837 deer, with 245,245 total bonus antlerless harvest authorizations available for purchase across the state.

These authorizations are in addition to the free antlerless harvest authorizations issued in farmland zones, which are not reflected in this total.

These recommendations were formed in partnership with County Deer Advisory Councils and based on public feedback and deer population objectives.

The approved quotas and season frameworks for each county match the recommendations of its respective County Deer Advisory Council, with three exceptions.

In Iowa County, the January archery and crossbow season was extended to match surrounding counties, as recommended by the DNR.

Additionally, the Natural Resources Board, via amendment, provided 400 antlerless permits for public land hunters in Bayfield and Oneida counties, respectively.

Antlerless harvest opportunities will vary between deer management units based on local deer population levels and management goals. This approach allows for greater harvest opportunities in zones where deer are abundant and more conservative harvests where deer are fewer in number.

For the 2024 season, bonus antlerless harvest authorizations will be available for purchase in all deer management units, except Ashland and Iron counties, as recommended by their County Deer Advisory Councils.

More Bob Schuh:Click here to read more Scoping the Great Outdoors columns by Bob Schuh

Hunters may purchase additional bonus antlerless harvest authorizations online through the Go Wild license portal and at license sales locations starting at 10 a.m. Aug. 12. The first three days of bonus sales are management zone-specific, with all remaining permits becoming available Aug. 15.

Hunters can find information about deer season structure, quota information and additional hunting resources on the DNR’s White-tailed Deer Hunting webpage.

That’s it for this week, so have fun in the great outdoors.