Elk: Application and Draw Process

PURPOSE: This rule establishes provisions for resident landowners to hunt elk on their property within the resident landowner permit zone during the elk hunting season. (1) Missouri residents, as defined in 3 CSR 10-5.220, may apply for elk hunting permits. (A) Quotas for elk hunting permits are established annually by the Conservation Commission. For the 2026 season, five (5) Resident Antlered Elk Hunting Permits and zero (0) Resident Antlerless Elk Hunting Permits will be awarded. At least ten (10) percent of the Resident Antlered Elk Hunting Permit quota and ten (10) percent of the Resident Antlerless Elk Hunting Permit quota will be awarded annually to approved resident landowners, as defined in 3 CSR 10-20.805, whose qualifying property is in Carter, Reynolds, or Shannon counties. If the number of qualifying landowner applicants is less than the percentage of the permits allocated for landowners, that portion of the quota not issued to a qualifying landowner will be reallocated to other applicants. (B) To be eligible for the Resident Antlered Elk Hunting Per mit(s) or the Resident Antlerless Elk Hunting Permit(s) awarded to approved resident landowners, an application must have been submitted to and have been approved by the department as described in 3 CSR 10-7.412 prior to applying for a Resident Antlered Elk Hunting Permit or a Resident Antlerless Elk Hunt ing Permit. (C) Permit Draw. 1. The application period will be from May 1-31 annually and results will be available by July 1 annually. 2. Application fee for Resident Antlered Elk Hunting Permit: ten dollars ($10). 3. Application fee for Resident Antlerless Elk Hunting Permit: ten dollars ($10). 4. Only one (1) application per elk hunting permit type is allowed per year. 5. Only one (1) person is allowed per application. 6. Only one (1) elk hunting permit may be awarded to a person per year. Antlered elk hunting permits will be awarded before antlerless elk hunting permits. 7. Persons drawn for a Resident Antlered Elk Hunting Permit will not be eligible to apply for that permit again for ten (10) years. Persons drawn for a Resident Antlerless Elk Hunting Permit will not be eligible to apply for that permit again for five (5) years. 8. Permits are nontransferable. AUTHORITY: sections 40 and 45 of Art. IV, Mo. Const., and section 252.040, RSMo 2016.* Original rule filed June 28, 2019, effective Dec. 30, 2019. Amended: Filed Sept. 4, 2020, effective Feb. 28, 2021. Amended: Filed March 26, 2021, effective April 15, 2021. Amended: Filed March 25, 2022, effective April 15, 2022. Amended: Filed March 14, 2023, effective March 31, 2023. Amended: Filed April 5, 2024, effective April 15, 2024. Amended: Filed Sept. 6, 2024, effective Feb. 28, 2025. Amended: Filed April 4, 2025, effective April 15, 2025. Amended: Filed March 27, 2026, effective April 15, 2026. *Original authority: 252.040, RSMo 1945, amended 1989.