Dept. of Game, Fish and Parks
For Immediate Release: Wednesday, April 9, 2003
For more information: John Wrede, 394-2391

ELK SEASONS SET WITH PREFERENCE POINT-ONLY OPTION

PIERRE – South Dakota’s 2003 firearms prairie, Black Hills firearms and archery elk seasons have been set with additional licenses and a new option to apply only for a preference point.

"All three of South Dakota’s elk seasons now have a provision to allow people who do not want to take a chance drawing a license for a particular year or years to purchase a preference point," said Regional Wildlife Manager John Wrede of Rapid City. "These applicants can apply for a unit with zero licenses and pay the usual nonrefundable application fee."

Another change from last year will allow a person who draws an antlerless elk license as a second choice to not lose their preference or eligibility for future elk licenses. Preference and eligibility are only lost if an applicant is successful for his or her first choice in the first elk drawing.

The 2003 prairie elk season in Bennett County will have four units, 311A, 311B, 311C and 330A with modified season dates from last year.

Total prairie elk licenses available have increased from 22 any elk and 24 any antlerless to 38 any elk and 44 any antlerless.

Total available Black Hills firearms elk licenses have increased from 496 any elk and 676 antlerless elk to 503 any elk and 1,076 antlerless elk licenses. Other changes include new season dates in December for "any elk" licenses in Unit 409A, and the repeal of the subunits in Units 402B and 403B in which hunting was restricted during the December portion of the season. Lastly, the ability of Unit 401B and 406B licensees to hunt in both units during the respective December seasons has been repealed.

Changes for the Black Hills archery elk season have increased available licenses from 112 any elk and 39 antlerless elk to 127 any elk and 69 antlerless elk. Preference can be switched within season units, but not between different seasons. For example, preference for Black Hills elk cannot be used for prairie elk seasons or visa-versa.

A person that is eligible may apply for an elk license in more than one season, but there are restrictions that limit the number of elk licenses a person can possess. Anyone drawing elk licenses for more than one season may only accept one of the licenses. Eligibility and preference will not be affected by a license that must be turned down.

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