MOOSE, Wyo. — Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) announced Tuesday that this year’s Elk Reduction Program begins Saturday, Nov. 18 and runs through Sunday, Dec. 10.
According to the park, the estimated herd size warrants a reduction program this year. Forty permits are authorized for the hunt, which will be limited to the Wyoming Game and Fish Elk Hunt Area 75, located mostly east of Highway 89.
GTNP shared the following guidelines for participants:
- Participants in the program must carry their state license for Elk Hunt Area 75, conservation stamp, elk special management permit and 2023 elk reduction program park permit
- Hunters must use non-lead ammunition, and are limited in the number of cartridges they are able to carry each day
- Harvest is currently restricted to cows and calves
- The use of archery, handguns or other non-center fire ammunition rifles is not permitted, nor is the use of artificial elk calls
- Participants, regardless of age, are required to carry a hunter safety card and wear fluorescent orange or pink
- Participants must carry and have immediately accessible a 7.9 oz. (or larger) can of non-expired bear spray
Also noteworthy is the requirement to submit the heads of any harvested elk to park officials for chronic wasting disease testing.
“Elk Reduction Program participants must turn in the head from any elk harvested in the park at the drop location in Moose,” GTNP’s press release said. “Park personnel will collect biological samples from the heads and submit them to the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory for testing. Participants can check their results online.”
An information line for the elk reduction program is available at 307-739-3681. More information can be found at www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/elkreduction.htm.
