Overview
- Hunt Period 1 would shift to a continuous 30-day window from the second Saturday in September through the second Sunday in October.
- Hunt Period 2 would run December 1–15, extending the late-season hunt to 15 days.
- The DNR cites a 2024 aerial estimate of about 1,146 elk—above the 500–900 goal—and says later, longer windows improve flexibility, safety and weather conditions for hunters.
- The draft keeps management unit boundaries and the license drawing unchanged while extending the registration requirement from 24 to 72 hours.
- Public comment is open through January 23, 2026, after an initial open house, with final recommendations to the NRC in March and a vote expected in April; the 2025 season is unaffected.