Elk NetworkOklahoma Elk Hunt Gets Green Light, Despite Government Shutdown

General | January 15, 2019

UPDATE (1/14/2019):

The partial government shutdown continues but the annual elk hunt will go on as scheduled at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma.

According to KSWO-TV, the refuge will use appropriated funds and be open the next 30 days.

Unless something changes soon, more than 100 hunters will have to change their plans to chase elk in Oklahoma’s Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.

According to KSWO-TV, the longer the government shutdown continues, the more likely the hunts will be pushed back a week or more or be postponed altogether until late 2019 or early 2020. If this month’s hunt is indeed postponed, the issued elk permits will be valid for a later date.

There are approximately 1,400 elk in the Wichita Mountains. Hunters harvested 137 elk last year.

(Photo source: Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge)