DNR News Release Header Image [ [link removed] ]




*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: *Sept. 8, 2022
*Contact: *DNR Office of Communications
[email protected]

?

Know Your Target: Don?t Accidentally Shoot Elk
Or Moose This Hunting Season

?

A side-by-side image of an elk and a deer.

Don't shoot an elk during gun deer season. Know your target. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR & iStock/rogertrentham

*MADISON, Wis.*?? The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds hunters to know their target before they shoot and understand the difference between elk and white-tailed deer this hunting season.

Archery and crossbow deer seasons will soon be underway. Elk sometimes venture outside of the elk management zones, especially during the breeding season, so hunters are reminded to properly identify their target. Any elk taken without a tag may result in a fine and a revocation of your hunting license*.*

*How To Identify An Elk:*


* *Adult elk are larger than adult deer.?*An adult elk stands about 1-2 feet taller than an adult deer at the shoulders. An elk calf will be about the same size as an adult white-tailed doe but will display similar coloration to adult elk.
* *Spot the difference in the antlers.*?White-tailed deer antlers curve forward, whereas elk antlers are larger and sweep back from their heads.
* *Look for color markings.?*Elk have a tan rump patch, black legs and a dark brown mane. Deer have legs the same color as their bodies, a white throat patch and a fluffy white tail.
* *Additional markers.*?Elk moving throughout the state may have noticeable markers including colored ear tags or tracking collars. These collars are fixed around the neck and are typically orange in color, sometimes with a visible printed number.

Learn about the differences between elk and white-tailed deer below using?the DNR?s comparison guide [ [link removed] ].

Although Wisconsin has not reintroduced moose, there are several verified moose sightings across northern Wisconsin each year. A few hunters may even be lucky enough to see one this fall.

Once widespread across North America, elk were eliminated from Wisconsin in the 1880s. Thanks to the support of many partners and the backing of Wisconsinites,?elk were reintroduced within the state in 1995 [ [link removed] ]. Through DNR efforts to reestablish the species, the elk herd continues to expand, making it essential for hunters to know their target to protect this growing population.

Currently, there are two herds containing a total of more than 450 elk in?Wisconsin reintroduction areas [ [link removed] ]: one in the north including Ashland, Bayfield, Price, Rusk and Sawyer counties, and one in the area surrounding Jackson County. Occasionally, elk can roam beyond these areas, so it is important for deer hunters statewide to be sure of their target.

Observations of elk outside of the management zones, or moose can be reported to the DNR through the?Large Mammal Observation Form [ [link removed] ].

Hunters should follow all?firearm safety? [ [link removed] ]rules and be sure of their target and what is beyond it. Positively identifying the target ensures the safety of other people and avoids the accidental shooting of non-target animals.







________________________________________________________________________

[ [link removed] ]

[ [link removed] ]

[ [link removed] ]? ? [ [link removed] ]? ? [ [link removed] ]? ?? [ [link removed] ]? [ [link removed] ]

[ [link removed] ] Thank you for your patience as we go through COVID-19 together.?Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page [ [link removed] ]. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com [ [link removed] ].


________________________________________________________________________

This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources ? 101 S. Webster Street?? Madison, WI 53707-7921?? 608-266-2621 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]