Virginia Elk Hunting Lottery Application

[[Kev308]]

https://dwr.virginia.gov/wildlife/elk/hunting/elk-lottery/

The hunt for the 2022–2023 season will be held Saturday, October 8, 2022 – Friday, October 14, 2022. There are five (5) antlered elk tags available for this year’s hunt via lottery. Application period for the elk lottery will open February 1, 2022, and close March 30, 2022. Applications for a special elk hunting license can be obtained online, under elk hunting, or by calling the Department of Wildlife Resources Customer Service for assistance in applying via phone.

Applications require a non-refundable fee of $15 for Virginia residents and $20 for out-of-state residents. Winners of the elk hunting application will then need to purchase a special elk hunting license for $40 for in-state residents, and $400 for out-of-state residents. Winners of the randomized computer drawing will be notified by May 30th. You can also check the status of your application by visiting your DWR GoOutdoorsVA page.


The chances are slim, but even slimmer if you didn't hear about the opportunity.

 

[SummitCnty]

Thanks. That’s awesome they have a season already. I’ll give it a shot for $20. No idea where I’d go but got to get a tag first lol.

 

[gwchem]

You can shoot an elk outside those counties on a regular whitetail tag, apparently.

I signed up. You're allowed 15 "assistants". But only one rifle.

 

[BigCountry14]

https://dwr.virginia.gov/wildlife/elk/hunting/elk-lottery/



The hunt for the 2022–2023 season will be held Saturday, October 8, 2022 – Friday, October 14, 2022. There are five (5) antlered elk tags available for this year’s hunt via lottery. Application period for the elk lottery will open February 1, 2022, and close March 30, 2022. Applications for a special elk hunting license can be obtained online, under elk hunting, or by calling the Department of Wildlife Resources Customer Service for assistance in applying via phone.



Applications require a non-refundable fee of $15 for Virginia residents and $20 for out-of-state residents. Winners of the elk hunting application will then need to purchase a special elk hunting license for $40 for in-state residents, and $400 for out-of-state residents. Winners of the randomized computer drawing will be notified by May 30th. You can also check the status of your application by visiting your DWR GoOutdoorsVA page.





The chances are slim, but even slimmer if you didn't hear about the opportunity.

Chances might be slim, but its only $20. I drew PA in 2018 and it was a blast. We go back to the elk ranger twice a year.

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[[Kev308]]

You can shoot an elk outside those counties on a regular whitetail tag, apparently.

I signed up. You're allowed 15 "assistants". But only one rifle.

It sounds like the management plan is to trying to contain the elk within 3 counties due to farmlands, the "EMZ."

15 is a hell of a party. Lol

Also I read 1 tag would be allowed for out of state residents. 1/5

 

[Sherman]

Seemed like a interesting opportunity then I saw the out-of-state license fee, wish I was in a position to afford that haha

 

[Inigoes]

Seemed like a interesting opportunity then I saw the out-of-state license fee, wish I was in a position to afford that haha

That's cheap!

Some out of state licenses are in the thousands of dollars, if you are drawn.

For a hunt like this, you need to have a fund put on the side, in case you ever get pulled (which can take years).

Start your hunting stash now, and it will grow into the hunt of a lifetime.

 

[[Kev308]]

Seemed like a interesting opportunity then I saw the out-of-state license fee, wish I was in a position to afford that haha

If you can have up to 15 assistants, I'm sure you can get some people to chip in and pay them with some meat. Not sure how much that butcher bill would be tho.

 

[Sherman]

That's cheap!

Some out of state licenses are in the thousands of dollars, if you are drawn.

For a hunt like this, you need to have a fund put on the side, in case you ever get pulled (which can take years).

Start your hunting stash now, and it will grow into the hunt of a lifetime.

I remember when I had just gotten my hunting license and looked up Colorado's fees when I was working out there and yikes what an eye-opener

 

[AlBeight]

Do you need to currently have a Virginia (non-resident in my case) hunting license already to submit an application, or can that wait til if and/or when you get drawn?

 

[[Kev308]]

Do you need to currently have a Virginia (non-resident in my case) hunting license already to submit an application, or can that wait til if and/or when you get drawn?

Edited:


No, you do not need a license ($400) until you have been drawn. Just the $20 application fee, and setting up an online profile.

 

[Inigoes]

I remember when I had just gotten my hunting license and looked up Colorado's fees when I was working out there and yikes what an eye-opener

Yeah,

Out west is crazy money.

You can find working man priced hunts here on the east coast, but you need to save up for them.

A trip to the great American outdoor show to visit the guides and lodges will give you an idea of costs.

 

[OneGunTex]

If you can have up to 15 assistants, I'm sure you can get some people to chip in and pay them with some meat. Not sure how much that butcher bill would be tho.

Pretty sure that's a violation of the Lacey Act.
You're not even allowed to trade meat with people. It's free gift or nothing with wild game.

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[BigCountry14]

For those wondering. Butcher bill on a 700lb bull elk was about $600, which i didn't consider bad as I got close to 300lbs of vacuum sealed meat.

All told, my total cost of my trip was about $6500 including tags, guide, lodging, new rifle scope, some other gear,, new chest freezer, gas for trips up, and butcher.

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[davsco]

All told, my total cost of my trip was about $6500

how much was the actual guide, had to be pretty cheap given all the other stuff in your 6500. if you highly recommend the outfitter and don't mind giving out the contact info i certainly would appreciate that.

 

[BigCountry14]

how much was the actual guide, had to be pretty cheap given all the other stuff in your 6500. if you highly recommend the outfitter and don't mind giving out the contact info i certainly would appreciate that.

Guide was $2k. Elk County Outfitters. Highly recommended if you draw a tag.

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[gwchem]

$6500 all in still sounds cheaper than a guided hunt out west.

 

[BigCountry14]

$6500 all in still sounds cheaper than a guided hunt out west.

Honestly, with enough time or familiarty with the area, it would not be a tough DIY hunt depending on zone. Its getting tougher as they add more tags, but it still runs north of 90% success on bulls.

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[davsco]

Guide was $2k. Elk County Outfitters. Highly recommended if you draw a tag.

oh, i wasn't paying attention... this was in Penna. i was thinking out west.

 

[BigCountry14]

oh, i wasn't paying attention... this was in Penna. i was thinking out west.

You can find stuff that doesn't cost an arm and a leg if you dig around. Im doing a mule deer hunt in December in New Mexico that will probably be under $8k all done that I found through Huntin Fool.

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