Arkansas elk permits to be drawn at Buffalo River Elk Festival

June 19, 2019

Randy Zellers

Assistant Chief of Communications

JASPER – The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will draw 29 permits for the opportunity to hunt elk on public land at the 22nd Annual Buffalo River Elk Festival June 28-29.

In addition to 26 permits drawn from applications received in May, three special permits will be pulled from applicants who register onsite. Applications for the onsite permits will be available at the Newton County Senior Center from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.   

Elk permit drawings from May’s online applicants will take place each hour, beginning at noon, Saturday. The final drawing at 5 p.m. Saturday will be for the on-site permits.

“The on-site permits give an additional chance at winning for people willing to make the trip for the festival,” said Wesley Wright, elk program coordinator for the AGFC. 

This year’s elk hunts are scheduled for Oct. 7-11 and Oct. 28-Nov. 1 with special youth-only hunts Oct. 5-6 and Oct. 26-27.

In addition to the elk drawings, the festival includes a 5K run/walk, elk calling contests, art displays, a pie-baking contest, a Dutch-oven cooking competition, kids’ activities and a fishing derby. 

A complete schedule of events is available at www.buffaloriverelkfestival.com.