By RANDY ZELLERS | Arkansas Game & Fish Commission
JASPER — Twenty-one applicants won permits to hunt elk on public land during two seasons this year. Winners were drawn during the Buffalo River Elk Festival, June 24, in Jasper.
Applications for this year’s public land drawings were available from May 1-15. Despite the 15-day application period, 7,953 people applied. According to Wes Wright, AGFC Elk Program Coordinator, this is the highest number of applicants since 2007.
This year’s public land elk permit winners were:
Either-sex elk permits
John Cox, Nashville; Shauna Harp, Bella Vista; Joel Howard, Benton; Edward Merritt, Ward; Johnathan Moreland, Dumas; and Ichiro Stewart, Glenwood.
Antlerless elk permits
Nicholas Brown, Bella Vista; Tyler Choate, Little Rock; Jamie Fooshee, Bee Branch; Timothy French, Manila; Timothy Hepler, Huntsville; Donnel Housley, Searcy; Aaron Marshall, Mena; John McCain, Springdale; Presley Melson, Mountain Home; Charles Prestridge, Oden; Christopher Stark, Rogers; and Gary White, Conway.
In addition to the 18 permits available through the online application system, attendees of the festival had the opportunity to apply in person for one of three public land hunting opportunities. Winners for these permits also had to be present at the drawing to win. Just over 600 people entered onsite. The winners of those permits were:
Jim Bowles, Knoxville; Louis Schluterman, Charleston; and David Hales, Conway.