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• ELK SEASONS <br />No elk hunting license was required during the period 1897 through 1902, <br />but the hunting of elk was closed from 1903 until 1929. It was estimated that <br />the elk population during the early years of the closure numbered between 500 <br />and 1,000. Through protection and translocating elk in several areas from Wyo- <br />ming, the population increased to the point that a season was held in 1929, <br />which yielded a harvest of 895 bulls. The elk population continued to increase <br />to the extent that antlerless elk could be taken beginning in 1940. Figure <br />illustrates the license and harvest data from 1940 to the present, and is an <br />indication of the relative elk population during this period, which initially <br />increased more rapidly than did the number of hunters. A steady growth in <br />license sales began in 1954, which has continued almost unabatedly to the all- <br />time record high of 140,202 in 1975, and the second highest of 137,527 licenses <br />in 1977. <br />During the 1940's, elk seasons were of the "boom or bust" type, [hat is a <br />• year of either sex hunting, then two years of antlered only seasons, then a <br />renewal of the same cycle. During the 1950's, the innovation of limited numbers <br />of antlerless permits was begun, and in the mid-1960's, a refinement was initi- <br />ated in selected units whereby the total number of licenses were specified for <br />both antlerless and antlered elk where uncontrolled elk hunting pressure was <br />excessive and impacting the herd in sex ratio balance and calf crops. <br />After many years of combined elk and deer seasons, they were separated in <br />1971, but the elk season length was also shortened, cow licenses were reduced by <br />25 per cent from 1970, and spike elk were protected. In 1972, elk hunters were <br />required to take an antlered elk having at least four points on one antler in <br />seven areas (elk areas were comprised of one or more Game Management Units), <br />but there was no mandatorv reduction of recommended antlerless licenses. <br />Specified license areas increased from seven in 1971, to 11 in 1972, to 14 <br />in 1973, to 15 in 1974 and 1975, to 16 in 1976, and to 14 in 1977. <br />All limited elk licenses (specified, antlerless, and either sex) are applied <br />for by hunters, then randomly selected and printed by computer. The successful <br />licensee must hunt in the Unit(s) specified on his license, and take the type of <br />• animal for which his license is issued. None but specified license holders <br />may hunt in a specified elk hunting area, but regular elk license holders <br />