UPDATE (1/14/2019):
The partial government shutdown continues but the annual elk hunt will go on as scheduled at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma.
According to KSWO-TV, the refuge will use appropriated funds and be open the next 30 days.
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Unless something changes soon, more than 100 hunters will have to change their plans to chase elk in Oklahoma’s Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.
According to KSWO-TV, the longer the government shutdown continues, the more likely the hunts will be pushed back a week or more or be postponed altogether until late 2019 or early 2020. If this month’s hunt is indeed postponed, the issued elk permits will be valid for a later date.
There are approximately 1,400 elk in the Wichita Mountains. Hunters harvested 137 elk last year.
(Photo source: Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge)