Virginia Elk Lottery Opens: Application Window Closes March 31

The Virginia Elk Lottery is open through March 31, offering residents and non-residents a low-cost application with strict limits on out-of-state elk licenses.

Equalized Outdoors Newsroom

1 February 2026

Image Courtesy of Virginia DWR

The Virginia elk lottery is now open and accepting applications through March 31, offering hunters one of the most affordable entry points into an elk draw in the United States.

Applications are open to both residents and non-residents and are administered by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR).

Application Costs

• Virginia residents: $15 (non-refundable)

• Out-of-state residents: $20 (non-refundable)

Applicants who are selected in the lottery must then purchase a special elk hunting license:

• Virginia residents: $40

• Out-of-state residents: $400

Resident Protections Built Into the Virginia Elk Lottery

Virginia’s elk lottery is structured to prioritize in-state hunters and local communities within the elk restoration area.

• At least one elk license is reserved for a resident who lives within the Elk Management Zone

• Out-of-state licenses are capped by regulation

“Remember that no more than one, or 10%, whichever is greater, of all special elk hunting licenses allotted through random lottery within a single license year will be awarded to applicants from out-of-state.”— Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources(Virginia Administrative Code 4VAC15-90-530)

Hunt Area and Context

Virginia’s elk restoration program is centered in Southwest Virginia, primarily in Buchanan County. Elk were reintroduced after being absent from the state for more than 150 years, and the program continues under a tightly controlled, conservation-driven framework.

Permit numbers remain extremely limited with just five available via the lottery, and odds are long for both residents and non-residents. However, the low application cost keeps Virginia in play for hunters who already participate in draw systems elsewhere and want to remain active without significant upfront expense.

Key Dates

• Application deadline: March 31

• Other big game draws

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