Dry conditions have led to extra chances to hunt cow elk in Utah this fall.

Anis Aoude, big game coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources, says Utah’s elk herds are doing well. But dry conditions this year have affected plants on the ranges elk rely on in the winter.

To help protect the plants, on Aug. 16, the Utah Wildlife Board approved 1,450 additional cow elk hunting permits for this fall’s hunts.

Aoude says the extra permits will allow extra hunters to hunt in northern and eastern Utah. “Winter ranges in central and southwestern Utah are doing much better,” Aoude says. “Additional elk do not need to be taken in those areas at this time.”

You can see which units have permits, and the number of permits available for each unit, on the Web at http://go.usa.gov/7Xn.

The list is also available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/guideboo...ency_elk_permits.pdf.

Permits on sale Sept. 6

Sept. 6 is the first day you can get a permit. Starting at 8 a.m., you can buy a permit at www.wildlife.utah.gov. Permits will also be available at DWR offices and from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah.

Judi Tutorow, wildlife licensing coordinator for the DWR, says you can have up to two cow elk permits each year. “If you already have a permit,” she says, “this is a great chance to get a second one.”

If you already have a cow elk permit, or two cow elk permits -- but you’d rather hunt on one of the units that has additional permits -- you can surrender your current cow elk permit for a chance to get one of the additional permits.

You must surrender your current cow elk permit before the season the permit was issued for begins. You won’t receive a refund for the permit you surrender.

For more information, call the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office or the DWR’s Salt Lake City office at (801) 538-4700.