Wind Cave National Park and the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks are seeking skilled volunteers to help reduce the elk herd at Wind Cave National Park/NPS

With the need to reduce the elk population at Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota, officials are looking for some volunteers to help get the job done.

The culling is done in part to help address the high rate of Chronic Wasting Disease in the elk herd. Eight trained volunteers will be needed – four each week for the first two weeks in February. The volunteers will be selected through a lottery system managed by the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks staff. After qualifying, selected volunteers will work with park staff to reduce the number of elk inside the park.

Elk will be removed in order to maintain the population at the desired target inside the park. This action is consistent with the range of options presented in the Wind Cave Elk Management Plan/ Environmental Impact Statement signed in 2009.

“We are pleased to continue our partnership with GFP on this project,” said Wind Cave Superintendent Vidal Dávila. “This study continues to provide new information on CWD prevalence that will inform wildlife managers throughout our agency and the state regarding the long-term health of the species.”

Every animal taken during this operation will be tested for CWD. The Park Service is partnering with Game, Fish and Parks to distribute elk meat to Feeding South Dakota, an organization dedicated to eliminating hunger in the state. Also, volunteers who work an entire week on this operation will be eligible to receive a portion of elk meat. Only meat with a ‘not-detected’ test result for CWD will be distributed to volunteers or Feeding South Dakota.

Four different volunteers will be needed for this operation during each of the two weeks beginning February 3. Two teams will be formed, each consisting of a Park Service team leader and two volunteers.

Anyone wishing to volunteer must submit an online application through their license profile at the GFP website, gfp.sd.gov. Volunteers will be selected through a lottery. Applications will be accepted from January 3, 2020, to January 10, 2020. Only online applications will be accepted, no paper applications will be allowed for this project. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, a South Dakota resident, have no felony record and be willing to undergo a background check.

Volunteers who are selected will be contacted by Park Service personnel. Volunteers will be required to demonstrate advanced firearms proficiency and physical fitness to participate. Each volunteer will be required to hit an 8-inch target at 200 yards a minimum of three times out of five shots using their own firearm and non-lead ammunition. During the week, volunteers will also be required to hike up to 10 miles per day over rough terrain and carry packs weighing up to 70 pounds in winter weather conditions.

Wind Cave Elk FAQs

Q: How do I apply to help harvest elk in Wind Cave National Park?

A: Volunteers will be used to harvest elk as part of an operation to reduce the elk population in Wind Cave. If interested in volunteering for this opportunity, please apply at the South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks website. Applications will be accepted from January 3 – 10, 2020

Q: What is the deadline for applying?

A: January 10, 2020

Q: Are there costs associated with being a volunteer?

A: There is no fee to apply as a volunteer. There is an application process and associated random drawing to select volunteers to work with National Park Staff to harvest elk in Wind Cave. Volunteers will be responsible for their own expenses (food, lodging, transportation, firearm, ammunition, etc.)

Q: When will the drawing be held?

A: Soon after the January 10 application deadline.

Q: When will the elk harvest take place?

A: The operation will take place during two weeks in February. The first week will be February 3-7 and the second week will be February 10-14.

Q: Can I shoot a bull?

A: National Park Staff will direct volunteers as to which elk to shoot. The focus will be to remove both cows and bulls based on the needs of the study, which are dictated by sex, age, and elk location in the park.

Q: Do I get to keep any elk I shoot?

A: No, all elk taken will be tested for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). Test results will take about a week to be returned. Meat from any elk testing positive for CWD will be destroyed. Volunteers who participate will have the opportunity to accept elk meat from an animal which has tested “not positive” for CWD. The remaining elk meat will be distributed through Feeding SD.

Q: Which part of the park do I get to hunt in?

A: Park staff will direct the team, made up of two volunteers and the park staffer, to the location where they will be working to remove elk. This could be in different parts of the park, depending on where the elk are located.

Q: Can I return home as soon as I shoot an elk?

A: No, this is a week-long commitment by the volunteer. Monday will be an orientation and qualification day. Tuesday through Thursday will be days that volunteers harvest elk and pack them out to a processing location in the park. Friday will be a clean-up day for the volunteers and staff. Volunteers will need to be there Monday through Friday.

Q: If I am not selected as a volunteer this year, do I build preference for following years?

A: No, there is no license associated with this volunteer opportunity and no preference will be applied for this drawing to assist as a volunteer.

Q: Will I be issued an elk tag if selected?

A: There is no tag. This is a volunteer operation to remove elk in the park.

Q: If I can’t get off work for the whole week, can I still volunteer for 2 days?

A:  No. Because of the time commitment to train volunteers weekly, the requirement will be for volunteers to participate all week (Monday through Friday).

Q: How much in advance will I be notified?

A:  Volunteers who are selected in the drawing will be notified by Wind Cave staff in late January.

Q: Can I use a horse to retrieve harvested elk?

A: No. Volunteers will work with, and under the direction of, Wind Cave staff to retrieve elk that are harvested. Some of the retrievals may require volunteers to pack out animals on foot.

Q: Can I volunteer to help with this project in other ways if don’t want to shoot an elk?

A: No, volunteers will be involved in all aspects of the project, including shooting.

Q: Why don’t non-residents have an opportunity?

A: The people of South Dakota have the biggest stake in the long-term health of deer and elk in the Black Hills.