FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, April 22, 2005

CONTACT: Scott Simpson, 773-3393

PIERRE, S.D. – Game, Fish and Parks officials are asking elk applicants to discard the "extra" elk preference cards that were unintentionally printed and sent with the correct batch of preference cards. Preference cards that are valid come from the applicant’s first choice in the prior year’s first elk drawing.

"Applicants from last year’s third elk drawing were mistakenly printed and mailed with the original batch of preference cards," said License Office Supervisor Scott Simpson. "All of these additional cards indicate one year of preference for last year’s third elk drawing, and have no bearing on the applicant’s actual preference. For example, if a person applied for the first drawing last year with six years of preference, and applied again for the third drawing, they will receive a card that indicates seven years preference for this year's drawing and another card indicating that mistaken one year of preference from the third drawing."

The card with the correct amount of preference should accompany the application, while the incorrect card indicating one year of preference should be discarded.

Elk applicants should mail their preference card with a completed paper elk application and application fee on or before Friday, May 13. Another option is to apply online at www.sdgfp.info before midnight on Monday, May 16. Applicants apply online by holding the cursor over "Licenses and Reservations" and then click on the link to "Apply for Limited Issue Licenses." The correct preference is automatically applied during the online application process. Any discrepancies should be addressed by calling 773-3393.

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