Prized elk hunt tags for Southwest Virginia event awarded

Four of the five lottery winners for a prized elk hunt in Southwest Virginia come from the Commonwealth.

The Department of Wildlife Resources announced the recipients who paid an entry fee for a system that chose the hunters at random. One of those winners resides in the host Buchanan County area, according to the results.

Since they were introduced in 2012, elk numbers have grown to a level where harvesting is possible, leading to the contest now in its fifth year. A sixth and final hunter will be chosen from a raffle contest hosted by the Southwest Virginia Sportsmen group. The hunt is scheduled for October.

(GRAPHIC: Property of Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources / Official Facebook / Commonwealth of Virginia)