The Buffalo River Elk Festival, originally planned for June 26-27, has been canceled, according to a social media post from the festival planning committee.

The cancellation was in accordance with Arkansas Department of Health guidelines amid the continuing virus pandemic.

“This decision was a difficult one to make, but the health and safety of our community is paramount,” the post stated. “We are looking into dates later this year when we might be able to celebrate after restrictions change.”

The drawing of 23 elk hunting permits, one of the largest attractions of the elk festival for many Arkansas hunters, will be conducted this year using the same electronic drawing system used for turkey, deer and alligator hunts.

“Applicants won’t have to do anything extra to enter the online drawing,” said Wes Wright, elk program coordinator for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. “Instead of printing out the applications and loading them into a squirrel cage, it will be done by a completely random digital system by a vendor outside of Game and Fish, just like the rest of our draws.”

Wright said the three elk hunting permits normally reserved for applicants who enter at the festival will be included in the online draw, bringing the total permit count available for the drawing to 23.

“This is obviously not ideal, and we hope to continue the elk permit drawings at the festival next year, but we also want to give hunters the opportunity to hunt elk this year and to have as much time as possible to prepare for their hunt,” Wright said.

Applicants who successfully draw an elk permit will be notified via email as well as by phone, and the list of this year’s hunters will be publicized once the draw is concluded.

Arkansans who have purchased a hunting license may apply for a free elk hunting permit at www.agfc.com.