SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) – Missouri Department of Conservation officials say residents may see a limited elk hunt in 2020 if the state’s elk herd continues to grow.

Department wildlife biologist Aaron Hildreth tells the Springfield News-Leader that there are about 170 adult elks living in the Peck Ranch Conservation Area.

Hildreth says a limited hunting season could be used to stop the herd from getting too large if three criteria are met. There needs to be at least 200 elks, the elk herd has a growth rate of at least 10 percent for three consecutive years and there’s a ratio of 25 bull elk for every 100 females to ensure herd growth.

Hildreth says the herd may reach the 200-elk goal sometime in the next two years