As Michiganders, we are truly fortunate to be surrounded by a wealth of fishing and hunting opportunities. Our state is home to world-class small game, thrilling turkey hunts in both peninsulas, excellent waterfowl hunting, and the perennial favorite, deer season.
But amidst all this abundance, one pursuit stands alone, a season so rare and coveted that it inspires over 40,000 people to apply for just 200 available tags—the elk hunt. Here in Michigan, the elk season is undeniably a special, once-in-a-lifetime quest.
Elk were reintroduced to Michigan in 1918. A few limited hunts occurred in the mid-1960s, but the annual hunt here in Michigan officially started in 1984. Since that time, the elk population has been managed by a limited hunt. The goal of the Michigan DNR is to maintain an elk population ranging from approximately 700 to 1,200 animals. The hunt has changed a bit year to year, but the current version is working well. There is an early hunt and a late hunt.
The early hunt involves a lot of scouting, with the mornings and evenings being the main focus as elk are only visible for a short time first thing in the morning, and for few minutes before dusk. The late hunt is in December and offers quite a difference from the early seasons. There is still a lot of scouting that takes place, but with the leaves down and snow on the ground, elk are much more visible and easier to track. The cold weather and lack of food also causes them to spend more time on their feet during daylight hours.
I’ve been lucky enough to tag along on many hunts here in Michigan, but it’s hard to put into words just how special this experience is. Elk are amazing animals, and getting picked by the lottery system they have in place is very much like winning the actual lottery! Since COVID, the pre-hunt meetings for all the lucky hunters takes place online, which is a shame. I remember year after year looking at the lucky hunters as they got their pre-hunt orientation from the DNR. The number of smiles and good vibes in that room was palpable, and quite something to be a part of. Of the tags available, many are for cow elk only, with some bull tags available as well. Getting a cow elk tag is certainly special, as elk make for some of the best meat you will ever eat, but the luckiest hunters receive the coveted “any elk” tag, meaning they can harvest a bull elk.
The elk we have in Michigan came from the Rocky Mountains and boast some incredible antlers. Seeing them in the woods is truly an awesome experience. To hear the bulls bugle is a sound that can make the hair on your neck stand on end! The elk herd is primarily contained in the northeastern part of the Lower Peninsula, from about Gaylord to Atlanta. Each hunter has a designated area to hunt in the core of the elk habitat, and then an outer area is open to anyone holding a tag. This is in part to contain the elk to their current area.
Many of us will never get a tag to hunt elk here in Michigan. But, just like the lottery, we still apply year after year in hopes of beating the system. Michiganders are only allowed one bull tag in a lifetime and can only draw a cow tag every 10 years, making it the most coveted tag here in our great state. Good luck to the lucky hunters who hit the lotto and get to chase elk around the woods this year!
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