2020 Michigan Elk Season Deemed a Success

Michigan elk hunters had a very successful year in 2020. Several lucky hunters got “the experience of a lifetime” this past fall, and were able to seal the deal on one of Michigan’s most coveted hunts.

According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, 131 state hunters harvested elk (46 bulls, 72 cows and 13 calves), and one Pure Michigan Hunt winner harvested a bull during the September/October season. The second season, which takes place in December, was greeted with ideal weather conditions allowing another batch of lucky hunters to punch their tags on Michigan elk.

The nine-day December season is used to manage overall elk numbers, including those in the core elk management area, which includes Presque Isle, Montmorency, Cheboygan, Otsego, Alpena, Oscoda, Charlevoix, Alcona and Crawford counties.

In total, hunters in hunt periods 1 and 2 harvested 214 elk, and all three Pure Michigan Hunt winners harvested bulls.

“This was truly the experience of a lifetime, plus, I was blessed that I shot my elk successfully,” hunter Brent Tackett told MLive.

“I really didn’t know Michigan had so many steep hills and that I would have to track elk over hundreds of them. The prize was getting my elk in a successful hunt, it was an amazing experience that I will remember for the rest of my life.”

Elk licenses are EXTREMELY limited in the state of Michigan, and only available through a drawing process. For more information on season dates, or how you can apply for an elk tag in Michigan click right here.

OutdoorHub Editor: Keenan Crow

Keenan Crow is an outdoor writer who graduated from Central Michigan University with a degree in journalism and creative writing. He has been writing for OutdoorHub for nearly five years, but anybody he is close with will tell you he has been telling hunting stories for far longer. He uses his experiences outdoors to write about things he loves - bow hunting, fishing, upland hunting, shed hunting, turkey hunting, waterfowl hunting, dog training, shotguns, ATVs and the outdoor lifestyle he lives in his home state of Michigan. Outside of hunting/fishing, he also loves to cook - especially with wild game - play golf and go on hikes with his yellow lab, Stella.