Elks are related to deer but are three times bigger — now that’s some real weight. These animals with their massive antlers and huge supply of meat are indeed a worthy catch by any hunter. With the expansion of hunting opportunities and the large number of elks in several states, there is no time like now to take up legal hunting.
Elk hunting in Michigan
Elks in Michigan date back to 1918 after they were brought in from the West. This was after the animals were completely gone in the state due to poor habitat and harvest. Today in Michigan, you can see as much as 1,000 elks in a herd.
To manage their numbers to avoid the negative effects of having too many elks — like diseases, damage to property, and habitat degradation — several tools have been put in place. The major one is regulated hunting of elks. Others include proper management and regulation.
As for the hunting, over 30,000 hunters in Michigan apply yearly to hunt elk and about 200 elk licenses are made available for legal elk hunting in the state.
Elk hunting season in Michigan
Due to the limited number of licenses for legal elk hunting, they can only be gotten via a draw. Even if you choose right, you’d still have to purchase a base license and a receipt before you are good to go elk hunting.
There are seasons for hunting elk in Michigan. The first hunt period is between August and September, the second is during December, while the third is just a couple of days in January. The point of this third hunt is to make sure that the goals of the population control were met after the first and second. [1]
All you need to know about elk hunting
An elk bull weighs about 800 pounds, while a cow might be half that size. New hunters are quick to assume that this size makes them less graceful than deer and thereby much easier to shoot.
However, it’s a bit more complicated than that. Going for your first elk hunt ‘blind’ would result in you coming home empty-handed or worse, hurt.
Here a few tips beginners need to keep in mind
1.Finding an elk
Yes, elks are huge, but so is their habitat. You’re not just going to climb the tallest tree and sight the herd. You need to be able to track it. So, first off, get the proper gear. It’s going to be a long walk to find your elk, so get some comfortable boots. Also, go with a guide so you don’t get lost and end up wandering all day.
2. Be patient
You should be well-rested before starting your hunting expedition. It will take a lot of time, so you must be patient to get to the ultimate prize.
3. Practice target shooting
The elk is not going to offer itself on a platter for you. You will need to be able to shoot from a long distance and hit your target. So make sure you have a great aim.
4. Learn the tips and tricks of the business
Here are a couple of insider tips that will be invaluable in your hunt. For instance, if you find their food source, you’ll most likely find them; going after mating season is a good time because the elks are somewhat weak and easier to get to; masking your natural scent will make them less likely to smell you with their powerful sense of smell.
That said, if you do most of these you will be sure to come home with the prize.
This little hunter doesn’t need any tips
Eight-year-old Braeleigh Miller from Michigan is a natural at elk hunting. The young hunter shot a 400-pound cow with a rifle from a distance of more than 200 yards. Braeleigh is the only girl in her family interested in going hunting. She’s also the youngest person in Michigan to hunt an elk.
The record she broke is probably more exciting for her than the hunt. “It’s cool for me because I’ve never set a record before, my Dad hasn’t set a record before, and my grandpa hasn’t set a record before, so I’m like to them, ‘Ha-ha’,” she said excitedly.
Well, wouldn’t you be excited if you achieved such an incredible feat?
The perfect shot
First, Braeleigh, her dad, Gunnar Miller, and the hunting team had to track down the elks the previous night. This they did with the help of a guide, Dan Connell.
According to Gunnar, “They were all still in the field when it got daylight and we waited for legal shooting hours, and we snuck across the field and they were in a perfect position in the field, I mean it couldn’t have unfolded any better.”
The incident created mixed feelings on social media
Most people were excited for the young hunter. But there were the animal lovers who had a problem with not just the killing of the elk but also the age of the hunter. [2] However, others argued otherwise.
A fellow animal lover, April Fulgham on Facebook said hunting meat by yourself is better for the animals as it “lessens the extreme suffering that animals go through being slaughtered for mass production.”
Another person Jay Swanson Jr. said, “Awesomeness, good for her for bagging that beautiful and legal elk. Fill your families’ freezer and take care of your own… That’s all she’s doing and that’s a good thing.”
The other issue people had was the firearm
They felt the gun was too big for the girl and thereby dangerous. Gunnar addressed that saying, “It wasn’t a youth gun or anything, it was a full-size rifle, and a .30-caliber has a little bit of a kick to it, but she handled it like a champ.”
Youth hunting in Michigan
In a bid to introduce children to the rich hunting experience of Michigan, the state created The Mentored Youth Hunting Program. It aims to teach the kids about the importance of conserving the state’s natural resources while keeping the hunting tradition alive. [3]
Gunnar mentioned that in an interview. “Youth hunting in Michigan is a dying sport, and that’s why Michigan actually opened the mentor youth program after studies that have proven in Michigan is that the younger a kid is when they actually get into hunting, the more likely they are to continue it throughout their life,” he said.
“So doing that study and everything obviously I would have gotten my kids into hunting at a young age no matter what, but to have the opportunity to have them be the one that’s pulling the trigger and actually harvesting the animal at a young age is a huge opportunity for them that we didn’t have when we were younger,” he added. [4]
It’s refreshing to see a family with such deep roots in an act that is a part of the culture of their state. Kudos and greater heights to Gunnar and Braeleigh Miller.
References
- “Elk.” Michigan.gov. Editor. Accessed February 27, 2020.
- “8-year-old becomes youngest hunter to kill a 400-pound elk in Michigan: ‘My dad hasn’t set a record before‘.” Fox News. Michael Hollan. Accessed February 27, 2020.
- “Mentored Youth and Apprentice Hunting.” Michigan.gov. Editor. Accessed February 27, 2020.
- ” 8-year-old girl is youngest on record in MI to kill elk.” Fox 17. Ahtra Elnashar. December 31, 2019