NEWS RELEASES
Michigan Celebrates 100th Anniversary of Elk Restoration Sept. 8
Editor's Note: This news item was retrieved and first published through Michigan DNR's website.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced a Sept. 8, 2018, event in Gaylord, Michigan to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the reintroduction of elk to the state. By 1875, the native elk herds once common in Michigan were extinct. Today's elk herd descends from seven western elk released in 1918. Numbers increased to 1,500 animals and limited hunting was allowed in the 1960s, but by 1975, over hunting and poaching had reduced the herd to 200. Today, with stricter control of hunting and improved habitat management, the state’s wild elk herd is flourishing, with over 1,000 elk living in the northeast Lower Peninsula. Elk are featured on the Michigan’s specialty wildlife license plate.
One of the best places for elk viewing is in the Pigeon River Country State Forest near Gaylord, a town located close to !-75. Viewing is best during the September to October breeding season, when the herd is feeding in open grassy areas and the bulls, or male elk, are especially vocal. The Aug. 8 event, held in Downtown Gaylord, will be co-sponsored by Gourmet Gone Wild, a non-profit dedicated to responsible hunting and fishing, as well as numerous downtown businesses. The celebration, which will feature information on the importance of wildlife management, is free and open to the public, and runs from 5 to 8 p.m.
For more information on planning a trip to Michigan to see the elk herd, visit the Michigan Visitor website information page or the DNR elk webpage.