Michigan: Bear and elk license drawing results posted; leftover licenses on sale in July

The Department of Natural Resources today announced that the results of the 2016 bear and elk hunting license drawings have been posted at www.michigan.gov/huntdrawings.

Bear

A total of 6,896 bear licenses were available during the bear application period (May 1-June 1). A total of 99 leftover bear licenses are still available in the Bergland Management Unit for the third hunt period, which runs from Sept. 25-Oct. 26, and will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis as follows:

• Holders of Lifetime Comprehensive Licenses who were not selected in the drawing may purchase leftover licenses beginning at 10 a.m. (EDT) Wednesday, July 6.
  
• Unsuccessful applicants may purchase leftover licenses beginning at 10 a.m. (EDT) Wednesday, July 13.
  
• Any hunter, including those who did not apply, may purchase a leftover license beginning at 10 a.m. (EDT)Wednesday, July 20.

Leftover bear licenses are available for residents only. Hunters, except for Lifetime Comprehensive License holders, are reminded that their preference points will reset to zero if they purchase a leftover license.

Elk

The first hunt period of the 2016 elk season begins Aug. 30-Sept. 2 and includes Sept. 16-19 and Sept. 30-Oct. 3. The second hunt will run Dec. 10-18. An additional hunt may be held Jan. 18-22, 2017, if the DNR determines the harvest insufficient to meet management goals.

A total of 60 any-elk and 140 antlerless-only elk licenses have been issued through the drawing.

Successful elk drawing applicants will receive detailed information about their hunt, including assigned hunt periods, elk management unit and type of license (any-elk or antlerless-only). Applicants are asked to be sure their mailing addresses are kept up-to-date with the Secretary of State. Elk hunters must attend a mandatory hunt orientation class prior to their hunt.

Increase the Odds

Hunters can increase the odds of getting bear and elk licenses by applying for the 2017 Pure Michigan Hunt drawing. Each application is $5, and applicants can purchase as many chances as they like. Three lucky hunters will win packages of licenses to hunt elk, bear, turkey, antlerless deer and waterfowl, plus a 2017 base license. Winning the Pure Michigan Hunt does not affect a hunter's eligibility to apply for or purchase other hunting licenses and will not affect bear preference points or weighted elk chances a hunter has earned. Apply for the Pure Michigan Hunt atwww.michigan.gov/puremichiganhunt or at a license agent.

Michigan: Last elk hunt of 2015 is complete

Although it may not feel like a Michigan December, the final 2015 elk hunt drew to a close last weekend.

“We had crazy weather conditions for this year’s late elk hunt,” said Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologist Shelby Hiestand.  “In a typical year, we would have had a ton of snow on the ground, where hunters could track and pattern elk and really have a better chance at spotting them against the white snow.”

Although conditions may not have been typical for the December elk hunt, the harvest was still quite successful.  Ninety-two percent of hunters harvested an elk this December season, totaling 46 elk.  Each hunter was selected out of a random, weighted lottery of more than 31,000 Michigan hunters who applied to hunt elk this year. 

The latest season, held Dec.  5-13, was open in all elk hunt units in the northern counties of the northern Lower Peninsula. Each elk hunter attended a mandatory elk orientation in Johannesburg to learn about hunting elk, regulations, biology and the history of elk in Michigan.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime hunt, and our goal is for every hunter to have a safe, enjoyable experience,” said Hiestand. “Most hunters have never hunted elk before, and may not be familiar with areas in northern Michigan.  Elk orientation is a great time to get to talk to hunters and answer any of their questions.”

One hundred elk licenses were available in 2015 – 50 in the early season and 50 in the late season.  

Elk hunting in Michigan is an effective management tool that biologists have used to maintain elk herd numbers, composition and even distribution since 1984, when elk hunts began to occur annually for Michigan residents. The elk application period runs annually from May 1 to June 1.

To learn more about elk in Michigan, including their comeback story, visit www.michigan.gov/elk.  

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Michigan: Results of Elk Drawing Posted on DNR Website

June 30, 2011

Results of the license drawing for the 2011 elk hunting seasons have been posted on the Department of Natural Resources website at www.michigan.gov/huntdrawings. This web page also has information for successful applicants who wish to donate their hunt to an eligible youth or person with an advanced illness.

Two elk seasons will be held in 2011. The first season will run from Aug. 30 ? Sept. 2 and Sept. 23-26. The second season will run from Dec. 3-11. An additional season may be held Jan. 18-22, 2012; if the DNR determines the harvest is insufficient to meet management goals.

A total of 55 any-elk and 100 antlerless-only elk licenses have been issued.

Hunters have an additional opportunity to get an elk license by applying for the 2012 Pure Michigan Hunt. Each application is $4 and you may apply as many times as you like. Three lucky winners will receive a hunt package that includes an elk, bear, turkey, and antlerless deer license. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/puremichiganhunt. Season dates and regulations have not yet been established for the 2012 hunting seasons.

Hunters are reminded of a new tool available to help them find public lands for hunting. Mi-HUNT allows hunters to select lands based on a number of criteria, including vegetative types and topography. To use Mi-HUNT, visit the website at www.michigan.gov/mihunt.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state's natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.