Michigan's elk herd continues to thrive under today's management and environmental conditions. Although limited to roughly a 700-square-mile area in the north central Lower Peninsula, the size of the elk herd this fall should number around 1,000 elk.

Adoption of the Elk Management Plan by the Natural Resources Commission more than 20 years ago has allowed the Department of Natural Resources to successfully control elk numbers through recreational hunting while preserving a sizable herd for tourist and viewing opportunities.

September and October are prime months to see elk which are about four times the size of a white-tailed deer. In early September, the bull elk (an adult weighs as much as 1,000 pounds or more) begin to gather their harems for the annual breeding season.

The bulls will round up a group
of between five and 20 cows, although the usual harem size is about 10. The bull then defends this harem from any potential rival by breaking brush with their well-polished antlers and by making a low wheezing, almost asthmatic-sounding whistle that ends in a series of evil-sounding grunts: a-a-a-eeee-uuuuuh! e-ugh! e-ugh! e-ugh!

Elk bugling reaches a crescendo around Sept. 15-20, and when several large bulls are bugling in unison, the concert is truly unforgettable.

Grassy meadows are the natural gathering places for elk during the rut. In order to improve recreational viewing, the DNR has identified several sites where elk have gathered for many years and has planted some of these fields with rye, clover, alfalfa or buckwheat to provide the elk with plenty of food. Parking areas also have been created in spots where the visibility is best.

To gain a visual picture of the approximate boundaries of Michigan's elk range, start at Gaylord and go north on I-75 to Indian River, then east on M-68 to Onaway, turn south on M-33 to Atlanta and then back west on M-32 to Gaylord. The central part of this area includes the Pigeon River Country State Forest.

DNR Wildlife Biologist Brian Mastenbrook, whose work area includes part of Michigan's elk country, says there are four designated elk viewing areas. They are located on Fontinalis Road, 3.5 miles east of Vanderbilt and 3 miles north of Sturgeon Valley Road; 8 miles east of Vanderbilt on Sturgeon Valley Road: 4 miles north of the Pigeon River Country State Forest Headquarters on Osmun Road and 18 miles east of Gaylord on County Road 622.

"People will have the best chance to see elk early in the day and again just before dark," Mastenbrook said. But he quickly adds that you very likely won't be alone if you go on Friday or Saturday night.

"We usually get a pretty large turnout on those nights, so I would encourage people to try another night of the week when it's less crowded."

And don't bring your lawn chairs.

"These are wild animals," Mastenbrook said. "It's not like going to a zoo or animal park. They follow their own schedule, coming and going when and where their biological needs take them."

So according to Mastenbrook, "If everyone will sit quietly in the cars and not go into the fields to get closer, everyone will have a better chance to see them."

He suggests that you take along a good pair of field binoculars or a spotting scope.

Elk viewing, of course, is not confined to the designated areas. Many grassy areas have been improved for deer, elk and other wildlife that utilize this type of habitat. Most of these improved areas are gated, so if you are sure you are on state land and come to a gated road, it may well be worth a walk back to see if there is a planted opening and possibly an elk.

Again, elk are most active early in the day and toward evening and during the night. Attempting to locate and see elk at night with a spotlight is permissible, but Mastenbrook advises that "it is illegal between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. in all months except November, when it is not legal to shine for animals at all."

Elk bugling activity usually increases after sunset, he said.

"If it is a quiet night with little or no wind or rain, sitting quietly at one of these viewing areas for an hour or so after the sun goes down often will allow you to hear an elk even if you can't see one."

If you plan to visit, an elk hunt with about 25 hunters taking part will be held Sept. 15-18 on both public and private lands in elk management unit "L," which is mostly the outer perimeter of the elk range. These individuals are part of the first group of hunters selected in the elk lottery to receive a permit. This year more than 31,000 hunters applied for one of the 168 total permits available.

The primary elk range, which includes most of the Pigeon River Country and all of the state land west of M-33 in Montmorency County, is not open to hunting. Hunt area maps are available from the Gaylord or Atlanta DNR offices. The viewing area on Fontinalis Road, north of Sturgeon Valley Road, is in the area that is open to hunting.

Finally, if you're hoping to combine your elk viewing with a fall color tour, peak color usually doesn't arrive until after the first week in October, about three weeks after the rut has reached its peak. And by mid-October bugling is nearly over.

But don't let this stop you from going. The reward of seeing and hearing these majestic animals in the wild will be worth the effort.