2023 Michigan elk hunter survey report

Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Division Report No. 3742
July 2025
Author: Brian J. Frawley

Abstract

In 2023, a total of 39,138 eligible applicants entered the drawing for an elk hunting license, excluding the Pure Michigan Hunt (PMH) drawing. This represented a 4% decrease compared to the previous year, but overall, the number of applicants has been increasing by an average of 0.9% annually since 2010. There were 263 elk hunting licenses available for purchase in 2023, the same as in the previous year, and 255 licenses were sold. Elk hunters were contacted after the 2023 hunting season to estimate hunter participation, hunter satisfaction, and elk seen and harvested. In 2023, there were 254 elk hunters, similar to the previous year. The hunters spent an average of 6.1 days in the field, totaling 1,553 hunting days, which was a 12% increase from the previous year. They reported observing 4,012 elk, similar to 2022. The number of elk harvested in 2023 was 172, a 10% decrease from the previous year, with 68% of hunters harvesting an elk compared to 76% in 2022. The average number of days hunted per harvested elk (9.1) increased by 25% compared to 2022. The proportion of hunters with a favorable opinion about the number of elk seen and their chances to take an elk decreased significantly compared to the previous year. About 42% of elk hunters hunted solely on public lands, while 16% hunted only on private lands, and 41% hunted on both. Of the elk harvested, 43% were antlered bulls, and 57% were antlerless cows or calves. Most hunters (71%) used a hunting guide. Hunters who used guides were generally satisfied with the services provided, particularly the ability to hunt in areas with elk and have a good chance of harvesting an elk. Most hunters were satisfied with the content and length of the DNR orientation session. On average, elk hunters made 3.9 hunting trips in 2023, spending an estimated $1,948 per year on hunting trips. Collectively, elk hunters spent approximately $492,718 on elk hunting trips during the fall of 2023. The long-term trends from recent harvest surveys suggest that hunters have had increased challenges in recent years, as evidenced by reduced hunt success, increased effort needed to make a harvest, and decreased satisfaction with elk sightings and harvest opportunities. Despite these challenges, overall satisfaction remains quite high, suggesting that the hunting experience is about more than just successful harvests.

A contribution of Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration, Michigan Project W-147-R

Equal rights for natural resources users
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For information or assistance on this publication, contact Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Division, P.O. Box 30444, MI 48909. This publication is available in alternative formats upon request.

Introduction

Elk (Cervus elaphus) were extirpated from Michigan in about 1875 (Murie 1951). The current elk herd was the result of the release of seven animals in various city parks and public institutions in 1918 about three miles southeast of Wolverine (Stephenson 1942). The herd grew steadily with estimates of 300 to 400 in 1939 (Shapton 1940) and 900 to 1,000 in 1958 (Moran 1973). During 1964-1965, 477 elk were harvested during limited elk hunting seasons to reduce crop damage; however, annual hunting seasons were not initiated until 1984. The objectives of the annual elk hunts were to balance elk numbers and distribution with ecological, economic, and social concerns. The Natural Resources Commission (NRC) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) annually set license quotas for hunts to maintain an elk population between 500 and 900 animals during the winter in the NLP (Michigan DNR 2012).

In Michigan, a limited number of hunters have been allowed to hunt elk each year since 1984. From 1984 to 2004, applicants had an equal chance of being selected for a license through simple random selection. However, in 2005, a random weighted lottery system was introduced. This gave people applying for many years a higher probability of being selected than people applying for fewer years, although licensees were selected by region of residence in the same proportion as applications were received. This system assigned applicants a chance (opportunity to be selected) each year they had applied. Thus, a person applying in 2021, 2022, and 2023 would have three chances to be selected in the 2023 drawing, while someone only applying in 2023 would have just one chance. Applicants could increase their chances of future selection by purchasing a chance instead of applying for a license.

There are two types of elk hunting licenses in Michigan: Any Elk and Antlerless Only. These licenses are allocated through separate drawings. Only Michigan residents at least 10 years old, or youth under 10 years old licensed under the Mentored Youth Hunting Program, are eligible to apply for these licenses. When individuals applied for an elk license, they indicated whether they were willing to harvest only an antlered bull elk (male elk) or whether they were willing to harvest either an antlered bull or antlerless elk (female elk or calf). The first drawing (drawing for an Any Elk license) included all applicants. Applicants successful in the Any Elk license drawing could purchase a license entitling them to take either an antlered bull or antlerless elk. The second drawing (Antlerless Only license drawing) allocated antlerless-only elk licenses among applicants who had indicated they were willing to take an antlerless elk. Those successful in the Antlerless Only license drawing could only harvest an antlerless elk. A person issued an antlerless-only elk license was ineligible for an elk license for 10 years, while a person issued an any-elk license was ineligible for any type of elk hunting license during the remainder of their life.

In 2010, Michigan introduced the Pure Michigan Hunt (PMH). Individuals could purchase an unlimited number of applications for the PMH. Three individuals were randomly chosen from all applications, and winners received elk, bear, spring turkey, fall turkey, and antlerless deer hunting licenses and could participate in a reserved waterfowl hunt in a managed waterfowl area. The elk hunting licenses were valid for all areas open for hunting elk and during all elk hunting periods.

After the drawings for Any Elk and Antlerless Only licenses were conducted, the DNR assigned successful applicants to a hunt period and elk management unit, except elk hunters assigned to hunt in elk management units H or I could also hunt in Elk Management Unit X (Figure 1). The DNR also conducted a half-day orientation session for successful applicants before their hunt. In 2023, seven different types of elk licenses were available, corresponding to the different combinations of types of elk, elk management units, and hunt periods for which applicants could be drawn (Table 1).

In 2023, the DNR allocated 260 licenses among 39,138 eligible applicants, excluding the PMH drawing (Table 1). Licenses were valid on all landownership types. Hunters could only harvest one elk, and hunters with an antlerless-only license could not take an elk with antlers. Elk could be harvested with a firearm, crossbow, or archery equipment. Hunters could not use bait (e.g., grain, fruit, vegetables) to attract elk. Successful hunters were required to take their elk to an official DNR checking station within 24 hours of taking an elk.

The DNR has the authority and responsibility to protect and manage elk in Michigan while the NRC has the authority to regulate the taking of elk (Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, Public Act 451 of 1994). Harvest surveys are one of the management tools used to accomplish the DNR’s statutory responsibility. These surveys help estimate harvest, hunting effort, and hunter satisfaction, which are essential for establishing harvest regulations.

Methods

After the 2023 elk hunting season, a questionnaire (Appendix A) was sent to all 255 people who obtained an elk hunting license. Survey participants could return the mailed paper version of the questionnaire or provide their answers via the DNR website. The survey asked about hunting activities, including the number of days spent hunting, the location of the hunt, the number of elk seen, whether they were successful in taking an elk, and the type of hunting equipment used. Hunters were also asked to report if they encountered any interference from other hunters. Successful hunters were asked to report the location of the harvest (county), the sex of the elk taken, and the type of hunting equipment used. Participants also shared their satisfaction regarding the number of elk seen, the opportunities to take an elk, and their overall elk hunting experience.

In addition to estimating harvest, the number of hunters, and hunting effort, the survey also aimed to gather information about management issues. Questions were included to understand the amount of money spent on elk hunting, the frequency of assistance from hunting guides, and the services provided by these guides. Participants were also asked about their satisfaction with the DNR hunter orientation session and hunting guides.

Estimates were calculated using a stratified random sampling design that included seven strata (Cochran 1977). Hunters were stratified based on their license type and the hunt period and unit for which their license was valid (Table 1). The estimate of the mean number of days required to harvest an elk was calculated using a different ratio for each stratum (i.e., separate ratio estimator). The number of elk registered from each stratum was used as an auxiliary variate to improve the precision of the ratio estimates.

A 95% confidence limit (CL) was calculated for each estimate. The CL can be added and subtracted from the estimate to calculate the 95% confidence interval. The confidence interval is a measure of the precision associated with the estimate and implies that the true value would be within this interval 95 times out of 100. Unfortunately, there are several other possible sources of error in surveys that are probably more serious than theoretical calculations of sampling error. They include the failure of participants to provide answers (nonresponse bias), question wording, and question order. It is very difficult to measure these biases; thus, estimates were not adjusted for these possible biases.

Statistical tests were used to determine the likelihood of differences among estimates being larger than expected by chance alone. The overlap of 95% confidence intervals was used to assess whether estimates differed. Non-overlapping 95% confidence intervals indicated that the difference between the means was larger than expected 95 times out of 100 if the study were repeated (Payton et al. 2003).

Initial questionnaires were mailed in late January 2024, and up to two follow-up questionnaires were sent to nonrespondents. Out of 255 questionnaires mailed, 205 were returned, resulting in an 80% response rate.

Results

Excluding the PMH drawing, 39,138 eligible applicants entered the 2023 elk hunting license drawing, which was a 4% decrease from 40,671 applicants in 2022 (Table 1, Figure 2). Despite the decline, the number of applicants has grown by 0.9% annually since 2010 (34,981 in 2010 versus 39,138 in 2023). Additionally, preference point purchases for future draws increased by 7.5% annually over the same period (3,360 in 2010 versus 8,575 in 2023).

The eligible applicants have risen from 30,000 in the early 2010s to nearly 40,000 in recent years, while available licenses have generally remained between 200 and 260. In 2023, 263 licenses were available, unchanged from 2022, with 255 licenses sold (Table 1). Most people buying a license in 2023 were men (90%), and the average age of the license buyers was 54 years, with 6% under 17 (Figure 3). The average hunting experience among license holders was 38 ± 1 years, and 37 ± 3% had previously hunted elk (including outside of Michigan).

In 2023, an estimated 99 ± 1% of license buyers hunted elk (254 hunters, Table 2), similar to 252 hunters in 2022. The total effort was 1,553 days, with an average of 6.1 days per hunter and 9.1 days per harvested elk (Figures 4 and 5), marking a 12% increase in total hunting days from 2022. The effort per harvested elk also rose by 25% from 7.3 days in 2022 to 9.1 days in 2023, indicating either a decreased elk population or more challenging hunting conditions.

Hunters oberved 4,012 elk in 2023 (15.8 elk/hunter) and harvested 172 elk, resulting in a 68% success rate. Elk seen does not represent different animals seen because elk could be double-counted and reported by multiple hunters. Although elk sightings were similar to 2022 (4,520 elk), harvest dropped by 10% (191 elk in 2022). Elk sightings per hunter have fluctuated since 2009, from 15.7 in 2010 to 27.3 in 2015, with a recent decline to 15.8 in 2023 (Figure 5). Elk harvests have varied, peaking at 380 in 2009 and dropping to 80 in 2014, with recent stability at 170-220 elk per year (Figure 4).

In 2023, 68% of hunters were successful, down from 76% in 2022 (Figure 4). Since 2009, success rates have generally been high, peaking at 92% in 2015 but declining in recent years (Figure 4). Success rates in 2023 varied across units, ranging from 83% to 96% in hunts offering both antlered and antlerless elk and 48% to 60% in hunts restricted to antlerless elk (Table 2).

Hunting effort also differed across hunts in 2023 (Table 2), with hunters in Hunt 2201 spending the most time (8.0 days per hunter), while those in Hunt 1202 spent the least (4.2 days). The time needed to harvest an elk ranged from 4.6 days in Hunt 1202 to 16.7 days in Hunt 2201.

Montmorency County had the highest number of hunters (146), harvests (85), and hunting effort (719 days), along with the highest success rate (58%) and elk sightings (1,910) (Table 3). Cheboygan and Otsego counties followed with similar hunter numbers (about 80 hunters) and efforts (315 days).

Regarding land use, 42% of hunters hunted exclusively on public lands, 16% on private lands, and 41% on both (Table 4). Overall, public lands saw the highest hunting pressure, with 735 days spent hunting, compared to 205 days on private lands (Table 5). Additionally, 614 days were spent hunting on both private and public lands. About 64% of harvested elk were taken on public lands, while 36% were harvested on private land (Table 6). Of the elk harvested, 43% were antlered bulls and 57% antlerless (Table 7).

An estimated 99 ± 1% of hunters used firearms, while 2 ± 1% used archery equipment. About 37 ± 3% of successful hunters assisted with moving their harvested elk from the kill site to a vehicle, with 69 ± 3% receiving help from guides, 56 ± 4% from companions, 18 ± 3% from DNR employees, and 12 ± 2% from landowners.

About 41-45% of hunters rated their satisfaction with the number of elk seen and their opportunities to take an elk as good or very good, while 34-35% rated it poor or very poor (Tables 8 and 9). Satisfaction with elk sightings and harvest opportunities declined from 2022 (45% versus. 55% and 41% versus 50%, respectively). However, overall satisfaction remained high at 73%, similar to 76% in 2022 (Figure 4, Table 10). Hunt 1101 had the highest overall satisfaction at 96%, while Hunt 2201 had the lowest at 48%.

In 2023, hunters' satisfaction was influenced by various factors, including hunting success and the absence of interference during hunting activities (Figure 6). Most hunters (54%) reported that they faced no interference from other people during their hunts (Table 11). However, 30% reported minor problems with interference, while 14% reported major problems. The proportion of hunters reporting major interference in 2023 was not significantly different from the previous year.

The hunt with the highest proportion of hunters reporting major interference problems was Hunt 2202 (21%), while Hunt 1201 had the lowest at only 6%. Minor interference problems were consistently reported across different hunting units, ranging from 28% to 35% of hunters. Hunts 2202 (53%) and 1101 (47%) had the highest combined rates of major and minor interference problems, suggesting these hunts might benefit from management strategies to reduce hunter congestion or conflicts. Among hunters reporting interference (major and minor interference combined) in 2023, the most common source of interference was another elk hunter (75 ± 4%); while 22 ± 4% of interfered hunters reported interference from other types of hunters.

About 71% of elk hunters (179) had a hunting guide assist with their hunt (Table 12). Most hunters using a guide (71 ± 3%) reported their guide was always with them when they were hunting elk. Another 14 ± 3% of hunters with guides indicated their guide was present 75-99% of the time while hunting, and 5 ± 2% of hunters reported their guide accompanied them 50-74% of the time. In contrast, about 10 ± 2% of hunters using guides reported their guide was with them in the field less than 50% of the time.

Among the hunters using a hunting guide, 89% of hunters (160) paid for the services provided by a guide (Table 12). Hunters using guides most frequently (45%) paid between $1,001 and $2,000 for the guide services. Most guides (90%) offered hunting advice, and a large proportion (83%) helped select hunt areas (Table 13). Field services were also common, with 67% of guides assisting in removing elk from the field. However, fewer guides provided ancillary services like food (17%), lodging (15%), or meat processing (4%).

When selecting a guide, hunters prioritized factors directly related to hunting success and ethics (Table 14). Access to areas with elk (92%) and good chances of taking an elk (90%) were rated as very important by most hunters. Notably, being an ethical hunter was considered very important by 97% of hunters, underscoring the value placed on responsible hunting practices. In contrast, amenities like food and lodging were considered not important by most hunters (82% and 78% respectively).

Satisfaction levels with guide services generally aligned with hunter priorities (Table 15). Hunters were highly satisfied with guides' abilities to provide areas with good chances to see (87%) and take (86%) an elk. Ethical hunting methods received the highest satisfaction rate at 93%. Satisfaction with access to private lands was also high at 69%, although this was considered very important by only 54% of hunters when selecting a guide. Overall, the estimates suggest a strong alignment between the services hunters prioritize, what guides offer, and hunter satisfaction. The focus is clearly on core hunting experiences - finding elk, ethical practices, and field assistance - rather than peripheral comforts.

Overall, most hunters using a guide indicated that their guide had either greatly increased (61 ± 4%) or increased (28 ± 3%) the quality of their elk hunt. In contrast, 9 ± 2% were neutral with their guide’s service, and 3 ± 2% of hunters indicated that their guide had decreased or greatly decreased the quality of their hunt.

Most hunters indicated they were satisfied with the content of the DNR orientation session (83%, Table 16). Furthermore, most hunters (>77%) were satisfied by the session length and the handouts provided at the session.

The average elk hunter devoted 3.9 ± 0.3 hunting trips to hunt elk in 2023. The trips included hunts that took place during a single day and hunts that required an overnight stay away from home. Elk hunters took an estimated 947 ± 62 hunting trips. Among hunters that reported their expenditures, active hunters spent an average of $1,947 ± $216 per year on hunting trips. Expenditures on long trips included the costs of food, travel, and lodging, while short trips may have only included the cost of fuel. Collectively, elk hunters spent about $492,718 (±$54,643) on elk hunting trips during fall 2023.

Acknowledgments

I thank all the elk hunters who provided information. Personnel from Adapt Data Incorporated completed the data entry, and personnel from Decision Analyst Incorporated created an online version of the paper survey. Theresa Riebow and Perri Ostrander assisted with the survey. The figure of elk management units and the area open to hunting was prepared by Marshall Strong. Scott Eggeman, Chad Fedewa and Chad Stewart reviewed a previous version of this report.

Literature cited

Cochran, W. G. 1977. Sampling techniques. John Wiley & Sons, New York. USA.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources. 2012. Michigan elk management plan. Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Lansing, Michigan. USA.

Moran, R. J. 1973. The rocky mountain elk in Michigan. Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Division Report. 267, Lansing, Michigan. USA.

Murie, O. J. 1951. The elk of North America. Stackpole Books, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA.

Payton, M. E., M. H. Greenstone, and N. Schenker. 2003. Overlapping confidence intervals or standard error intervals: what do they mean in terms of statistical significance? Journal of Insect Science 3:34.

Shapton, W. 1940. Report of an elk survey in the Pigeon River State Forest during the deer hunting season, 1939. Game Division Report 498. Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Lansing, USA.

Stephenson, J. H. 1942. Michigan elk. Game Division Report 994. Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Lansing, USA.

Figure 1. Elk management units open to hunting during first (August-October) and second (December) hunt periods in Michigan, 2023.

Figure 2. The numbers of people applying in the drawing for an elk hunting license or purchasing a preference point for a future drawing during 2010-2023.

Figure 3. Age of people that purchased an elk hunting license in Michigan for the 2023 hunting season (mean = 54 years). Licenses were purchased by 255 people.

Figure 4. Estimated number of hunters, harvest, hunting efforts, effort per hunter, hunter satisfaction, and hunter success during the Michigan elk hunting season, 2009-2023. No survey was conducted for 2020.

Figure 5. Estimated number of days hunted per elk harvested and elk seen per hunter during the Michigan elk hunting season, 2009-2023. No survey was conducted for 2020.

Figure 6. Estimated hunter satisfaction, hunting success, and level of hunter interference in Michigan’s management units during the 2023 elk hunting season. Satisfaction measures the proportion of hunters rating their hunting experiences as very good or good. Interference was the proportion of hunters that reported major interference. Error bars represent the 95% confidence limit.