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Drawing statistics

Elk drawing system

Elk licenses are awarded to hunters using a random weighted drawing system which began in 2003. Each year, unsuccessful applicants receive one additional "chance" for future drawings. This system provides some advantage to hunters who apply consistently year after year while still offering an opportunity to all applicants including those applying for the first time.

All license applicants are eligible for an Any-Elk license, valid for the harvest of a bull elk or antlerless elk. If not selected in the drawing for an Any-Elk license, individuals who specified "Bull or Antlerless" on their application are eligible to be selected for an Antlerless-Only elk license.

In the 2025 elk drawing, applicants had up to 23 chances to be selected - one chance for their current-year application plus up to 22 chances earned in previous elk drawings (2003 - 2024).

For more information, refer to the Michigan Elk Hunting Regulations Summary.

2025 Drawing summary

License quota: 260 (80 Any-Elk, 180 Antlerless-Only Elk)

Total Applications: 60,512 (13,019 applied for chance-only)

Total Chances in Drawing: 396,538

2025 elk drawing awarded

Click the "+" to expand the selection for more information.

Chances Any-Elk License Eligible Applicants  Any-Elk License Total Chances (Chances x Applicants) Any-Elk Licenses Awarded Antlerless Elk License Eligible Applicants Antlerless Elk License Total Chances (Chances x Applicants) Antlerless Elk Licenses Awarded
1 7,364 7,364 4 3,899 3,899 8
2 4,697 9,394 2 2,261 4,522 4
3 3,715 11,145 0 1,677 5,031 7
4 3,171 12,684 4 1,379 5,516 12
5 2,987 14,935 6 1,237 6,185 9
6 2,700 16,200 2 1,051 6,306 5
7 2,255 15,785 1 874 6,118 7
8 2,084 16,672 4 740 5,920 7
9 1,730 15,570 4 625 5,625 8
10 1,539 15,390 4 561 5,610 6
11 1,290 14,190 2 414 4,554 6
12 1,097 13,164 1 375 4,500 7
13 1,064 13,832 2 381 4,953 9
14 1,039 14,546 0 352 4,928 6
15 1,025 15,375 2 358 5,370 9
16 1,178 18,848 5 397 6,352 5
17 1,157 19,669 6 370 6,290 8
18 1,168 21,024 3 395 7,110 13
19 1,130 21,470 5 369 7,011 9
20 1,229 24,580 6 443 8,860 10
21 1,360 28,560 8 490 10,290 13
22 1,313 28,886 5 446 9,812 7
23 1,185 27,255 4 402 9,246 5
TOTALS: 47,477 396,538 80 19,496 144,008 180