Once in a lifetime Michigan Elk

[scrmblr1982cj8]

Congrats! Glad you were finally able to get one.

 

[HRM Johnny]

Congratulations. It is great that after 40 years you finally got a tag. Thanks for the excellent write up.

 

[markopolo50]

Congratulations! WOW 40 years ! Good story also . Is it a once in lifetime tag ?

Yes it is a once in a lifetime tag. The bull tag is once in a lifetime but if you get a cow tag you can reapply in 10 years. Michigan does have a special drawing called Pure Michigan hunt. That prize includes an assortment of tags and an elk tag is included. That's like winning a lottery and is a straight draw every year.

 

[Bombcity]

Congratulations on a job well done!!!

 

[WYO300RUM]

Yes it is a once in a lifetime tag. The bull tag is once in a lifetime but if you get a cow tag you can reapply in 10 years. Michigan does have a special drawing called Pure Michigan hunt. That prize includes an assortment of tags and an elk tag is included. That's like winning a lottery and is a straight draw every year.

Thanks !

 

[Bob Wright]

Awesome job on a 40 year wait!

 

[Treeslug]

After applying for resident only Michigan elk since 1984, I finally drew a bull elk tag. The elk are mainly located in the northern third of the lower peninsula. My buddy drew the tag last year and we scouted a lot for his hunt. A few medical problems limited him to a ground blind hunt. He saw a few elk but never had a chance at a bull. Both of our tags were for the December hunt. They also have a hunt in September/October.
We had good snow this year so tracking a single track was my first method. A friend who was a guide lives near Gaylord and told me to track a single track. Probably a bull and try to sneak in and get a shot. Ha, in knee deep crunchy snow. I followed one track but was too late, frozen over. Another track I got close but busted the elk. Saw movement and 4 dark legs.
So the second day, December 15th in the afternoon I went back to my first track with the frozen bed. More tracks in the area as it had been cut off and new saplings were coming up. I could see where the elk had been browsing on those. I took a stand in a small finger of trees overlooking some open areas.

I hadn't been there 20 minutes and my phone buzzed. Luckily I had it on vibrate only. A daughter of a dear friend who passed away, Megan, was checking on me, wanting to know when, what, how it was going. I gave here a short reply and would give more detail later. Slipped my phone back in my pocket. Two minutes later looked to my right and there was a bull elk walking. He stopped behind a lone dead birch tree and looked around. I was standing behind a pine tree and he couldn't see me. He took a couple steps and I grabbed the 300 win mag. Safety off, crosshairs behind the shoulder and bang. He lurched forward and I shot against. He stopped so I shot again and down he went. Wow, that was quick. Texted my wife a couple pics then Megan. It wasn't 10 minutes from her first text, ha. It was way after dark by the time my buddy and I got him out. Two loads on a sled. Snow made pulling easier but deep snow isn't easy to walk in. Not my biggest elk ever but certainly very satisfying to get it on my own and in my home state, MICHIGAN.
And no it wasn't a long shot, only 120 yards. First shot double lungs. His track from the first shot had red blood out both sides. Easy to see in the snow. The reason I kept shooting was that I almost lost a buck a week before in our muzzle loading season, because I didn't shoot again, but that's a different story.View attachment 629259View attachment 629258

You said he wasn't your biggest elk ever. That's okay. If he is too small for you to eat—well—I know some LRH guys…

 

[g0cherr]

Congratulations on your success. Thanks for sharing your story.

 

[habituallinestepper]

I'm only 4 years into my MI elk app. Great to hear about yours!