(WWJ) – Michigan’s elk population is “healthy and growing,” the Department of Natural Resources says.
During eight days of aerial surveying conducted in January, DNR staff flew over more than 1,000 square miles of sample plots in the Northern Lower Peninsula and estimated the population to be between 870 and 1,684 animals.
The 2022 survey estimates the population has increased by about 5% since 2019.
DNR staff observed a total of 793 elk in 92 groups during the survey. A population estimate model was used to account for the animals that may not have been observed during the flight survey, the DNR said.
The flight photos were also used to calculate the sex and age ratio of the herd.
The elk population reflects the objectives and actions written in the Michigan Elk Management Plan, the DNR says.
“The latest estimates suggest that the elk herd remains healthy,” said Chad Stewart, DNR deer, elk and moose management specialist. “We will continue to sustainably manage the herd and habitat across the elk range.”
At Thursday's Michigan Natural Resources Commission meeting in Lansing, the DNR recommended maintaining the current license quotas and season structure for the 2022-2024 elk regulation cycle.
This year the state is set to update the Michigan Elk Management plan for the first time since 2012. An update on elk management progress and accomplishments will be “developed and incorporated into the plan to guide management decisions for the next 10 years,” officials said.
Elk are a valuable resource for Michigan’s ecosystems, while also providing opportunities for outdoor recreation such as hunting and wildlife viewing.
More information on elk can be found at Michigan.gov/Elk.
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