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Hunters successful in second elk hunting season, according to DNR

ATLANTA — Hunters who were able to draw December elk hunting permits this year had a 92 percent success rate in shooting a bull or cow, according to Michigan Department of Natural Resources officials.

Preliminary results of the hunt, the second of two authorized in 2016, were released earlier this week by the DNR.

According to the information of the 100 licenses available, 54 cows and 29 bulls, as well as nine calves were killed by hunters during the nine-day hunting period.

In the December hunt 100 state licenses were available, 30 any-elk and 70 antlerless-only licenses. The hunting took place in a 10-county northern Michigan elk management unit knows as the “Tip of the Mitt,” according to DNR official Katie Keen.

Officials said hunters also were successful during an earlier elk hunt period, which ran from late August to early October for 12 days. In that hunt 85 percent of state hunters were able to shoot an elk. In total this season there were 200 permits available.

Officials said elk population estimates are derived from aerial elk surveys, which in recent years showed population estimates exceeding the stated elk management plan goals of 500 to 900 elk. Keen said as a result, the 2016 elk license quotas were increased from the prior hunting season and the elk survey frequency will be increased. She said aerial elk flights began this week if weather allows for good flight and visibility.

Keen said the easiest way for biologists to survey the elk herd is by aircraft. She said the animals range in an area that rests between the towns of Indian River, Onaway, Atlanta and Gaylord.

“We do it when the hunting season is complete,” she said. “There is snow on the ground, so the animals stick out.”

Additionally there is space foliage on the ground making it better to spot elk. Keen said the DNR planes fly at very low altitude, 500 feet, and the animals are spotted by eyesight alone.

“We fly a grid over the area,” she said. “It’s more than 5,000 miles of flight pattern, kind of that whole northeastern part of the state. We fly so low that you feel that you’re just over the tips of the trees.”

Keen said although the surveys help the DNR determine elk populations, from year to year they try to maintain the amount of licenses available from year to year.

“This is one of our tools to help us get an idea of license quotas,” she said. “In 2016 we doubled our licenses, we had 200 elk licenses available, in 2015 we only had 100, and the year before. Our plan for 2017 is to have 200.”

More information on the annual elk hunting dates, and how to apply, can be found by visiting www.michigan.gov/dnr.

Jason Ogden can be reached via email at jogden@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5693. Follow Jason on Twitter @jo_alpenanews. Read his blog, Sunny side up, with Jason at www.thealpenanews.com.

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