Application Period for Michigan Elk Hunt Opens Friday

With the application period for Michigan’s elk season opening Friday, May 1, hunters should be aware of several key changes to the popular hunt.
On April 8, the Michigan Natural Resources Commission voted to establish elk hunting regulations for the 2026 and 2027 seasons. Those actions include:
- Setting the first elk hunt period in 2026 from Sept. 23 through Oct. 4, a 12-day, contiguous period. Previously, the first hunt period was broken up into three, four-day sessions that began in late August.
- Setting the second hunt period from Dec. 1 through Dec. 15, a 15-day period. Previously, the second hunt period was Dec. 13-21, a nine-day period that was closer to the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.
- Giving successful elk hunters 72 hours to present the elk head or entire animal for registration as directed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Previously, hunters were required to register the entire elk within 24 hours of harvest.
Brent Rudolph, the DNR’s deer, elk and moose management specialist, said the changes are geared toward hunter convenience and increasing opportunities to harvest an iconic elk.
“For the first hunt period in particular, having a contiguous session that starts later in the season should make it easier for hunters to plan their hunt. The move also provides more favorable conditions and avoids the warm temperatures we’ve experienced during the earlier hunt in recent years,” Rudolph said. Read more







