Elk Guide’s and Scouts
Dear Elk Guide’s and Scouts,
I hope this letter finds you all well and healthy. Because of the craziness happening in the world today, I wanted
to touch base with you all and give you some information regarding our Elk Herd Management at CCR and to
apologize for not being able to hold the spring banquet.
Last year in December we were able to harvest a total of 19 animals on and off the club. (1) Taken in Atlanta at a
private farm, the rest were taken on CCR or in the very near vicinity to the club.
In January, a group of us met with the DNR Biologist’s from Gaylord and Atlanta and Law Enforcement to talk
about the 2019 hunt and what to expect for the 2020 hunt.
The Biologist’s shared with us that the 2019 Elk harvest was successful with a total of 163 State tags filled and 21
tribal tags filled for a grand total of 182 total Elk harvested in 2019 out of 224 tags.
Collectively we agreed that the state’s forestry harvest surrounding the club was working to help draw some of
the herd off CCR during the winter months. We are still hoping that will lessen the amount of Elk damage to our
new growth in our own forestry treatments.
Because 2019 was an Elk Management year for the DNR, the results came in from the prior year’s Elk Surveys.
It is estimated that the State of Michigan has a herd size of 1200 animals. With these statistics the DNR will
increase the number of tags issued this year for the 2020 hunt by 60 tags, making the state issued tags 260.
Fortunately for CCR all 60 tags will be given to the December season, thus increasing the tags for our area by an
additional 40.
Also, the boundary lines were adjusted, so when it comes time to hunt be aware of the new boundaries. In
addition to boundaries our section identification was changed from Area G to Area I and Area F to Area H. All the
outside area that used to be X and L are now identified as area X for both seasons.
New this year from CCR…. The Ranch office will be collecting a $250.00 non-refundable deposit from each hunter
to secure their spot on our hunting roster. We will still offer accommodations at the ranch house at guest rates
and free gun sight in for each hunter as well as personalized guide service.
Please don’t forget to sign up early as a guide or scout. We usually have the guide/ scout availability form ready
by the time the September CCR news comes out. We encourage each guide and scout to be signed up by the
November Gun Deer Season so we can plan accordingly for the hunt.
Thank you all for your continued support of CCR’s Elk Herd Management and your participation in the elk hunt.
Each year we look forward to hearing each and every one of your stories and how exciting each day was in the
woods hunting elk. I would like to congratulate the following Elk Guide/Scouts for being recognized by your peers
on a job well done.
Rookie of the Year: Phil Fisher
Longest Track: Ed Warnes
Golden Hubcap: Fred George
Guide or Scout of the Year: Dennis Swartz
Chuck (C3) Whitmire
Elk Hunt Coordinator, CCR
This male Trumpeter Swan has
made CCR (Lake Geneva)
home for the time being. If
a female migrating to the
Upper Peninsula happens to
join him, they will most likely
make CCR their permanent
residence. Please be mindful
that Trumpeter Swans are
endangered species.
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