Got a Cow Tag

[whackmaster]

Well, I've never won the lottery, or even one of those raffles at the banquets. But I got a cow tag for the early elk season. I could not believe it when I opened my mail box and seen that big envelope with Gaylord DNR on the top!! I had a perma-grin the whole weekend. I've been applying for as long as I can remember. Kinda became a donation to the DNR after a while. Just kinda applied and forgot about it.

So now, I've got questions running through my head. Should I drive the 3 hours up there before hand to scout? Or is there enough to not worry about that? I'm not going to hire a guide for a cow. But with hotel prices, would it be cheaper to hire one and be done?

I guess I'm asking for a little help from some of you that have done this hunt. I'm just glad to have these kind of problems!!!

Thanks everyone, and keep applying. I'm proof that even a blind squirrel finds a nut sometimes.

[DaGriz]

I drew a a tag this year also. All the info I found pointed to hiring a guide. Your chance of success goes up dramatically. The guides know the landowners and have permission to hunt on their land, for the most part. They live there so they know the elk movements and patterns. If you look at the statistics; the overall success percentage is around +/-70%. A lot of the guides have a 95% or more success rate!
Best to do all you can to increase your chances to successful. Pretty much a once in a lifetime hunt.

[srconnell22]

if you have a cow tag I would definitely recommend hiring a guide in September. The thing with elk is cows are harder to kill than bulls are.

During the rut, your herd bulls (and satellites when they can get the chance) will hide the cows back in the dark timbers away from other bulls. That makes it 100x harder for you to find them.

The way I look at it, spend the 400 or 500 for a guide who will make sure you have every possible opportunity to get one. You've been applying forever to receive this tag and guaranteed wont get another one for at least 10 years. Congrats on the tag and if there is anything I can help you with, let me know!

[Spartan88]

Drawing a MI elk tag is a once in a lifetime shot, cough up the cash and hire a guide. I know a guy who drew a cow tag in the past and complained about the guide cost up until the animal was down then there were four extra sets of hands to help him and the cost was worth it.

[hunting man]

I did it on my own for a cow (92)and a bull(98). If you need info you could give me a call at anytime you want. I can tell you some things that will save you some scouting.

I wouldnt hire a guide if I ever get to go again. The elk dont move around too much. They tend to stay near the same places year after year. Thats one of the reasons they dont radio tag them anymore.


Hunting man
269-628-5383 home
734-276-0922 cell

[hemry1982]

i also got a cow tag for the semtember hunt im not using a guide my uncle live in gaylord and he has beenhaveing his friends looking out for me so hopefully it is only a one day hunt lol;) good luck to everyone else that got a tag