Atlanta, the Elk Capital of Michigan

Atlanta, the small county seat where M-32 meets M-33, calls itself the “Elk Capital of Michigan.” The Atlanta Area Chamber uses the title, and the town’s annual Elk Fest carries it into the fall. The connection is not just a slogan: nearby Pigeon River Country is the center of Michigan’s elk range. The DNR calls the forest the Big Wild and describes the herd as one of the largest free-roaming elk herds east of the Mississippi.

There is a real comeback story behind it. Native elk disappeared from Michigan around 1875. In 1918, seven western elk were released near Wolverine, and today’s herd grew from that small group. The DNR estimated about 1,150 animals in January 2026, centered in parts of Cheboygan, Montmorency, and Otsego counties. The state manages habitat and uses a limited, lottery-only hunt to help keep the herd near its population goal.

For visitors, autumn brings the best-known sound: bulls bugling during the September and October breeding season. Dawn and dusk are usually the best times to look. The DNR maps public viewing areas, but an elk sighting is never guaranteed. Stay in the viewing areas, keep your distance, and let the animals remain wild.