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Sept. 25, 2017
Contact: Katie Keen, 989-385-0336
100th anniversary of elk poster contest winner chosen
 The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has chosen retired police officer Gary Cole of Dearborn and his acrylic painting of Michigan elk as the winner of its 100th anniversary of elk poster contest.
Cole’s painting depicts a wintry landscape mimicking Wolverine, Michigan, where the state’s original seven elk were released in 1918.
“You’ve made my day,” said Cole after receiving the phone call about winning the poster contest.
Cole, a self-taught wildlife artist who has hunted elk in the western U.S., currently hunts deer in the Upper Peninsula. The winning artwork will be showcased in the poster celebrating the 100th anniversary of elk poster and distributed to elk enthusiasts across Michigan and beyond.
“We want to thank everyone who submitted artwork for the poster competition,” said Katie Keen, DNR wildlife communications coordinator. “We were amazed by the interest and number of submissions. Over 60 poster designs were submitted, and each one was unique, making it a very hard choice.”
 As the winner, Cole will receive a one-night stay at Treetops Resort in Gaylord, a $100 gift card to Jay's Sporting Goods and a guided elk-viewing trip with DNR staff. All who participated in the contest will receive a 100th elk anniversary 2018 calendar developed by the Montmorency County Conservation Club. The calendar is available to purchase by visiting the Montmorency County Conservation Club Facebook page or calling 989-785-4380.
Next year marks the 100th anniversary of the beginning of Michigan’s elk population. In 1918, seven elk were brought from the western United States to locations near Wolverine. Today’s healthy and abundant elk population is a result of intentional land management and increased law enforcement. Learn more about Michigan’s elk conservation success story at michigan.gov/elk.
Michigan residents can celebrate the 100th anniversary of elk – look for the DNR elk license plate, available starting Dec. 1.
/Note to editors: Accompanying images are available below for download. Suggested captions follow.
Gary-Cole: Gary Cole of Dearborn with his original acrylic painting of elk in a wintry landscape.
Elk-license-plate: A license plate commemorating the 100th anniversary of elk license in Michigan will be available Dec. 1.
100th-elk-logo: 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the beginning of Michigan’s elk population./
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.
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