Hunting in the state of Michigan offers some of the best bull elk and trophy whitetail deer around. The beautiful terrains and well-stocked lakes are scenic and beautiful, well worth the trip even without the hunting aspect.
Finding the right guide service is important as it can make the difference between a good trip and a great trip So where do you go to find the right guide for your trip? Here are the 10 best guide services in the state of Michigan.
Michigan Hunting Guides|Hopkins Creek
Manton, MI
269-624-2230
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With over 120 acres of hardwood forest, grasslands, cedar swamp, farmlands, and designated trout stream located in Northern Michigan, Hopkins Creek Whitetail specializes in trophy whitetail with amazing bucks. Hopkins Creek is dedicated to providing the highest quality bucks in Michigan and has even selected some of the best genetics not only in Michigan but in the United States.
Typically, the hunting season for trophy bucks in velvet is August while September-January is for hard horned trophy whitetails. You can hunt with the weapon of your choice for these trophy bucks and bring home a buck that will have you bragging about it for a long time to come.
Trent Hellinga owns Hopkins Creek and is a hunter himself. He began this business because he dreamed of the perfect setting to hunt some of the most incredible deer that you could find. Trent desires to provide the ultimate hunting experience for those who choose to hunt with Hopkins Creek and does all he can to make sure those hunting experiences are the best they can possibly be.
The lodging is fully furnished and built from scratch, having just recently finished construction. The lodge features four bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a full kitchen and a huge living room that can host any get-together or gathering. The lodge can accommodate between eight and ten people, making for a great outing for any group, be it a family gets together, a gathering of friends, or a small corporate retreat.
Hopkins Creek offers a number of different packages for deer hunting and all the hunts are guided. Antler scoring is based on SCI’s score without deductions for asymmetry or non-typical. Finding the perfect package to suit your hunting needs has never been easier and Hopkins Creek is more than willing to work with each hunter to find the right experience for them.
Michigan Hunting Guides | Cherry Creek Farm
Mio, MI
(248) 762-3314
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One of the premier whitetail dee hunting preserves in Michigan, Cherry Creek Farms is an excellent place to relax in the country, getting away from the craziness of daily life. Cherry Creek features over 500+ acres of scenic whitetail deer hunting, turkey hunting, trout fishing, and pheasant hunting for those who love the outdoors.
You will be guided through their nature preserve to hunt some of the best turkey, pheasant, and trophy deer hunts as well as some of the best fishing experiences to be had in Michigan. Cherry Creek knows that you have a number of choices for your hunting needs and getting out into the wilderness, so they aim to provide the very best outdoor experience possible.
For the fishermen out there, the fish management efforts at Cherry Creek Farm are outstanding. The ponds are stocked with rainbow trout, brook trout, and so much more. You can spend the majority of your trip just enjoying the fishing scene at Cherry Creek.
They also offer outdoor activities aside from hunting and fishing. The AuSable, one of the finest rivers in Michigan, also offers some of the best canoeing, rafting, and tubing available in the state. Bringing your family out to enjoy the river could take up your entire trip as it is. They also offer golf at the premier courses in Michigan as well as great hiking and photography that is unmatched.
Cherry Creek also offers a number of cabin rentals with various amenities over the course of the very beautiful property. They come with bedding, linens, and dishes with a waterfront view as well as a fireplace, VCR, and television. These cabins provide the very best of outdoor stays, giving you a relaxed, tranquil feeling throughout your stay.
Staying with Cherry Creek is an experience that is second to none.
Michigan Hunting Guides|Legends Ranch
Bitely, MI
(231) 745-8000
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The lodging alone at Legends Ranch is worth the trip alone. This huge, sprawling lodge is in the heart of the Legends Ranch with beautiful sights and incredible stargazing to be had. Not only that, you get the best of modern amenities in a warm, relaxing environment. There are even guest meeting areas that include two relaxing lounges, a bar, and a huge dining room, all of which have been furnished to host large groups with the very best amenities.
The lodge staff will pick you up at the airport, take care of your accommodations in one of their en-suite bedrooms, and transport you to and from the field. There is also an outdoor firepit to spend your nights warmly with friends and family in calming, relaxing style.
Their facilities include eight bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, group lounges, a bar, a dining room, a pair of private conference rooms, a gear/gift store, a commercial kitchen that has a dedicated chef, the aforementioned outdoor firepit, heated blinds, an on-call massage therapist, free Wi-Fi, free transportation, and a shooting range. Talk about comprehensive.
Legends Ranch offers a wide variety of different hunting packages for turkey and whitetail deer. There is the Presidential hunt, rut hunt, manager’s hunt, purple heart hunt, and even the special youth challenge hunt for the younger aspiring hunters out there.
You can find a litany of positive, glowing reviews about those who have spent time at Legends Ranch and the wonderful experiences they have had. With world class guided hunting of whitetail deer and turkey plus some of the finest amenities and lodging that you can find in the state of Michigan, Legends Ranch is one of the premier ranches in the state of Michigan and one that you should consider for your next outdoor experience.
Michigan Hunting Guides|Black Shadow Guide Service
Township, MI
(906) 235-6703
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The husband and wife team of Caleb and Eric Taylor own and operate Black Shadow Guide Service, providing over 30 years of hunting and fishing experience in the upper Michigan area. They have hunted caribou and black bear in Quebec to deer and elk in Idaho while fishing from Lake Superior all the way down to the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. Their experience is difficult to match, providing some of the best guided hunting experiences that money can buy.
Black Shadow also specializes in bear hunting, something that only a handful of guided services in Michigan offer. They use bait hunting on private and public land and provide each hunter with two active bait sites to give the hunter the best possible experience.
They follow a detailed and proven schedule of baiting, even using cameras, to make sure that they are drawing the best bears to the hunting areas and making sure that sows and cubs are not being drawn (it is illegal to shoot cubs and sows with cubs in Michigan). These hunters take a great deal of care to make sure the hunt is done correctly.
To hunt bear in Michigan, licenses are sold on a drawing and points system. Drawing one can be difficult and time-consuming but when you get one, Black Shadow can help you not only track the perfect trophy bear but to bag it and bring it home.
If you are looking for a hunting experience of a lifetime that involves whitetail deer of huge sizes and bears that would be a proud addition to any trophy room, the services at Black Shadow Guide Service can more than help you achieve those dreams.
Michigan Hunting Guides|Sanctuary Ranch
Stanwood, MI
(231) 972-7722
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Sanctuary Ranch is located in central Michigan with some of the most legendary deer hunting in the industry. Sanctuary Ranch was founded all the way back in 1978 and has become one of the most desired destinations for trophy whitetail hunting in the state of Michigan.
With four square miles of high hill and gullies, thick hardwood slash, and cedar swamps, Sanctuary has managed whitetail deer for almost 30 years and has an incredible harvest record. There have been many who have provided testimony to hunting some of the smartest and most elusive deer in hunting on the Sanctuary Ranch property.
The lodge itself is breathtaking and more than worth making the trip. The tunnel of trees on the drive up provide a tranquil setting as do the views of the lake. It provides a place of relaxation unlike any other. Plus, each guest gets three meals that are served by their in-house chef per day. Snacks, appetizers and a full bar are available throughout the day and are available while sitting around the campfire in the evening after a great day of hunting.
The suites and bungalows are luxurious, providing more than enough space and privacy that offer some of the best amenities available. With king sized beds, fireplaces, large areas to relax, satellite television, and relaxing porch swings that overlook the lake, you could spend your entire trip relaxing in these spacious and cozy lodging setups.
Sanctuary Ranch provides an unmatched history and a history of harvesting whitetail deer that is difficult to compare to. You will get a challenging hunting experience but one that is completely rewarding and something that you will remember for a long time to come.
With world-class accommodations and breathtaking views on top of that, there are few that can hope to compare to Sanctuary Ranch and its overall package.
Michigan Hunting Guides|Coldwater Charters
St. Joseph, MI
(517) 617-0282
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Taking a bit of a shift from the hunting scene in Michigan, Coldwater Charters are one of the premier fishing guides in the state. Led by Captain Mike Boyd, who has been USCG licensed since 1996, the Salmon Express is a fully inspected and documented ship that has been fishing on the waters of Lake Michigan for over 20 years.
Captain Boyd has been an outdoor writer and on outdoor television shows, enjoying the outdoors his entire life. The Salmon Express is equipped with state of the art equipment that includes sonar, radar, GPS, auto pilot and down speed features as well as furnishing equipment and tackle. Oh, Coldwater Charters will even clean and bag your catch as well.
If you consider yourself a more experienced and seasoned fisherman, there is tournament fishing available as well. With prizes in the range of $1,000 to $20,000, this might be a great way to not only test your mettle as a fisherman but to earn a nice payday as well.
But don’t think Coldwater Charters is just about fishing. They also offer guided goose hunting, whitetail deer hunting, and waterfowl hunting such as mallards and black ducks, wood ducks, blue and green winged teal, and even offer championship quality calling.
Coldwater’s waterfowl hunting is some of the best in the state of Michigan and the experienced guides know the right spots to hunt. Though they can’t guarantee a great haul, you can rest assured that your chances of success are pretty high when hunting through Coldwater.
If you’re looking to spend a great time out on the water fishing some world class trout with an experienced captain or want to get down into the nitty gritty and capture some of the best waterfowl, Coldwater Charters can fit your needs.
Michigan Hunting Guides|Canada Creek Ranch
Atlanta, MI
(989) 785-4201
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Canada Creek Ranch is a private hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation club consisting of approximately 13,500 acres, 500 homes & cabins, and a lodge – commonly known as the “Ranch House” – which houses our administrative offices, dining room, library, gift shop, meeting rooms, game room, fitness room and 20 overnight rooms; all adorning the heritage and outdoors theme we so preciously embrace. We also offer three rental cabins and a 125 site campground licensed by the State of Michigan as a travel-trailer park, which operates under the laws and regulations governing such parks, with complete bathhouse facilities, trailer storage area, pavilion, and playground.
Five square miles of the eastern part of the club was plotted and contains most of the amenities such as: a ranch house, 20 overnight rooms, a 120-seat dining room (with a full menu for breakfasts, lunches, and dinners), a maintenance and fire brigade facility, 3 ranch-owned rental cabins, plenty of member-owned cabins, a campground/storage area/pavilion as well as bathhouse facilities, two tennis courts, fishing and bathing lakes, blue ribbon trout stream, a bathing area, and that’s not even including the scenic views and general area.
Canada Creek is a monstrous hunting area that can fit even the largest of gatherings with the best amenities available. They even offer a full-service real estate service if you are looking to own one of the cabins on the land.
With trout, whitetail deer, elk and so much more, it is easy to spend the entire time hunting but you may also find yourself enjoy the massive ranch grounds or the complete list of amenities. Regardless of what your itinerary is, you will come back to Canada Creek Ranch again and again, finding the very best of the wilderness in this spacious hunting terrain.
Michigan Elk Hunting
Ludington, MI
(231) 357-9987
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Michigan elk hunting offers some of the finest elk and deer hunting in the state of Michigan using a muzzle loader, bow, or rifle. They offer one promise: if you don’t shoot a bull elk or buck deer on your trip, then you don’t pay.
Bob Northup grew up in Michigan hunting bull elk and Michigan Elk Hunting offers hundreds of acres with nature’s best habitats for just that purpose. Bob takes the utmost pride in seeing hunters visit the lands he hunts on and nab a buck or bull elk that makes them proud. He understands that hunting experiences like the ones he provides result in some of the best memories a hunter can ever have.
The ranch team provides excellent care for your trophy elk and/or buck, even overseeing processing and taxidermy. The guides for Michigan Elk Hunting take the greatest of care with each hunter that visits the property. The experience that the guides provide is among the finest in the state.
Each of the deer and elk hunt packages include two-night accommodations in the beautifully renovated hunting lodge, transportation to and from the airport for a small fee, delicious meals prepared by the dedicated kitchen chef, field dressing, delivery of meat to a local processor if that is desire, and delivery to the local taxidermist. These packages cover all of your needs and wants as a hunter and will ensure that you enjoy the very best hunting experience possible to you.
Michigan Elk Hunting has a plethora of experience and some of the finest lands available in Michigan to hunt bull elk and deer. With modern amenities, delicious meals, and the hunting provided, it is hard to beat the experience that Michigan Elk Hunting can provide. Make sure to book your trip today.
Two Hats Ranch
Big Rapids, MI
(231) 796-4287
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Two Hats Ranch believes in the passion that goes into hunting and enjoying the great outdoors. Owned and operated by the Bettis family, they follow this passion and turned it into more than that. For two generations, the Bettis family has made hunting their family business. The family has over 60 combined years of professional hunting experience and continues to learn with each passing day, hoping to deliver the best hunting experience for anyone who comes to Two Hats Ranch.
In addition to world class hunting accommodations, Two Hats Ranch offers so much more. They know that spending time outdoors can be a wonderful, relaxing experience. That is why they offer hiking, shooting, golfing, and fishing in addition to hunting. They know that the experience at their ranch is all-encompassing and try to provide the best of all their services.
Their hunts are guided across 1,300 acres of monster whitetail deer territory. These trophy bucks are of the majestic whitetail deer variety and each one you bag will provide the memory of a lifetime. These guides will take you to the very best spots, show you baiting techniques.
When you are not spending time in the field, you are able to return to the lodge where the maximum comfort and charm is offered in our rustic, elegant lodge. Professionally prepared meals await you each day and the hospitality staff is some of the best in the business. When you aren’t hunting, spend that time relaxing in a tranquil space that provides wonderful accommodations.
Your hunting experience should not just encompass your time in the field. The time you spend preparing for and recovering from your hunt are equally as important and Two Hats takes painstaking pride in making sure that the entire process is completely enjoyable.
Allen Creek Ranch
Bitely, MI
(231) 873-1688
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The entire Allen Creek Ranch estate sits on a 560-acre fenced-in site of Michigan woodland that preserves the natural privacy, beauty, and habitat of Michigan as well as the management of whitetail deer. The scenery alone is ideal for a lengthy getaway that you will not soon forget.
Staying at the ranch, you will enjoy a fully stocked kitchen that serves 20 people with a pantry that is full of spices, condiments, tea, and coffee. There is even catering upon request for larger parties and corporate retreats. Each lodge comes with Amish rockers on the front porch to enjoy the beautiful, tranquil views.
The lodge comes equipped with two large living rooms, both of which have large LED televisions. The Great Room comfortably seats 11 around the Field Stone Fireplace. With large windows, viewing the wonderful wilderness can be done in the comfort of the lodge. With a VCR and CD player, you can watch all the movies or listen to all the music that you like to fully set the ambiance. Should you need to do a little bit of work, there is also a desk, telephone, computer and wireless internet available.
Allen Creek Ranch provides world class hunting and world class amenities that will make your next outdoor expedition a memorable one.