Full Service Guiding Operation
Experience an Exceptional Elk Hunt in Northern Michigan
We welcome you to our family for the hunt of a lifetime.
Act quickly, do not hesitate when booking as we have limited spots and we sell out quickly!
989.350.0041
Our family attitude will make your trip an exciting, memorable and successful outdoor experience.
Canada Creek Elk Guides
If you are the lucky recipient of the coveted Michigan Elk tag, our experienced staff will take you on a memorable elk hunt in the majestic landscape of Northern Michigan. Canada Creek Elk Guides is located in the heart of Elk Country with access to thousands of acres of private lands, ranches and farming crop lands.
Top guiding service in Northern Michigan
About Us
Canada Creek Elk Guides started as a group of guys that just love Elk hunting. As members of the private club Canada Creek Ranch we hunted Elk together but were only able to hunt once a year in the late December hunt, due to the state of Michigan rules on Elk hunting.
Each of us started taking hunters on state land during the early seasons individually so we could Elk hunt more. We all realized that we were unable to do it alone. After many conversations and because of our undying obsession with Elk hunting, Canada Creek Elk Guides was born and we were soon deemed the “Elk-ah-holics” by our friends and families.
Now Canada Creek Elk Guides is one of the top guiding services in Northern Michigan. Our honest and ethical reputation precedes us. We have an outstanding relationship with the local and regional DNR and Law enforcement. Our guides have years of experience and each one brings different strategies and ideas to the team.
That’s right a team. We all work together to fill each tag by sharing information and helping each other out. From our scouts in the woods to our retrieval team we are all there he help your hunt be successful.
Our team leaders Chuck and Jeff pride themselves in providing the latest in communications to our team, as well as the most up to date maps and information supplied by the DNR. We maintain partnerships with local landowners allowing us to hunt their properties.
We have ongoing relationships with local processors, hotel owners and bar and restaurant owners. We will be happy to give you referrals to the services you may need during your hunt.
We have a recovery team with retrieval equipment to get these big animals out of the woods. We will help you load and package your animal for travel or even take your trophy to a local processor.
We are located in the heart of
Elk Country!
Let's Get After It!
Hunting Package
All hunts Bull or Cow are $1,750.00
A 550.00 deposit is required to reserve your spot. Call Chuck (3) to make your reservation 989-350-0041
Act quickly do not hesitate when booking we have limited spots and we sell out very quickly!
You will be assigned a guide and you typically ride in our vehicles.
You can bring (1) person with you. We reserve the right to put a cow and bull hunter together in the same vehicle for a better hunting experience.
Our hunts very depending on the conditions and situations. We typically drive to local spots in the AM looking for animals in fields. Sometime we mobile scout and look for animals or tracks, some days we may sit in a blind or a choice spot in the woods and sometimes we stalk. We change our strategy several times throughout the hunt or even the day to make the best hunt we can for you. If you require a specific style of hunt, please be up front so we can accommodate your request.
Examples may be if you are physically unable to stalk an animal and would like to be dropped off at a blind. If you would like to use a Crossbow or Bow/ Arrow or would like a tree stand. Maybe you would prefer a stalk only hunt. These things are very important to us and we have the resources to accommodate your needs if we know in advance.
During the early fall hunts, we usually hunt morning and evenings. We will bring you back to the rendezvous point and drop you off and pick you back up at a specific time. Or sometimes we will meet the crew for lunch and discuss strategies.
During the December hunt we usually leave in the morning and do not return until after dark. Usually we do stop for lunch. There are occasions that we will be on a hunt and cannot make it in.
When hunting with us please bring a backpack with your hunting gear, field dressing equipment, your package from the DNR including your kill tag, snacks and drinks. Be sure to include any of your medications and do not hesitate to inform your guide if you have any medical issues.
Tips: Many people ask do I tip my guide? Yes, you do tip your guide. A good rule is about 20% of the cost of your hunt. Guides will accept cash or meat or both for a tip.
Field Dressing: You will need zip ties or string to secure the tag to your animal, 2 knives, field dressing gloves, or a sportsman filed dressing kit. Small bags for heart/liver are also needed with a small pelvic saw.
Private Land: We primarily hunt public lands however we do have access to many parcels of private land. Each landowner has different rules and charges. If we find animals on private land we have access to, your guide can give you information on that parcel. Most landowners request a 200.00 trespass fee if you harvest an animal on their property. Some landowners will take meat instead of cash or both. The Private Clubs Canada Creek Ranch and Black River Ranch have different rules than other landowners. Both charge a flat fee to hunt their property after they are finished with their own hunts.
Meet the Canada Creek Team
Cobie was born in December 2018. 6 weeks later Jeff adopted her from the local shelter. She is very social and loves people and other dogs. She was trained to find wounded deer and elk, and was certified by the United Blood Trackers in August 2020. 2021 was her first full hunting season tracking and it was a great one. She is constantly training in the off-season and can’t wait until hunting season. When she’s not tracking, she enjoy long walks in the woods, belly rubs, and playing ball.
Bob has lived and worked in Atlanta for many years. In his spare time you can always find Bob in the woods. He has a cabin in the Pigeon River Forest. But most times is on foot looking for antlers or just looking for elk.
Charlie, Chuck (C3’s) dad. Moved to Atlanta in 1990 after retiring from General Motors. He owned a Salmon Charter Boat in the Great lakes for many years. Soon after moving to Atlanta he got involved with Elk hunting on Canada Creek Ranch. Today, now retired from guiding Charlie heads up our retrieval team along with Doug.
Chuck, has been coming to the area his whole life, his family has a cabin in the heart of the Pigeon River Country where Chuck now resides. He has always had a passion for elk hunting and says as he grew up, he and his friends made a game of stalking elk to see how close they could get to them. Today, he still does the same thing year round. When Chuck has a day off he’s in the woods finding and following elk.
Chuck (C3) moved to Atlanta full time in 2004. After coming to the Atlanta area his whole life. He now is an active paramedic, wild land firefighter, events coordinator, active with the Chamber of Commerce, 4H Fair Board and Local Conservation Committee. He has been an elk guide for 20 years. In 2005 he was asked to help organize and lead the elk hunt on Canada Creek Ranch. Then in 2006, he became the official leader of the elk hunting team and has organized hunts for the Canada Creek Ranch ever since. Working very closely with the DNR, Chuck has helped to build Canada Creek Ranch the reputation as a premiere elk hunting location in Michigan. Chuck says “although Canada Creek Elk Guides is a separate business, we treat our hunters as our family and provide the best in customer service.” Chuck is the guy you will be referred to when you call to inquire about a hunt. He handles all our bookings for hunts and places you with a guide. He will be your main contact person.
Clayton came to Atlanta elk hunting with his best friend in 2010 and has been hooked ever since. During that hunt he met his now wife who is a wild life specialist at the DNR. They have a home here in the Atlanta area. He has worked as a single guide for over 10 years. He joined Canada Creek Elk Guides team in 2020. He has been a great addition to our team.
Don has been hunting in the Atlanta area with his sons since 1995. He now lives at Canada Creek Ranch and has his own business in the surrounding area. In 2013 Don started working with the hunting team at Canada Creek Ranch with his boys. Together they became addicted to the elk hunt and joined the Canada Creek Elk Guides for early fall hunts, but still guides on the club in the winter hunts.
Doug, Chuck’s Uncle moved to Atlanta in 2005 He worked at Northern Michigan RV. Now retired he finally gets to spend more time in the woods hunting and fishing. Since retirement he has joined the Canada Creek Elk Guides retrieval team. Doug is our Mr. Fix It guy. If anything goes wrong we call Doug.
Earl, Jeff’s Grandfather, retired as a math teacher many years ago. He spends his winter months in Arizona and the summers up in Atlanta, MI. Ever since Jeff started guiding elk, Earl wanted to be apart of it. He volunteers his time every year. He enjoys driving around trying to find elk for the hunters. He says “it is a great feeling to be part of these special elk hunts while also spending time with family.”
Earl, has been coming to the area his whole life hunting and fishing. After retiring Earl moved to the Atlanta area and started helping with the elk hunt on Canada Creek Ranch and then eventually started guiding. Earl loved elk hunting so much, he quickly joined our team and we are glad to have him.
Freddie, spent his summers at the Canada Creek Ranch with childhood friend Chuck (C3). He became involved with wrestling, football and hockey at a young age and continued his passion after high-school eventually becoming a professional fighter and wrestler. Now a trainer for multiple athletes and hockey teams, Fred spends his free time hunting whitetail, mule deer and elk throughout the country. In the last few years be became more involved with Michigan hunting after leaving California. Now an avid Elk guide with all his buddies.
Jeff’s Dad moved to the Atlanta area in 2007 after retiring from Ford Motor Company. He’s an avid deer hunter and spends most his fall days in the tree stand. He started helping with the Elk Hunt in 2016. He says “I really enjoy being part of the hunt, scouting, retrieving animals and even guiding at times.”
Jeff, Co-Owner, spent all of his summers in the Atlanta area, at his family cabin on Canada Creek Ranch. He moved to Atlanta full time in 2005 after continuing his education and becoming a Sheriff Deputy. He started guiding elk on Canada Creek Ranch in 2014 and instantly became addicted to elk hunting. He is an avid deer hunter and fisherman. When he’s not working, he is spending time in the woods or on a lake.
Jerry moved to Atlanta permanently 10 years ago, He’s been guiding elk hunts for 15 years, He is Commemorative Bucks of Michigan official measurer, life member of Whitetails Unlimited, member of the RMEF and a life-time member of Pheasants Forever, He hunts in Kansas, Colorado, Indiana and Michigan. As a former county emergency manager, he has a close relationship with local law enforcement and game wardens.
Ken first started hunting pheasants and deer with his dad on the family farm. This instilled a love for the outdoors which followed him throughout his life. He’s worked with various conservation clubs, taught hunters safety and worked with the Michigan State Police educating elementary school children on gun safety. Ken has hunted bull elk in the mountains of Colorado, mule deer at rattlesnake butte and antelope on the plains of Wyoming. Ken is an experienced guide and scout with a proven track record. After moving to Atlanta, Ken quickly got involved with the Michigan Elk Hunt.
Mary Jo is the “Mom”. She is actually Chuck’s mother but all the boys call her Mom. She is the main hostess, always welcoming everyone in. She takes care of the headquarters and the books. and keeps all the boys in line.
Mike has been coming to the area for many years hunting around the Atlanta and Hillman areas. He lives on Canada Creek Ranch. When he’s not refurbishing vintage cars and log homes he is in the woods. He, like the rest of us became enthralled with elk hunting from his first helping out.
Mike lives in Traverse City. He started visiting Atlanta in the mid 1980s due to his in-laws cabin on Canada Creek Ranch. He has hunted whitetails and everything else in the area for years with much success. He started “scout” hunting for elk in 2005 and quickly turned to guiding. He’s been loving it ever since. Hobbies of course are hunting and anything out doors. He loves motor sports and has raced cars, snowmobiles and induro raced motorcycles. Mike is also an avid boater.
Ralph has been hunting in the Pigeon River Forest since 1968. Ralph moved to Atlanta after retiring from Ford Motor Co to his home on Canada Creek Ranch. He started guiding elk as soon as he could. 13 years later Ralph is an official Measurer for the Commemorative Bucks of Michigan. Ralph is widely known for his completeness during the hunt. He strives to being the guide who fills the most tags in a single season.
“Aunt Trish” One of the Girl Scouts, moved to Atlanta in 2011 after retiring and quickly joined the team as a scout. She has a knack for finding animals. Most days when the boys decide to check an area they quickly find out she has already been there. She has such a passion for the hunt you will even see her pushing her walker through the woods to the kill site to congratulate the hunter and crew.
Troy grew up in Atlanta. After returning from the service, Troy met and married a girl from Atlanta. They have 2 boys in high school. Troy is the Atlanta Football Coach and is an avid outdoors man. He has been Guiding Elk Hunts for many years and he is a huge asset to our team.
Had a great time, the guides were excellent they are always hustling to find Elk for you. By the end of the hunt you will be sorry to leave all your new found friends. And yes I did get an Elk!!!
Amazing experience with Chuck for our 9 year old son who shot a cow elk!
Book Your Hunt
Plan Your Hunt in Northern Michigan
Contact Us Today to Book- We Sell Out QUICKLY
Chuck Whitmire 989-350-0041
Email: Chucwhitmire@aol.com
Jeff Schaible 989-350-0139
Had a great time with these guys. They all work together to make sure you have the best experience possible.
No matter who was hunting if they had an animal they made a call to help all other hunters out. Would recommend using them every time. My guide Chuck new every single road like the back of his hand and found the elk each day. Thanks again guys and hope that I can make it back down again for another hunt some day
- Brett Scheiding
