The city’s elk herd roams on 108 acres in the outdoor tourism hot spot in Michigan’s lower peninsula. The area is also home to a large wild elk herd that visitors can watch at Pigeon River Country State Forest. This current wild herd can be traced back to 1918, when seven Rocky Mountain elk were brought into the Gaylord area. Since then, both the local government and private sector have worked to manage the elk population. Wild elk are in the Pigeon River Country State Forest area all year-round, but September and October are considered the best months for elk viewing.