8-Year-Old Makes Michigan Elk-Hunting History

by
posted on February 22, 2020
elk-miller_lead.jpg
courtesy of Gunner Miller

When Braeleigh Miller, 8, took her first elk in Michigan last December, she had no idea the hunt would make the record books. With a 202-yard shot on a 400-pound cow elk, Braeleigh officially became the youngest hunter in Michigan history to kill an elk.

Braeleigh was hunting with her dad, Gunnar, and her grandpa through the state's mentor program and, with help from a guide, found elk in a field on opening morning.

“This entire experience has been nothing short of phenomenal," said Gunnar Miller. "[Braeleigh] had the trip of a lifetime for sure.”

“It’s cool for me because I’ve never set a record before, my dad hasn’t set a record before, and my grandpa hasn’t set a record before,” exclaimed the young hunter.

The previous record for the youngest successful elk hunter in Michigan was held by an 11-year-old.

Latest

JB Hodgdon
JB Hodgdon

In Memoriam: John Brewster “JB” Hodgdon (Oct. 16, 1936-June 13, 2025)

The Second Amendment and NRA community has lost a truly great champion: John Brewster “JB” Hodgdon, who with his brother Bob led Hodgdon Powder Company into the American gun-owning lexicon, passed away on June 13, 2025.

Why Squirrel Hunting is Better Suppressed

With the purchasing process now easier than ever, hunting with a suppressed firearm is becoming more commonplace. Adjust your tactics accordingly.

First Look: Bear Creek Arsenal .277 Fury Uppers

Ready to turn your AR-10 into a long-range monster? Bear Creek Arsenal has released complete .277 Fury upper assemblies built to harness the ballistic power of the next-gen .277 Fury cartridge.

#SundayGunday: Savage Model 110 Tactical

This week on #SundayGunday, we’re checking out the Model 110 Tactical from Savage Arms. A magazine-fed variant of Savage’s classic Model 110, the 110 Tactical is the perfect bolt gun for when you need to get a number of shots on target in a hurry.

Auto-Ordnance Commemorative Rifle and Pistol Duo Honors the Army's 250th Anniversary

Auto-Ordnance, in partnership with the artisans at Altered Arsenal, have announced the release of two commemorative firearms in a series called "A Salute to Service," created to honor the 250th Anniversary of the founding of the Army on June 14, 1775.

Conservation Group Launches Fundraiser Following Brutal Rhino Poaching

At the end of April, poachers broke into the Imire Rhino and Wildlife Conservancy in Zimbabwe in search of rhinoceros horn—an incredibly valuable commodity on the international market. The poachers brutally shot and killed a tame 22-year-old black rhino male called Gomo and, with axe in tow, massacred its head and face and seized its horns.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.