27,592 Pa Elk Applications

This year 27,592 hunters applied for a Pa elk license.  That raised $275,920 Just from applications alone. Another $157,150 was raised through a raffle for the Keystone Elk Country Alliance. Add to that another $52,500 from a license raffled off from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and you have a total of $485,570 for Pa wildlife!

Good luck to all the hunters who were awarded a license this year.

Pa Elk License

Today, July 31st is the last day to apply for a Pennsylvania elk license. The drawing will be held on Saturday August 15. You can apply for a chance to obtain an elk license online by clicking here

Pa Elk License Application 2015

The application for the 2015 Pa elk license opened on June 8th and will close on July 31. The cost to apply is 10.70 for Pa residents. The annual drawing for elk license will take place on Saturday August 15th during the elk expo at Elk Country Visitor Center in Benezette. You can apply Here

I have been applying for an elk license for the past several years. Hopefully this is the year my tag is drawn. I can't imagine how fantastic it would be to harvest a Pennsylvania elk. I would be thrilled with a Cow or Bull.

Pa Elk License Raises $52,000

The quality of Pennsylvania’s elk, and the unique opportunity to hunt them continues to garner national attention, and there are numbers to prove it.

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation on Jan. 31 held its Hunters Rendezvous Auction, at which several special elk licenses were auctioned off to raise money for conservation.

Pennsylvania, with its Special Elk Conservation Tag, was among eight states for which licenses were auctioned off. 

The tag sold for $52,500 – a new record for Pennsylvania. Only Arizona’s and Nevada’s licenses raised more for conservation.

Dave Ragantesi, senior regional director for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, said the money raised through the auction will stay in Pennsylvania, where it can continue to work to benefit the state’s elk. 

“We are pleased to have a strong partnership with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, and look forward to utilizing these funds for continued improvement of our public lands in Pennsylvania’s elk country,” Ragantesi said.

2013 Elk License Results

I was not awarded an Elk license in this years lottery.  The game commission has the results online today. You can check your status by going through their website HERE .  Good luck to all the hunters who were lucky enough to draw a Pa Elk tag.  Be safe and shoot straight! 

Pa Elk License Application

 2013 marks the 100th anniversary of the restoration of elk in Pennsylvania! Hunters have until Aug. 25 to submit an application through the Pennsylvania Automated License System (PALS).

 

Applications can be submitted anywhere hunting licenses are sold, or online at the Game Commission’s website, www.pgc.state.pa.us. Perhaps the easiest way to submit an online application is by clicking on the “Enter Elk Drawing” icon on the website’s homepage.

 

Applicants must pay a $10.70 non-refundable application fee to be included in the drawing.  This year’s drawing provides a greater opportunity for hunters to obtain an elk license. The number of licenses to be allocated has been increased to 86, up from the 65 licenses issued in the 2012-13 season.

 

The drawing will be held on Friday, Sept. 13 in the auditorium at the Game Commission’s headquarters in Harrisburg.

 

Names will be drawn first for the 26 antlered licenses available, followed by the drawings for the 60 available antlerless licenses.

 

Individuals are not required to purchase a resident or nonresident general hunting license to apply for the drawing. However, if they are drawn for one of the elk licenses, hunters then will be required to purchase the appropriate resident or nonresident general hunting license and view the elk hunt orientation video produced by the Game Commission before being permitted to purchase the elk license. The elk license fees are $25 for residents and $250 for nonresidents. 

 

There is no cap, or limit, for the number of licenses that may be awarded to nonresidents. Individuals who applied in each year from 2003 through 2012, but were not awarded an elk license, have 10 preference points heading into this year’s drawing if they submit an application this year, and will have their name entered into the drawing 11 times (10 preference points plus the point for this year’s application). 

 

As part of the preference-point system established by the agency in 2003, consecutive applications are not required to maintain previously earned preference points, but those points can be activated only in years that a hunter submits an application. For instance, if a hunter has 10 preference points, but does not enter the 2012 drawing, he/she will not have any chances in the upcoming drawing. However, their preference points will remain on hold until they apply in a future drawing. Once a hunter is awarded an elk license – either an antlered or antlerless elk license – the hunter’s preference points will revert to zero.

GAME COMMISSION TO HOLD DRAWING FOR ELK LICENSES

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe said the agency’s public drawing for the 2012 elk hunting licenses will be webcast beginning at 10 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 14. To view the drawing, a “Live Elk Drawing” icon will be posted on the agency’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) for individuals to click on and watch the drawing.

“Each year, tens of thousands of individuals apply for an elk license,” Roe said.  “Unfortunately, not all of them can make it to the public drawings. And, due to financial limitations, we are only able to send notification letters to those who were selected to receive an elk license. By webcasting the public drawings, more people can view this drawing without having to travel to the agency’s Harrisburg headquarters.”

Beginning at 10 a.m., the agency will conduct the public drawing to award 65 elk licenses. Roe also noted that those who have submitted applications can check to see if they were selected, by Sept. 21, thanks to the Pennsylvania Automated License System (PALS). 

Presently, the status for all individual applications for elk licenses is listed as “Pending.”  Once the database is updated, which is expected no later than Sept. 21, those who were selected for an elk license will see the status changed to “Awarded,” as well as the designation of the Elk Hunt Zone and whether they were awarded an antlered or antlerless elk license.  Those not selected will see the status changed to “Unsuccessful.”

To access the information, go to the Game Commission website (www.pgc.state.pa.us), and click on the blue box in the upper right-hand corner of the homepage.  Click on the “Purchase License Permit and or Application/Replace License and or Permit” option, which includes the ability to “Check on the status of any Lottery Application,” scroll down and click on the “Start Here” button at the bottom of the page.  At this page, choose one of the identification options below to check your records, fill in the necessary information and click on the “Continue” button. Click on the appropriate residency status, which will display your current personal information.  At the bottom of the page, choose the “Check on the status of any Lottery Application” button, and then hit “Continue.”

“While this may seem like a lot of clicking and box checking to get to the information, the system is designed to protect an individual’s personal information, while at the same time enabling that person to check on the status of his or her applications, as well as their antlerless deer license applications,” Roe said. “Prior to PALS, the only way to know for sure that you were awarded an elk license was to attend the public drawings, wait for a letter in the mail or to call the Game Commission.

“This year, thanks to PALS, we will be able to update the data files for each individual awarded a license shortly after the public drawing is completed so that they will be able to see for themselves if they were drawn for one of the licenses.”

Pa Elk Lottery

I just completed my Pa Hunting License online for 2012-2013 and decided to put myself in the lottery for an elk license.  I know the odds of being picked are slim but it would be a hunt of a lifetime to go after elk in Pa.

If I am lucky enough to get a tag I know just the crew to take with me.  My brother John and the guys from the wpa wounded warrior group.  Maybe even one or two from Wild Jaeger.com would fly in, who knows.  I'm all excited already, lol.  Wish me luck!

New Pennsylvania Elk Record Set - Pittsburgh Hunting | Examiner.com

New Pennsylvania Elk Record Set - Pittsburgh Hunting Examiner.com

Wow, what a fantastic trophy Elk ! I would love the chance to tag a Pa Bull Elk, it is a once in a lifetime hunt for sure. I also would like to see the visitors center and video the herd one weekend...

HUNTERS HARVEST 53 ELK IN Pa 2011

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe today announced that 53 of the 57 licensed elk hunters were successful during the 2011 elk seasons.  Of that total, 19 were antlered elk and 34 were antlerless elk. 

“Elk are one of North America’s premier big game animals,” Roe said.  “Pennsylvania is privileged to offer this unique hunting opportunity, a product of successful wildlife management that supports Pennsylvania’s rich hunting heritage.  It’s an unparalleled experience for hunters, without all the travel and expense of a one- or two-week guided elk hunt out West.”

The heaviest antlered elk was taken by William G. Zee, of Doylestown, Bucks County.  He took a 930-pound (estimated live weight), 9x8 on Nov. 1, in Goshen Township, Clearfield County.  It’s unofficial Boone & Crockett green score was 426 and five-eighths inches.  If this score holds up after the required 60-day drying time, it would be ranked second on Pennsylvania’s Big Game Records for non-typical elk.

Other high-scoring antlered elk (all estimated live weights) were: Jesse M. Heiple, of Somerset, Somerset County, took a 772-pound, 8x7 on Nov. 1, in Jay Township, Elk County, which green-scored at 399 and three-eighths inches; Ken Kastely, of Carroll, Ohio, took a 780-pound, 9x9 on Nov. 1, in Covington Township, Clearfield County, which green-scored at 386 and five-eighths inches; and Calvin E. Wallace, of Kylertown, Clearfield County, took a 711-pound, 6x7 on Oct. 31, in Jay Township, Elk County.

The heaviest antlerless elk was taken by Garry L. Foreman, of Hershey, Dauphin County, who harvested a 601-pound (estimated live weight) antlerless elk on Nov. 5, in Jay Township, Elk County. 

Those hunters rounding out the top five heaviest (all estimated live weights) antlerless elk harvested were: Daniel W. Saulter, of Coudersport, Potter County, who took a 594-pound antlerless elk on Nov. 3, in Jay Township, Elk County; Gregory Collins, of Clearfield, Clearfield County, who took a 579-pound antlerless elk on Nov. 2, in Goshen Township, Clearfield County; David Grata, of Johnstown, Cambria County, who took a 546-pound antlerless elk on Nov. 1, in Goshen Township, Clearfield County; and Joshua Brubaker, of Edinboro, Erie County, who took a 517-pound antlerless elk on Oct. 31, in Benezette Township, Elk County.

Agency biologists extracted samples needed for chronic wasting disease testing. Results are expected in early 2012.

Roe also noted that Michael McGinnis, of Lyndhurst, Virginia, who was the successful bidder for the Elk Conservation Tag, harvested an antlered elk.  McGinnis harvested a 7x9 on Oct. 19, in Jay Township, in Elk County.   McGinnis purchased the Conservation Elk Tag during the Safari Club International’s national conference in early 2011, and was able to hunt from Sept. 1-Nov. 5. 

Under the state law that created the Elk Conservation Tag, of the $29,000 that McGinnis bid for the tag, $23,200 will go to the Game Commission’s Game Fund and $5,800 will be retained by Safari Club International.

For more information on elk in Pennsylvania, visit the Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us), put your cursor over “HUNT/TRAP” in the menu bar in the banner, choose “Hunting,” and then click on “Elk” in the listing under “Big Game.”

2011 ELK HUNT PATCH AVAILABLE FROM GAME COMMISSION

HARRISBURG – The latest in a series of patches to commemorate the annual elk hunt in the Commonwealth is available from the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) or by calling 1-888-888-3459 (toll-free).  The patch costs $6 plus shipping and handling, for a total of $7.32.

To order online, put your cursor over “General Store” in the menu bar at the top of the page, select “Visit the Outdoor Shop” from the drop-down menu listing, click on “Pennsylvania Game Commission Outdoor Shop” in the lower left-hand corner, choose “Merchandise” at the top of the page, click on “Patches” in the left-hand column and scroll down to “2011 Elk Hunt Patch” and follow the instructions to order.

In addition, patches celebrating previous elk hunts are available for 2001 through 2010, except for the 2004 elk hunt, which patch sold out.

Elk Trouble in Pa

Trouble on the range Mark Nale CentreDaily.com

The Pennsylvania Elk Herd is a very valuable resource to all the citizens of Pennsylvania, not just hunters. Tourism thrives in elk country providing resources to a struggling economy. Why is it then that the Pennsylvania Game Commission allows farmers to indiscriminately kill elk for crop damage?

I understand that the game commission has limited resources and fencing can be very costly. That being said, it seems like a good investment for the state to assist farmers with fencing that will protect against crop damage by elk , deer and bear and protect the tourism industry as well.

What are your thoughts? There has to be a better way of managing our natural resources than simply saying to a farmer,  if elk are causing damage, by all means shoot them!

Pa Elk Hunting

Pennsylvania Game Commission: Elk Application Deadline Approaches

Time to get your license and get into the drawing! The first 18 draw a bull tag. Can you find room on your wall for one of these boys?

Teen bags six-point bull elk from wheelchair

Teen bags six-point bull elk from wheelchair Here is a great example of what can be accomplished with a little bit of time and effort. Congratulations Mikey on a trophy Bull Elk !

41 Elk were taken in 2010 here in Pa.  You can read about them HERE