PA Elk hunting (updated 10-15) I've drawn what is usually considered a once in a life time tag for PA elk. I have a cow tag, and as of now I plan to hunt with a rifle. I'm looking forward to making several trips to elk country and scout things out and see what I'm in for. It's very mountainous & rugged terrain, and about as remote as it gets in PA. So far from what I understand I should find elk, I may have to do some hiking, but that's ok. I'll try to post updates in this thread as I go along and learn the area in which I can hunt.
Congrats Ryan! That's awesome......... When does your season for them start? I'd bring the handgun too.......not many people in PA can claim to killing an elk with a handgun.
If its anything like KY leave the rifle at home and take the handgun or bow. Still very doable and will extend the hunt past the first day. I've applied every year since it opened in KY to no avail. Congrats man hope ya smoke a big fat cow
Sweet! I've said it before and I'll say it again - I've seen more elk on my trips to PA than I have deer. :D So you should stand a pretty good chance of getting something. Too bad you didn't draw a bull tag - there's some great animals in those hills. Check out the Elk County Visitors Center Facebook page. They're always posting photos of big bulls out bugling in the fields around the area. Very cool stuff.
Plan ahead on how you're going to get that critter out of the woods. I'm not sure, but I think they require you to bring the whole animal to checking stations.
As I said before, good luck... Assuming that you hike in deep, do you have a pack frame to carry out the meat or how will you retrieve the elk should you get one? I am pretty confident that you will bag an elk, you are a solid hunter.
Thanks guys! If I find during my trips that getting into the elk is easier than I expect, the revolver option will certainly be very much in play. I hear lots of conflicting things about how approachable the elk are. A lot probably stems from everyone seeing them in the viewing area (no hunting) where they have no fear of people. I'll get to form my own opinions on how they are in the more remote area that I've drawn. The season runs Nov 5-10, so if it ends up being a quick couple days hunt, I'll gladly pick the bow back up & hunt the rut like normal. That's ok with me. And I am allowed to pack the animal out, it does not need to come out whole. There's a lot of regs and I watched the dvd last night. I will have a pack frame, and depending on what I find up there, I may also bring a game cart. There are a lot of old forest roads/trails, that if I would get one deep, could pack out to the "road" then put it on the cart. And yes hook, they are the same from out west. There are several states here in the east that have introduced elk. PA has had an elk herd for a very long time, but up until 10 years ago, had not grown to huntable populations. They are expanding a lot now.
If you would come out of the bedroom once in a while you might be surprised at how many hunting opportunities are out there...
