For your enjoyment...PA BULLS !!

[iShoot17]

I've been applying for a few years - this year was for bonus points only because I had already drawn for another potentially once-in-a-lifetime tag that is taking my priority.

With that said - we hunt Elk County a good amount. Last year, I was in a ladder stand not seeing a single whitetail. I heard some sticks cracking, got the bow ready, and out come three bulls. What a sight to see when those beast are up close and doing their thing. I was bummed that the whitetail had seemed to evacuate the area, but was very grateful to get to see the bulls up close in the hunting woods. I hung my bow back up and sat back to watch them for about 45 minutes.

 

[epoletna]

Those are real beauties! I wish we could do the same in OH. I know there are elk in KY just south of us, and in PA just north of us. We could surely grow some here.

 

[RUFFIAN R - NY]

Great pics- love to eat ELK- I make them one of my top game animals and make super eating.

 

[iShoot17]

Those are real beauties! I wish we could do the same in OH. I know there are elk in KY just south of us, and in PA just north of us. We could surely grow some here.

The population of elk on the east coast is definitely growing - albeit slowly. They are still very limited in regards to hunts and actual elk populations.

Some other surprises:
(1) Virginia has elk and a VERY limited hunt season
(2) Tennessee has elk and a hunting season
(3) Arkansas has elk and a hunting season
(4) North Carolina has elk as well, but not hunt.

I'm sure there are others, but these are states that came up in recent conversations!

 

[fnlights]

Yeah it is crazy only living a few hours away from Benezette. We make a trip there about every year and never fail to see some insane bulls. Most of the time they let you get pretty close to them. We spend all this time and money going to CO, WY, MT, etc to elk hunt and the best bulls are only a few hours away from home haha. Now if only I could get a tag.

 

[CMP70306]

The population of elk on the east coast is definitely growing - albeit slowly. They are still very limited in regards to hunts and actual elk populations.

Some other surprises:
(1) Virginia has elk and a VERY limited hunt season
(2) Tennessee has elk and a hunting season
(3) Arkansas has elk and a hunting season
(4) North Carolina has elk as well, but not hunt.

I'm sure there are others, but these are states that came up in recent conversations!

Part of the issue for slow growth is that in PA they can't expand much past their current range due to farmers shooting them for crop damage.

 

[Frank in the Laurels]

Part of the issue for slow growth is that in PA they can't expand much past their current range due to farmers shooting them for crop damage.

You said it, there range as of now is about close to finished as far as expanding goes. They do not want them below I-80 on the south, 219 on the west, a little past 144 on the east and Potter Co on the north..there's lot of land in between those boundaries but the vast majority is woods...not conducive to their dietary requirements. Herd growth I would think now is up to the PGC and the amount of food plots and clear-cuts they want to provide and how much of the powerlines and gas lines they want to plant as food plots....lots of gun barrels pointed their way to the east and south, unfortunately..I think the latest winter population count was in the neighborhood of 1650 after hunting season...time will tell..but the World Record is already walking here I'm sure..

 

[iShoot17]

It does make ya wonder - what if elk were all over PA again? That would be pretty slick, but I also see why it won't happen. The disputes are more than a century old between farmer loss, politics, expansion, limitation, ideal dietary ranges, poaching enforcement, tourism dollars, etc. etc.

I think we can all agree on: it is an incredible sight getting to see some of these monsters every year. With the limits on the hunt, we know some of the giants will be back every year. I can't wait for my chance someday to pursue one.

 

[Frank in the Laurels]

It does make ya wonder - what if elk were all over PA again? That would be pretty slick, but I also see why it won't happen. The disputes are more than a century old between farmer loss, politics, expansion, limitation, ideal dietary ranges, poaching enforcement, tourism dollars, etc. etc.

I think we can all agree on: it is an incredible sight getting to see some of these monsters every year. With the limits on the hunt, we know some of the giants will be back every year. I can't wait for my chance someday to pursue one.

Yes, the farming communities below I-80 would loose their minds !!! I don't forsee any more expansion beyond what I mentioned, however they are making lots of food plots all over existing range, so the population will increase somewhat. I finally drew a cow tag after 18 years of waiting and dropped a 450 lber, thrill of a lifetime for sure but I spend a lot of retirement time hunting with my camera, truthfully just seeing the really big monsters is breathe taking...keep applying and dreaming, no one ever won a tag without a chance...

 

[iShoot17]

I've got my name in the hat for all the seasons! I'd love a bull, but would be grateful for just having the opportunity to hunt elk in PA. I have an odd dream of hunting one with the flintlock!

As luck would have it - I drew a bull moose tag in Maine this year so the only PA elk hunting I'll be doing this year is with binoculars. Like you said, you can't win if you don't play the game!

 

[Weaver93]

VA's population is in Buchanan County on the WV/KY border. Herd was transplanted from KY. They set up a Elk camera that goes live in September - October during rut. They have a recorded clip on the site from a few years back with some nice animals after the 5 minute mark.

Elk Cam

The DWR Elk Cam, located in Southwest Virginia’s Buchanan County, follows Virginia’s majestic elk herd during their breeding season.

dwr.virginia.gov

 

[Tac-O]

Absolutely beautiful. I honestly think I might have a hard time shooting one of those if I had the chance. I would just want to keep watching and watching and watching until it was gone.

 

[338ultramag]

I think most people would be suprised that 31 states have an elk population. Not all have hunting seasons but non the less elk are increasing in the eastern part of this country. Kentucky probably has the largest most eastern herd with 13,000 plus animals. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has been very active in establishing elk in states east of the Mississippi. The recovery of Elk in places where they were wiped out is a real success story that not enough people hear about. I have attached a link that shows what states have elk and their claimed populations. I hope the link works. https://wildlifeinformer.com/elk-population-by-state/

 

[Briant_az]

I think most people would be suprised that 31 states have an elk population. Not all have hunting seasons but non the less elk are increasing in the eastern part of this country. Kentucky probably has the largest most eastern herd with 13,000 plus animals. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has been very active in establishing elk in states east of the Mississippi. The recovery of Elk in places where they were wiped out is a real success story that not enough people hear about. I have attached a link that shows what states have elk and their claimed populations. I hope the link works. https://wildlifeinformer.com/elk-population-by-state/

I for one didn't know this!