Log in Subscribe

Archers Elk Hunt in PA!

Jack Danchak - Columnist
Posted 11/5/20

Pennsylvania recently held their Second Annual Archery Elk Hunt. Twenty-six lucky archery hunters were selected to participate in the 14-day hunt this year. A total of 26 elk permits were awarded, 10 …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Archers Elk Hunt in PA!

Posted

Pennsylvania recently held their Second Annual Archery Elk Hunt. Twenty-six lucky archery hunters were selected to participate in the 14-day hunt this year. A total of 26 elk permits were awarded, 10 bull and 16 cow permits. Twenty-five of the 26 hunters were from Pennsylvania and one lone bull tag holder was from New York State.

Jeremy Banfield, the Game Commission's elk biologist, said this is the most exciting time to hunt elk, “The early archery season would be my preferred time of the year to hunt elk. The rut is in full swing with lots of activity and very vocal bulls.”

Elk tags were issued by random drawing, with hunters who also applied last year given one preference point. Permits were divided among nine elk hunt zones, with any hunter allowed to hunt in Elk Hunt Zone 1 (the open zone).

John Moletteri from Delaware County, PA had an exciting early-morning hunt on the second day of the hunt. John and his guide arrived at an area that is open to hunting, well before daylight. The fog was just lifting when they started to sneak across a field toward a bull elk that they heard bugling.

The elk moved to the right of them. They used a wooded hedgerow as cover in an attempt to intercept the bull, but when they got to the end of the fencerow, they saw a bigger bull with a dozen cows.

What followed was a cat and mouse game between the cows and the bull. However, any possible shot at the bull was obstructed by chest-high goldenrods. The large bull was close to the hunters' but they could only see the antlers. Luck prevailed and the bull and cows moved toward the open field.

The bull finally gave them a shooting opportunity and Moletteri made a perfect shot. They watched the bull disappear into the woods. They found a good blood trail, but decided to let the bull rest rather than risk pushing it.

Two and a half hours later, they located the 8-by-7 bull only 20 yards from where it entered the woods. Moletteri commented, “I was grinning from ear-to-ear, it was a hunt of a lifetime for me.”

By the end of the two-week season, all 10 of the bull tag holders were successful, as were 11 out of the 16 cow tag holders.

Biologist Banfield stated, “Overall success rates were high, and the hunters performed well. Most hunters who I talked with seemed to enjoy the experience. I am looking forward to the upcoming general elk season in November, and all the excitement it brings to sportsmen and women.”

Jack Danchak is the President of the Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs of Sullivan County.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here