In Pennsylvania’s elk country, you’ll see plenty of cows, some nice bulls, and maybe even one bigger than this one. Photo courtesy of Steve Sorensen
The bull elk is just over the hill. You can hear his bellowing roar. The sun is setting and you have been waiting for this for a long time. Suddenly you see huge antlers silhouetted against the sky as the majestic bull approaches. You are in position when you find him in your scope. He bellows again, adding a series of grunts, the suffix to the elk’s unique mating call. He is only 35 yards away, his mouth open, his chest rising and falling.
It’s the moment of truth, but you won’t be shooting. You won’t be carrying a rifle or a bow. You won’t have a badge. You might not even be a hunter. And you’re not in the Rockies of Colorado, the high country of New Mexico, or the Badlands of Dakota. You’re in Pennsylvania, on Winslow Hill in Elk County, south of St. Marys. You’re carrying a camera and binoculars, and this is one of the greatest wildlife shows you’ll ever see.
The best time to visit Pennsylvania’s elk range is mid to late September, so reserve your spot now. As you get closer, you’ll wonder if you’ll be lucky enough to see any.
Will you find the right place and time? Will the moose come out of the forest? Will you see bulls? Will they be big ones? Will you hear the eerie roar of the bulls and the soft meow of the cows? In the last two hours of daylight, the answer to every question is a loud “Yes!” It’s mating season and they are not shy.
I love taking someone who has never been before. The first time I took my dad we saw 60 in one evening, including some amazing bulls up close. The bulls rake their antlers into the grass, rub them on trees and strut around roaring at their rivals while focusing on the beautiful girls.
The last of Pennsylvania’s original elk (Cervus canadensis canadensis) was killed in 1877. The Pennsylvania Game Commission was established in 1895 and conducted a far-sighted recovery program between 1913 and 1926. The agency released 177 elk (Cervus canadensis nelsoni), imported from rapidly expanding western herds, into the best habitat for the big animals in Pennsylvania. They struggled for decades, and by 1971 fewer than 70 animals remained.
With the development of breeding and rearing areas and efforts to reduce conflict between humans and moose, moose have gained a better foothold. By 2001, the population had grown to over 600 animals, and today about 1,500 remain, mostly in the rugged mountains of Elk and Cameron counties. They are also found in Potter, Clearfield, Clinton and Centre counties. Their success has been so great that, for the benefit of the moose, the state now institutes a limited hunting season that prevents the herd from spreading into areas where they conflict with other land uses or pose a threat to the public.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission makes its elk herd accessible to everyone, not just hunters. It has set up several viewing areas for people to enjoy the spectacle. The most popular is on Winslow Hill near the small village of Benezette, which has a modern, interactive museum called the Elk Country Visitor Center. There, you’ll learn more about elk than you thought possible. In partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Keystone Elk Country Alliance manages the center.
The Game Commission conducts annual population studies and conducts habitat improvement projects on state lands. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has donated significant sums to add key acreage to the elk’s main range, erect deterrent fencing, improve habitat, and create the Winslow Hill elk viewing areas. Other organizations working to promote the welfare of elk in Pennsylvania include both hunting and non-hunting conservation organizations.
A trip to Pennsylvania’s elk wilderness is always worth it. You’ll find that elk are easy to find and photograph, and they put on an impressive show. After the rut, the bulls come to their senses and leave the public areas to retreat to more secluded areas. I can’t promise anything, but on almost every trip I’ve been on, I’ve seen deer, turkey, a bear, a bald eagle, or other wildlife.
Don’t forget your camera and binoculars, as this is one of the most beautiful nature trips you can take on foot. It’s also the easiest, closest, and free. There’s much more to Elk Country than can be described here. For more information, visit www.elkcountryvisitorcenter.com online.
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When “The Everyday Hunter” doesn’t hunt, he thinks about hunting, talks about hunting, dreams about hunting, writes about hunting, or wishes he was hunting. If you want to tell Steve exactly where your favorite hunting spot is, contact him through his website www.EverydayHunter.com. He writes for top outdoor magazines and won national “Pinnacle Award” for writing outdoors.
