Pennsylvania's first ever archery elk hunt was held this year on September 14 - 28. Fifteen hunters participated in the archery hunt and were selected by a lottery drawing. All applicants paid the $11.90 fee to get in the drawing.

Pa.'s elk biologist Jeremy Banfield stated, “The bulls were extremely active and vocal during this September archery elk season. They were responding to calls and in a few cases multiple bulls came charging in to hunters. Hunting during the elk rut certainly provided some exciting hunting.”

All five archery bull elk hunters were successful taking trophy size elk. Five of the archery antlerless elk license holders took an elk.

The general elk season began on Monday, November 4 and will end on Saturday November 9. Ninety-eight elk permits will be issued that includes 27 permits for bulls and 71 permits for antlerless elk.

Separate drawings were held for the elk archery season, the general elk season and the late-antlerless elk season. All applicants paid $11.90 for the chance to be drawn and more than 60,000 hunters applied to get in the elk license drawings.

Hunters who do not harvest an elk during the general season may participate in the extended season and they are permitted to take either an antlered or antlerless elk.

Hunters participating in the elk firearms general season had to wear, at all times, 250 square inches of daylight fluorescent orange material on the head, chest and back combined, visible 360 degrees.

A successful hunter must attach the elk tag to the ear of an elk immediately after harvest and before the carcass is moved. In addition, within 24 hours, each hunter who harvests an elk must take it, along with his or her hunting license and elk license, to the Game Commission check station, where samples are collected for chronic wasting disease (CWD), brucellosis and tuberculosis.

The elk station is open to the public and located at the Elk County Visitor Center in Benezette, Pa, hours are 10 AM to 6 PM each day of the hunting season.

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