PA Game Commission makes changes to elk tag lottery system amidst accusations

​In an effort to make Pennsylvania’s elk lottery system more transparent, the Pennsylvania House Game and Fisheries Committee, has approved an amended version of House Resolution 356 to make Pennsylvania’s Elk Hunt Day more equitable. 

The resolution by Rep. James Haddock, a Democrat serving parts of Lackawanna and Luzerne counties, is designed to recognize the management of Pennsylvania’s wild elk herd. “Every year, thousands of hunters apply to hunt in Pennsylvania, but less than 200 are annually chosen for this opportunity,” writes Haddock.

The resolution was unanimously approved and sent to the house with one member taking the opportunity to look for more transparency on how the licenses are awarded each year through the PGC’s lottery system. 

Rep. David Maloney, a Republican from Berks County, said he supports elk hunting but has concerns. “I would be remiss if I didn’t take this opportunity to tell you that there has been concerns in the system,” said Maloney. He goes on to say that when elk hunting was approved and to hold a random drawing for the issuance of  elk licenses at the Elk County Visitor’s Center, I probably don’t have to tell you that it’s not done.”

Since the drawing and names are selected in advance in Harrisburg, and are broadcast on a live stream video, it doesn’t stay available to the public, Maloney contends. He goes on to say that there’s no guarantee of the list’s accuracy or how long it will stay online. If the winners are unknown, the public will have little confidence the lottery has been conducted in an above-aboard manner, he said. 

In questioning the transparency, Maloney said “We have individuals within the Game Commission that are actually employed with multiple family members with (elk) tags. How do you think this sits with the public and Pennsylvania sportsmen as there’s zero transparency to the accuracy and what you can expect even with so-called preference (bonus) points.”

This is in reference to hunters who don’t get drawn for a tag but gain a bonus point instead of applying for a license each year. 

“Preference points, my friends, mean nothing. Twenty-five years of pulling points means nothing. And I can tell you that my desire is for this to stop and we get to the bottom of it and an investigation is conducted,” said Maloney. 

As a result, the PGC began an extensive review of elk hunting in Pennsylvania including the elk license lottery, said Travis Lau, PGC communications director. “We will be making adjustments where necessary to ensure out process is complaint with the law going forward,” he added. 

Several changes to the elk license program has already been approved that will impact hunters in 2026. 

For one, all hunters will be required to first have a valid Pennsylvania hunting license before applying for an elk tag. Current regulations allow anyone, regardless of state they reside in, to submit an elk application, but only require purchasing a license if an elk tag is drawn. 

The commissioners also capped Pennsylvania’s elk tag awards in 2026 to no more than 10 percent of nonresidents each year. Under past regulations, there was no cap on out-of-state people winning elk tags. 

Continuing on, any hunter drawn for a bull tag in 2026 will be ineligible in future drawings as being drawn for an elk tag is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Previously, a hunter who drew a bull elk tag could after five years enter that drawing again. 
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According to the PGC, there are more than 1,400 elk in northcentral Pennsylvania and in 2025, 52,146 hunters purchased 104,992 applications for 140 licenses to hunt in one of three seasons this year. The last season opened Dec. 27 and closes Jan. 3.