Pennsylvania's archery elk hunting season opens Sept. 14

The elk is Pennsylvania's most majestic game animal. And bowhunters will get a chance to harvest one like this before the firearms season opens later. Photo by author

​Elk hunting in Pennsylvania will soon get underway when the archery season for them kicks off Sept. 14-28. But first, bowhunters have had to secure an elk license that are awarded either by auction or raffle and that began Sept. 2. 

For the fortunate 27 hunters who are lucky to draw an archery license, they will be hunting in their designated Elk Hunt Zones across several counties in northcentral Pennsylvania.

Later, from Nov. 4-9 – a period when a lot of other hunters might be sharing the woods – the 68 hunters drawn for a general elk license will have the opportunity to try to fill their tags. And 45 more hunters will take part in the late elk season that runs from Dec. 28 to Jan. 4, 2025 for a herd that the PGC says is between 1,300 and 1,400 elk. And for the 2024 season, there were 65 bull licenses and 75 cow licenses sold. 

“Those lucky elk hunters might well be feeling the season can’t get here soon enough, but for archery hunters in particular, the start is almost here,” said Game Commission Executive Director Steve Smith. “Soon, those hunters will be living out an experience hundreds of thousands dream about when they submit their applications for a license each year. I wish them luck, and like most hunters, hope to share a part in it someday.”

For the 2022 season, the last the PGC has shown, the historical harvest success was 375 antlered and 856 antlerless elk taken. That resulted in a success rate of 97 percent for antlered and 76 percent for antlerless elk. And that was out of 388 antlered licenses issued and 1,131 antlerless licenses issued. 

For non-hunters, or the unlucky who didn’t draw a license, these majestic game animals can be viewed via Pennsylvania Game Commission’s real time “Elk Cam.” The elk cam can be viewed 24-7 through the agency’s website (www.pgc.pa.gov) that is now live. The livestream feed is on State Game Lands 311 in, most appropriately, Elk County and in a field that’s typically a hub of elk activity according to the PGC. 

But in addition to elk, viewers may also see wild turkeys, deer, bear, coyotes and other wildlife. 
According to Jordan Sanford PGC wildlife outreach coordinator, “In the Northcentral Region, the annual elk rut is a unique experience in itself. Spotting a harem of elk, sparring bulls, or hearing majestic bugles ring through the fog is thrilling and exciting. Wherever you are, get connected to catch a glimpse of the magnificent animals. “

The livestream elk cam is provided by HDOnTap, with the help of North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission. And thanks to infrared capability, it showcases Pennsylvania’s wildlife during daylight and nighttime hours. 

The elk cam is slated to run until the end of the bugling season, likely sometime in mid-October with the top time to see elk is late in the afternoon says the PGC.  
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