Drew a PA elk tag, gonna need a ton o’ practice 😳

[pamtnman]

Drawing a Pennsylvania elk tag, bull or cow, is a once in a lifetime event, if ever. Only 21 years passed of applying annually and accruing preference points before I drew a cow elk tag on Saturday. Immediately several friends called or texted me and basically said “I hate you, you lucky SOB.” But I had no trouble recruiting three friends to join me in the hunt.
Within 24 hours I was practicing with the rifle I’m most likely hunting with, weather permitting, a .62 caliber percussion made by Mark Wheland here in PA. Seven shots with the 335 grain ball pushed by 125 grains of Swiss FFG is about the limit my shoulder could absorb, and honestly, I expected to shoot much better than this. Last year the gun was grouping about 3” at 100 yards. Yesterday it’s about 8” at 75 yards. And it’s not the bow, it must be the Indian. Or my eyes. Gonna be a long end of summer getting dialed back in with this. The flyer at the bottom resulted from a bump to the adjustable rear sight, which moved it backwards. Tellin ya what…I am just rusty

 

[Brokennock]

Congratulations on pulling that tag.

What if you drop the powder charge a little? Give your shoulder a break and maybe bring that group in.
How far are you really expecting to need to shoot in your area?

 

[jarentz]

Good for you getting a tag!! If i am fortunate to get a tag i will try with a 50 cal Kibler. What unit did you draw? I helped a friend in unit 10

 

[Stykbow]

Congrats on pulling a tag. That’s a big deal for any of us eastern guys.

 

[Peregrine]

Congratulations on the successful draw! Best wishes for a memorable hunt. Regular or late season?

 

[user 31257]

Oh wow, good for you!

 

[chorizo]

Good luck! I have a cow elk tag, muzzleloader only, for 8 sep to 30 sep in Idaho.

 

[oldwood]

Congrats on the Elk permit. Why don't ya try 90 Gr. FFG in yer .62. It.s my favorite big cal. and shot mine for years w/90 GR. FFG. , using a Colerain brl. . Made the longest shot w/ any rifle on a deer , using my .62. Sold it a couple yrs. ago due to just old age. Down sized to a 7 lb. .50.. Good luck to ya on yer hunt. .................oldwood

 

[appalichian hunter]

The angels are smilin on you, Now go kill a Pa. elk, Congrats.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

Congratulations. That is quite the accomplishment. I hope that your memories of the hunt are fond.

 

[bud in pa]

It has been a loooong while since I tasted Elk. But as I remember it was delicious, right up there with Moose. I sure hope you get one. I was once told that worst part of an elk hunt was getting one, because then you had to get it out!

 

[pamtnman]

Congratulations on pulling that tag.

What if you drop the powder charge a little? Give your shoulder a break and maybe bring that group in.
How far are you really expecting to need to shoot in your area?

Good question. At 120 grains FFG, the 335 grain ball shoots point of aim at 100 yards. Flat trajectory. It’s probably the limit of what I can expect to be shooting at an elk, and it’s also just where my mind is stuck. A hundred yards is my natural, instinctive frame of reference. Based on what I’ve heard and seen, shots under fifty yards are uncommon.
The reason my shoulder hurt after practice is because only a tee shirt separated the rifle butt from skin. The butt has a long point that really locks into my shoulder perfectly. It fits so comfortably that I enjoy shooting it. But seven is a limit like this. But given how rusty I am, it’s going to take a bunch more to tighten the group.

 

[pamtnman]

Good for you getting a tag!! If i am fortunate to get a tag i will try with a 50 cal Kibler. What unit did you draw? I helped a friend in unit 10

Zone 13, an area I had some work in years ago, so I’m starting out at least familiar with it. Lot of public land and big mountain country. Very rural.

 

[pamtnman]

Congratulations on the successful draw! Best wishes for a memorable hunt. Regular or late season?

Regular season. Pennsylvania went to three elk seasons a few years ago. Two weeks of Archery in September. A month later in the first week of November is the regular season. It’s when most of the tags are issued for. Then there’s a late season in January.

 

[pamtnman]

Congratulations. That is quite the accomplishment. I hope that your memories of the hunt are fond.

Thank you! Within an hour of drawing the tag, several friends called to tell me how jealous they felt and that they would be joining me. Great friends! I plan to camp on state forest land and make a real hunt out of it. The success rate on bulls is like 98% I think. But it’s 77% on cow elk, because they herd up and can disappear en masse onto private land as soon as they feel pressured. There’ll be five other hunters and their “crews” out there on opening day, so it’ll be easy for the elk to feel pressured pretty quickly.

 

[pamtnman]

Congrats on the Elk permit. Why don't ya try 90 Gr. FFG in yer .62. It.s my favorite big cal. and shot mine for years w/90 GR. FFG. , using a Colerain brl. . Made the longest shot w/ any rifle on a deer , using my .62. Sold it a couple yrs. ago due to just old age. Down sized to a 7 lb. .50.. Good luck to ya on yer hunt. .................oldwood

Like you, this caliber impressed me. I’m really pleased to have this .62 rifle. Mark Wheland did an excellent job making it, and so shooting it feels just right. I’ve tried the lower charges of 100-105 grains FFG, and the trajectory is too much of a “lob.” The higher charge of 120-125 grains makes it like shooting a modern rifle at 100 yards…point, aim, shoot. And the holes are perfectly level with my barrel. The trajectory is that flat. Boy do I like that!

 

[Jim K]

Congratulations Josh on drawing the tag. Good luck. I look forward to hearing how you did.

 

[pamtnman]

Congratulations Josh on drawing the tag. Good luck. I look forward to hearing how you did.

Thank you! If I get the cow elk, you will do the hide.

 

[3Setters]

Zone 13 is a big area. I've seen them while riding bike and training dogs. Hit me with a pm if you need some locations.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

Thank you! Within an hour of drawing the tag, several friends called to tell me how jealous they felt and that they would be joining me. Great friends! I plan to camp on state forest land and make a real hunt out of it. The success rate on bulls is like 98% I think. But it’s 77% on cow elk, because they herd up and can disappear en masse onto private land as soon as they feel pressured. There’ll be five other hunters and their “crews” out there on opening day, so it’ll be easy for the elk to feel pressured pretty quickly.

I’m looking forward to your impressions of the hunt. I distinctly remember my 1st elk and knocking down my 1st bull. It can be pretty heady.