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

[pamtnman]

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.

Thank you very much! I most certainly will, and I obviously really appreciate your help. I’m already nervous about messing it up

 

[springfield art]

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 View attachment 157600

Wow! Good luck! Many people don't know that the Elk were totally gone in PA but back I think in the 1920's someone decided to import some from another Western (?) state and they've thrived up in good ol' Elk County, PA! You no doubt know more about it than I, but many on here will share your good fortune in this interesting hunting tale!

 

[pamtnman]

Wow! Good luck! Many people don't know that the Elk were totally gone in PA but back I think in the 1920's someone decided to import some from another Western (?) state and they've thrived up in good ol' Elk County, PA! You no doubt know more about it than I, but many on here will share your good fortune in this interesting hunting tale!

Hopefully we all get to enjoy here on this site a photo or two of a cow elk taken with a black powder percussion rifle made in central PA

 

[Hatman/2nd line]

Have a good time!

 

[Tenring]

OK Then, Do your Best and Bringer Home.

 

[BoomStick]

That's awesome. Congrats and good luck!

 

[3Setters]

Hard to see, but here is a small bull in the area i was telling you about while on a summer bike ride.

 

[gunpa]

Idaho, Wyoming and Montana donated elk to go East many years ago. Glad they like it there. Go get em! Good luck!

 

[bushytail]

Congratulations on your elk tag! Do post photos and a story after you get one.

 

[user 53891]

Congrats on your tag, and have a fun, and memorable hunt. They are just awesome to watch.
We have taken many elk here in Colorado using a .50 cal. My best was 147 yds. dropped right there.
Of course now some genious at CPW came up with the brainstorm of uping the caliber from .50 to .54 for PRB for elk!!

 

[Graybeard2A]

Congrats on your tag!!! lots of great eating on those criders!!

 

[tom_in_vt]

Not sure when the hunt is, but if they’re rutting, you can get a lot closer than 100 yards.

 

[pamtnman]

Not sure when the hunt is, but if they’re rutting, you can get a lot closer than 100 yards.

Hunt is Monday October 31st to Saturday November 5th. Rut will be long over by then. Just about peak bugling right now. Been working on my elk calf distress call. So long as the weather is agreeable, the 62 percussion rifle is the firearm of choice. If we are successful, pictures will be posted here.

 

[bud in pa]

Congratulations, I hope you get one. They are some of the best eating, besides moose.

 

[pamtnman]

Congratulations, I hope you get one. They are some of the best eating, besides moose.

Thank you, Bud!

 

[user 53891]

Thank you, Bud!

Buffalo are also very delicious.....

 

[pamtnman]

Buffalo are also very delicious.....

I’ve been wanting to do a fair chase bison hunt out west, and I just returned from Wyoming and Nebraska looking for places to hunt. Any suggestions are most welcome, thank you

 

[user 53891]

I’ve been wanting to do a fair chase bison hunt out west, and I just returned from Wyoming and Nebraska looking for places to hunt. Any suggestions are most welcome, thank you

Your best bet is to just google what you are looking for. Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, New Mexico, are very good places to start. But they ain't cheap.

 

[pamtnman]

Your best bet is to just google what you are looking for. Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, New Mexico, are very good places to start. But they ain't cheap.

I have done this internet search with no satisfying results. For three years I have combed the Great American Outdoor Show for guides, outfitters, landowners who provide fair chase bison hunts. There are only two that met my expectations: The subarctic-arctic woodland bison hunts in Alaska and Canada, and the bison hunts on several of the larger western Indian reservations. The arctic/ subarctic hunts are very difficult to get, even if you have the $30,000 in hand. Their waiting time is about five years. The Indian hunts are honest fair chase for wild, skittish bison, and so far I have had no luck even talking with any of them. Some have contracted with white outfitters, which I’m fine with, but I guess those guys are just as oversubscribed as everyone else I’ve contacted.