Release #106-02
Nov. 25, 2002
For Information Contact:
Jerry Feaser
717-705-6541 (ext. 3106)
PGCNEWS@state.pa.us
ELK HUNTERS HAVE GREAT SEASON
Junior hunter takes one of hunt's largest bulls
HARRISBURG - The state's second elk season since 1932 produced the largest bull harvest the state has seen since before the Civil War, according to Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Vern Ross. The season ran Nov. 18-23.
The 70 licensed hunters - selected in a public drawing from a field of more than 30,000 entrants - took 32 antlered and 29 antlerless elk. Two elk were taken by hunters using muzzleloaders - one by flintlock, one by in-line - and another was taken with a bow. The remainder was taken with centerfire rifles.
Last year, the 30 licensed hunters took 14 antlered and 13 antlerless elk in the state's first modern-day elk hunt.
"The determined hunters who participated made the most of their hunting opportunity, and achieved a phenomenal success rate of 87 percent," Ross said. "As hunters scouted the Alleghenies and lowlands of the Sinnemahoning and its tributaries for elk, crowds gathered at the check station at the Moshannon State Forest maintenance building. Everyone was looking for updates on hunter success and information on the biggest bulls taken. The elk hunt was quite a draw for the area."
William Fye, 15, DuBois, Clearfield County, took the heaviest bull in the hunt, a 9x7 bull (antlers with nine points on one side, seven on the other) with an estimated live weight 878 pounds. The bull was taken on the opening day, just before 8 a.m., in Cameron County's Gibson Township.
On the second day of season, Warren Casella, 31, Apollo, Armstrong County, took a 9x8 antlered bull that had an estimated live weight of 785 pounds. It was harvested at 8 a.m. in Elk County's Jay Township.
Other antlered elk included:
- An 8x7 bull with an estimated live weight of 711 pounds taken by Randy Reynolds of Montrose, Susquehanna County, at 9 a.m. on the second day in Elk County's Benezette Township;
- An 8x6 bull with an estimated live weight of 772 pounds taken by Dave Dewey of Townville, Crawford County, at 10:20 a.m. on the first day in Cameron County's Lumber Township; and
- A 7x7 bull with an estimated live weight of 816 pounds taken by Albert DeShullo of Boothwyn, Delaware County, at 4:15 p.m. on the second day in Cameron County's Gibson Township.
The top antlerless elk in the hunt was an adult female with an estimated live weight of 566 pounds taken by Steve Higgins of Greenville, Mercer County, at 7:20 a.m. on the first day in Cameron County's Gibson Township.
Other antlerless elk included:
- An adult female with an estimated live weight of 544 pounds taken by Mike Helman of Chambersburg, Franklin County, at 8:38 a.m. on the first day in Cameron County's Gibson Township; and
- An adult female with an estimated live weight of 541 pounds taken by Robert Stahl of Dillsburg, York County, at 8:54 a.m. on the first day in Elk County's Benezette Township.
The youngest hunters to take an elk in the one-week season were Clyde Sanner and Justin Pentz, both 13. Sanner, of Jones Mills, Westmoreland County, harvested a spike bull that had an estimated live weight of 429 pounds at 10:10 a.m. on the fifth day of season in Cameron County's Gibson Township. Pentz, of Rockton, Clearfield County, took a spike bull on the last day at 3 p.m. - less than two hours before season closed.
"It's always a pleasure to see successful young hunters, such as Clyde and Justin," Ross said. "Such dedication at age 13 is pretty remarkable. I know their parents are proud of them and so am I."
All four nonresident hunters participating in this year's hunt also took elk. They included: Robert Cook of Earlville, New York, who took a 7x7 bull weighing 693 pounds (live weight) on the fourth day of season; William Coulter of Riverview, Michigan, who took a 4x4 bull weighing 520 pounds (live weight) on the last day of season; Edward Russ of Warren, Ohio, who took an adult female weighing 386 pounds (live weight) on the first day of season; and Jeffrey Palmer of Marlton, New Jersey, who took an adult female with a bow and arrow and quartered it to pack it out to the road.
Pennsylvania's elk herd numbered about 800 prior to the hunt. The harvest will not impact the herd's continued growth.
"Through the use of elk management units and license allocations, the Game Commission is reducing elk where they are causing conflicts and allow their population to grow and expand in areas where habitat can accommodate them," said Cal DuBrock, Game Commission Bureau of Wildlife Management director. "We also are directing hunting pressure to places where elk viewing opportunities will not be negatively impacted."
DuBrock said the Game Commission is planning for a 2003 elk hunt.
"Pending review of harvest and population data, agency staff will deliberate the needs and objectives of a 2003 elk hunt," DuBrock said.
For more information on elk in Pennsylvania, visit the Game Commission's website (www.pgc.state.pa.us), click on "Wildlife," then choose "Elk."
Nov. 25, 2002
For Information Contact:
Jerry Feaser
717-705-6541 (ext. 3106)
PGCNEWS@state.pa.us
ELK HUNTERS HAVE GREAT SEASON
Junior hunter takes one of hunt's largest bulls
HARRISBURG - The state's second elk season since 1932 produced the largest bull harvest the state has seen since before the Civil War, according to Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Vern Ross. The season ran Nov. 18-23.
The 70 licensed hunters - selected in a public drawing from a field of more than 30,000 entrants - took 32 antlered and 29 antlerless elk. Two elk were taken by hunters using muzzleloaders - one by flintlock, one by in-line - and another was taken with a bow. The remainder was taken with centerfire rifles.
Last year, the 30 licensed hunters took 14 antlered and 13 antlerless elk in the state's first modern-day elk hunt.
"The determined hunters who participated made the most of their hunting opportunity, and achieved a phenomenal success rate of 87 percent," Ross said. "As hunters scouted the Alleghenies and lowlands of the Sinnemahoning and its tributaries for elk, crowds gathered at the check station at the Moshannon State Forest maintenance building. Everyone was looking for updates on hunter success and information on the biggest bulls taken. The elk hunt was quite a draw for the area."
William Fye, 15, DuBois, Clearfield County, took the heaviest bull in the hunt, a 9x7 bull (antlers with nine points on one side, seven on the other) with an estimated live weight 878 pounds. The bull was taken on the opening day, just before 8 a.m., in Cameron County's Gibson Township.
On the second day of season, Warren Casella, 31, Apollo, Armstrong County, took a 9x8 antlered bull that had an estimated live weight of 785 pounds. It was harvested at 8 a.m. in Elk County's Jay Township.
Other antlered elk included:
- An 8x7 bull with an estimated live weight of 711 pounds taken by Randy Reynolds of Montrose, Susquehanna County, at 9 a.m. on the second day in Elk County's Benezette Township;
- An 8x6 bull with an estimated live weight of 772 pounds taken by Dave Dewey of Townville, Crawford County, at 10:20 a.m. on the first day in Cameron County's Lumber Township; and
- A 7x7 bull with an estimated live weight of 816 pounds taken by Albert DeShullo of Boothwyn, Delaware County, at 4:15 p.m. on the second day in Cameron County's Gibson Township.
The top antlerless elk in the hunt was an adult female with an estimated live weight of 566 pounds taken by Steve Higgins of Greenville, Mercer County, at 7:20 a.m. on the first day in Cameron County's Gibson Township.
Other antlerless elk included:
- An adult female with an estimated live weight of 544 pounds taken by Mike Helman of Chambersburg, Franklin County, at 8:38 a.m. on the first day in Cameron County's Gibson Township; and
- An adult female with an estimated live weight of 541 pounds taken by Robert Stahl of Dillsburg, York County, at 8:54 a.m. on the first day in Elk County's Benezette Township.
The youngest hunters to take an elk in the one-week season were Clyde Sanner and Justin Pentz, both 13. Sanner, of Jones Mills, Westmoreland County, harvested a spike bull that had an estimated live weight of 429 pounds at 10:10 a.m. on the fifth day of season in Cameron County's Gibson Township. Pentz, of Rockton, Clearfield County, took a spike bull on the last day at 3 p.m. - less than two hours before season closed.
"It's always a pleasure to see successful young hunters, such as Clyde and Justin," Ross said. "Such dedication at age 13 is pretty remarkable. I know their parents are proud of them and so am I."
All four nonresident hunters participating in this year's hunt also took elk. They included: Robert Cook of Earlville, New York, who took a 7x7 bull weighing 693 pounds (live weight) on the fourth day of season; William Coulter of Riverview, Michigan, who took a 4x4 bull weighing 520 pounds (live weight) on the last day of season; Edward Russ of Warren, Ohio, who took an adult female weighing 386 pounds (live weight) on the first day of season; and Jeffrey Palmer of Marlton, New Jersey, who took an adult female with a bow and arrow and quartered it to pack it out to the road.
Pennsylvania's elk herd numbered about 800 prior to the hunt. The harvest will not impact the herd's continued growth.
"Through the use of elk management units and license allocations, the Game Commission is reducing elk where they are causing conflicts and allow their population to grow and expand in areas where habitat can accommodate them," said Cal DuBrock, Game Commission Bureau of Wildlife Management director. "We also are directing hunting pressure to places where elk viewing opportunities will not be negatively impacted."
DuBrock said the Game Commission is planning for a 2003 elk hunt.
"Pending review of harvest and population data, agency staff will deliberate the needs and objectives of a 2003 elk hunt," DuBrock said.
For more information on elk in Pennsylvania, visit the Game Commission's website (www.pgc.state.pa.us), click on "Wildlife," then choose "Elk."
