Elk hunting equality in Pennsylvania!
By Dusty Barnard Special to Endeavor News
Brenda Wilkins awoke at 3:30 to prepare for an opportunity

Brenda Wilkins (front, right) celebrated her 15th wedding anniversary in Driftwood last week. She also shot this cow elk with the help of her guide, Janet Colwell (front, left). The two women said it was all in a day's work.

of a lifetime. She was one of 40 hunters drawn in Pennsylvania's annual elk hunt.

A volunteer bowhunting safety instructor for the Pa. Game Commission, Wilkins and her husband Brian had celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary with a trip to Driftwood. There, they met with hunting guide Janet Colwell to lay the groundwork for what could be a once in a lifetime experience.

Colwell, who operates Hicks Run Outfitters with husband Jeff and daughter Cody, welcomed the chance to help a woman hunter in what many still consider a man's sport. Elk hunters aren't required to use a guide, but many do rely on the local guides' expertise to increase their chances of success.

For Colwell, every elk hunt is a different experience.

"Most of the time the hunters are extremely eager and excited," said Colwell. "My job is to help them track down the elk and to calm them down when the big moment arrives."

Colwell joined Brenda and Brian Wilkins for the pre-dawn trek on one of the wooded trails along Lincoln

Hoover Rd., above Wykoff Run, Contrary to the opinions of some elk hunt critics, Colwell said, the animals are wise to the ways of the woods and elusive during the six-day hunting season. Wilkins came up empty that morning and the group took cover to wait out a light rain and conserve energy.

That afternoon, they headed out toward the man-made food plots that have regularly attracted hungry elk, hoping to catch a cow innocently grazing. As they moved farther away from the plantings, they spotted a herd - one enormous bull and nine antlerless elk - wandering toward the plots from the opposite direction.

They immediately took cover and dropped to the ground. The trio literally crawled on their bellies for about 100 yards to avoid spooking the animals and to afford a clear shot.

However, at the moment of truth, Brenda discovered that she had left her shooting sticks back at the previous hunting position. These accessories are vital to many hunters because they keep the rifle steady while being fired.

With darkness nearing, Brian Wilkins had a solution. He suggested that his wife use his shoulder as a shooting stand. Brenda drew her .35 Remington and rested it on Brian's shoulder, carefully sighting-in one of the cows.

She fired. The bull instinctively regrouped his cows and they fled, leaving behind the large cow that Brenda held in her crosshairs. It was a clean kill.

The elk, three and one-half years old, had a live weight of 465 lbs., field dressed at 358.

"Brian and I continuously said prayers and thanksgiving that God granted me this great bounty," said Wilkins.

An employee of East Stroudsburg University, Brenda is donating the mount to the college, where it will be displayed in the Biology Department's wildlife wing.

Brenda is also anxious to share photos of her success with some of her male counterparts, as a statement about a woman's abilities to succeed in the male-dominated sport.

"Although I enjoy hunting with others, I really wish more women would get into the sport, so I could share their camaraderie, as well," she said.

Meanwhile, Janet Colwell, who is also an anomaly as a female hunting guide, is anxious to help other women try their luck. Hicks Run Outfitters (814- 787-4287) also guides for deer, bear and bobcat.