Elk hunt begins Monday
40 hunters licensed in Pennsylvania hunt

Hunters who take an elk in Pennsylvania's six-day hunt are required to register the animal at the Game Commission's Elk Check Station on the Quehanna Highway. There, Game Commission biologists weigh the animals and extract teeth and lymph nodes as part of their scientific evaluation of the herd. Two years ago, Ausitn's Bear Rees (far right) was among the hunters who bagged a cow elk. As the animal was being weighed he shared a moment with Vern Ross, who was the Game Commission's executive director at the time.

Next week's controlled elk hunt in Cameron, Elk and nearby counties will see 40 hunters going afield, trying to fill their tag between Monday and Saturday.

The Pa. Game Commission recently adjusted its "management units" to better use the hunt as an elk population control tool while broadening each hunter's opportunities

Pennsylvania's elk herd, about 700 strong, has been expanding its range into new areas, including sections of Potter and McKean counties. That's a welcome development for agencies that have been trying to spread the animals over a wider area and make them wilder.

Hunting activity is centered on areas where the elk are distributed broadly to make the chase a challenge, and in sections where the herd is at or above the habitat's carrying capacity.

None of the applicants from Cameron, Potter or Elk counties was chosen for an elk-hunting license. James Master of Gifford, McKean County, and Travis Zanders of Wellsville, N.Y., were the only area hunters to be picked.

The Pa. Game Commission authorized the first modernday elk hunt in 2001. More than 50,000 hunters applied for those 30 licenses.

Last year, the agency held the state's first September elk hunt to assist farmers who sustain elk crop damage in the early fall, before crops are harvested. The hunt was considered a failure, since elk populations had left the area by the time hunting was allowed.

There were 17,245 elk license applications for this year's drawing, down from 18,877 in 2006. Those who had never previously been drawn for a license could also have up to five preference points. When preference points were factored in, it made for a total of 56,841 names in the computer.

The following individuals were drawn for bull elk licenses for the Nov. 5-10 season:

Fred Baumgarden, Allegheny County; Randy Behney, Lebanon County; Douglas Bobeck, Linwood, N. J.; Darren Deltondo, Allegheny County; Thomas Gach, Cambria County; Chad Heintzelman, Columbia County; Dennis Henry, Westmoreland County; James Master, McKean County; Keith Quigel, Lycoming County; Harry Rhone, Columbia County; Aaron Richards, Perry County; John Shields, Indiana County; Michael Stone, Downsville, New York; Keith Streightif, Armstrong County, and Clair Zimmerman, Union County.

The following were drawn for cow elk licenses: Brian Alt, Lackawanna County; James Babco, Indiana County; John Barberio Jr., Cambria County; Tindaro Bisbano, Berks County; Chris Blough, Blair County; Bruce Bomberger, Lebanon County; Clarence Burd Jr., Lancaster County; Robert Domachows, Butler County; Neil Edwards, Centre County; Korey Eppinette, Lancaster County; Jay Farney, Lancaster County; Jamie Field, Lackawanna County; Justin Gamble, Fulton County; Gunther Harold, Berks County; Charles Kilgore, Indiana County; Jason Laudermilc, Lancaster County; Keith Macurdy, Westmoreland County; Robert McClury , Mercer County; James Newman, Centre County; Brandon Pastierik, Allegheny County, Suzy Stefani, Jefferson County; Thomas Steinruck, Montgomery County; Richard Tait, North Fort Myers, Fla; Richard Wiltanger, York County, and Travis Zanders, Wellsville, N.Y.

Drawn for cow elk licenses for the September 2008 season were Donald Detwiler, Montgomery County, Robert Hofer Sr., Perry County, Jamie Hostetter, Adams County, Carl Kemp Jr., Armstrong County, John Loveland, Prince William, Va. David Rogus, Centre County, Dale Schmidt, Lehigh County, and Michael Stoner, Lehigh County.

Successful elk hunters will take their animals to the Game Commission's check station on Quehanna Highway. The public is welcome to attend the weighing and measuring of the elk.