Elk archery season An archery season for elk has been added for interested Pennsylvania hunters.
The board voted to issue 142 elk licenses (32 antlered, 110 antlerless) for 2019-20, but two additional elk seasons and lottery drawings for licenses have been added. For the one-week general season to run Nov. 4-9, 27 antlered and 71 antlerless tags have been allocated. An early archery season open only in select Elk Hunt Zones will run from Sept. 14-28, with five antlered and 10 antlerless licenses available. And there are 29 licenses available for a late antlerless-only elk season to run from Jan. 4-11.
This is great for bowhunters.
If you are not already a member consider joining to the United Bowhunters of PA. It is a statewide organization that represents Bow Hunters and works to provide more opportunities to bow hunt. It is a highly respected organization and rightly so when you consider its accomplishments.
I have been putting in for this since day one and have the Max points avail. I would certainly welcome an archery chase in Pa. As Dan has said, if your not part of the UBP, please try and sign up. This org is not resting and stands up to the PFB, the Pa fed of. sportsman too as well as a voice for the bow hunters for the PGC.. I would love to bunt Elk in Pa in Jan.. What a challenge that would be...
From what I am hearing each elk season will have a draw. Those applying for the archery tag will be starting at 0 points. You will be able to apply for each of the 3 seasons individually, $10/each. Points accumulated from the general elk season will only apply to the same general November season.
If that is the case with the points resetting to zero for archery, that's stupid... We put in all those years, and we got -0- from it..? Just roll them into the seasons, if guys do not want to put in for archery then don't, but why penalize the long time point holders?
You paid $10 for the November season. There was no September season. My understanding, from a pretty good source, is there will be 3 separate lotteries. $10/each.
Wow, way to gouge. Unless they limit the Non resident draw, I say just like other states 10% NR draw... Why should the NR get cracks at elk? We are limited in other states when the draw is for elk or moose, Maine is 10% draw for Moose.
Shoot..... I've spent $10/$30 on worse things. Shoot I folk out around $400 a year to buy preference points for out west Elk, deer, and pronghorn hunts.
Starting at zero for the new season is awesome! That said, your chances of drawing one of the 15 tags is pretty much non existent. However, you won't draw if you don't apply.
Should start at zero. I never applied for a rifle tag, had zero desire to draw and hunt rifle season. I'll apply now. Why would rifle points carry over to archery tags?
I'm in for archery. My guess is that starting with zero will get more folks to put in. Yes they will make more money. Just like others state do stuff to make money and limit nonres to 10%. Till Pa politicians get off their asses and allows the Game Commission to raise license fees which they desperately need they got to do stuff like this to make money. Sorry but that's just the fact. And I support it.
You gotta love Pennsylvania. They always find a way to do things differently. I have been applying since the beginning. I have had no desire to use a rifle. I would have taken my bow and been content to eat the tag if I couldn’t get it done. Now all those years of getting points are useless for archery. Utter bs. Just like no Sunday hunting and tresspassing laws that are a joke. Welcome to Pennsylvania... and happy Easter!
Thanks to UBPA. The additional archery elk is a great opportunity. But I'd like to hear something official from PGC about how the draws will work. What TPlank has heard would be a weird way of running the draws. Points should be considered "elk" points and help you whichever draw you choose. I'd hope you have to choose which hunt you want to apply for, not apply for all 3. Raise the cost to $30 if they need the money. I won't be in for the Sept hunt, will be in WY those dates. Late season cow hunt would be a fun time.
Talked with Rawley Cogan, head of Keystone Elk Country Alliance, Saturday night at a banquet. This is his understanding of the draw as well. Also heard from a PGC person confirming what I posted.
I believe you Todd, just seems odd that is the way they would set it up. I will certainly buy archery point if that's the way it ends up, but it would be nice to use the 10 or whatever points I have already to try for any of the tags. Regardless of how it is set up, I'm glad for the chance.
I'm also pretty sure there was a archery season once,, Till the gun hunters con-planed we were shoot all there elk. If I remember right. But I'm old, so I forget things. Ed
I am sure there was not an archery only season for Elk in Pa. I have been entering since it started and am -0- fer. If that was the case, Like Ed said, the gun hunters would be crying till this day... But I am pretty sure we have not had an archery only season here in Pa for elk....
Haven't missed a year trying to get a PA Elk tag......someday. I love the archery only time, but ultimately I was/will take a bow when/if I ever get drawn no matter when the season. As long as within the parameters of laws of course. Good luck to everyone again this year in the Elk Draw.
I’m pretty sure it was always an “all weapons” season. But I remember 2 separate seasons at one point. Think the herd was growing and they were not meeting harvest goals. It might have been only in certain zones...........
No archery, just could use a bow though. Last year they opened it back up in January due to some zones not having little or any elk removed during the regular season. The one zone was along 555 where elk/vehicle/private property issues are increasing.
See I told you that Todd would know the answer. He drew a elk tag 15 of the last 20 years in Pa. The other 5 years he didn't put in for a Pa elk tag. He put in for unit 1 in Arizona the other 5 years and drew that tag. :)
Absolutely. Friend sent this to me this morning while turkey hunting on their property. Sends me pics and videos all thru archery season as well. First three were bulls.