HARRISBURG — Forty-four of 60 licensed elk hunters were successful during this year’s season, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Twenty of the elk killed were antlered and 24 were antlerless.
“Elk are one of North America’s premier big game animals,” said Carl G. Roe, executive director of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. “Pennsylvania is privileged to offer this unique hunting opportunity, a product of successful wildlife management that helps to finance wildlife conservation and supports Pennsylvania’s rich hunting heritage. It’s an unparalleled experience for hunters, particularly those who can’t afford to go on an expensive one- or two-week guided elk hunt out West.
“This year’s overall success rate was 73 percent, which is down slightly from the past year, which I believe that this can be attributed to the improved food conditions this year throughout the elk range, thanks in large part to the decline in gypsy moth defoliation.”
Along with extracting samples needed for disease testing, the agency also collected samples necessary to examine food preferences and habitat use by elk.
Also, hunters collected liver samples that will be evaluated for mineral contents.
The largest antlered elk was taken by Reed Bamburger of Greene County, who shot a
652-pound (dressed weight), 8x9 on Nov. 2, in Covington Township, Clearfield County.
Rounding out the top five heaviest antlered elk harvested are Lisa Banasick of Connellsville with a 643-pound 9x11 on Nov. 5 in Gibson Township, Cameron County; Ronald Werkheiser Jr. of Northampton County with a
617-pound 7x7 on Nov. 4, in Karthaus Township, Clearfield County; Kenneth E. Hunter of Lycoming County with a 604-pound 8x8 on Nov. 3 in Jay Township, Elk County; and Alvin Hubler of Clearfield County, who took a 589-pound,6x7 on Nov. 3 in Benezette Township, Elk County.
The heaviest antlerless elk was taken by Larry Davis, of Fairborn, Ohio, who harvested a
474-pound (dressed weight) antlerless elk on Nov. 3 in Benezette Township, Elk County.
Rounding out the top five heaviest antlerless elk harvested are Gary Weikert of Adams County with a 444-pound elk on Nov. 4 in Covington Township, Clearfield County; Randolph Maus of Dauphin County, who harvested a 413-pound antlerless elk on Nov. 5 in Gibson Township, Cameron County; Ronald VanDyke of Butler County, who shot a 403-pound elk on Nov. 2 in Gibson Township, Cameron County; Scott Hite of Maryland, who took a 398-pound elk on Nov. 5, in Gibson Township, Cameron County; and Adam Palyo of Allegheny County, who also harvested a 398-pound elk on
Nov. 6 in Grove Township, Cameron County.
Roe also noted that Jim Nyce, of Green Lane, Montgomery County, who was the successful bidder for the first-ever Elk Conservation Tag, harvested a 6x6 on Oct. 14 in Benezette Township, Elk County. Nyce purchased the Conservation Elk Tag during the National Wild Turkey Federation’s national conference in early 2009, and was able to hunt from Sept. 1-Nov. 7.
