Hunting & Trapping Digest 2025-2026Elk

Sundays from Sept. 14 - Dec. 7 that fall within established opening and closing dates of a season are now open to hunting.

RMEF AUCTION & KECA RAFFLE TAGS

July 1-Nov. 8

Sundays 9/14 - 11/2

ARCHERY SEASON

Sept. 13-27

Sundays 9/14 and 9/21

GENERAL SEASON

Nov. 3-8

LATE FIREARMS SEASON

Dec. 27-Jan. 3

All seasons occur within designated Elk Hunt Zones.ARMS & AMMUNITIONManually operated centerfire rifles and handguns at least .26 caliber that propel single-projectile ammunition 120 grains or larger. Manually operated or semiautomatic centerfire shotguns at least 12-gauge firing a single projectile. Muzzleloading firearms at least .50 caliber propelling a single projectile weighing at least 210 grains. A bow with a minimum draw weight of 45 pounds. Any arrow, or crossbow bolt, with a broadhead that has a fixed or mechanical tip having sharpened cutting edges consisting of metal or naturally occurring stone. The broadhead must have an outside diameter or width of at least 1 inch, and the length may not exceed 3.25 inches. Crossbows must have a minimum peak draw weight of 125 pounds.DRIVING & FEEDING ELKIt is unlawful to drive or herd elk. It is unlawful to feed elk at any time of year.Fluorescent OrangeExcept during the archery season, elk hunters and those accompanying them must wear at least 250 square inches of fluorescent orange, visible 360 degrees, on the head, chest and back combined. Camouflage-fluorescent orange may satisfy this regulation if the total orange content is at least 250 square inches.TAGGING, REPORTING REQUIREMENTSA successful hunter must attach the tag to the ear of an elk immediately after harvest and before the carcass is moved. In addition, within 24 hours, each hunter who harvests an elk must take it, along with his or her hunting license and elk license, to a Game Commission check station. Hunters will receive instructions for the location and hours of the elk check station in the mail prior to the season.ELK GUIDESElk guides are an optional service available to licensed elk hunters. Elk guides are regulated by the Game Commission and the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and offer various services to the hunter.
Elk Management Area map, Elk Hunt Zone descriptions and check station information can be found at www.pa.gov/pgc.

APPLY FOR AN ELK LICENSE

AN ELK LICENSE IS REQUIRED TO HUNT ELK.

Licenses are awarded by lottery. Hunters are limited to harvesting one antlered or one antlerless elk, depending on the license they obtain.

HOW TO APPLY: (DEADLINE: 11:59 P.M. JULY 13)

Review information on Elk Hunt Zones before applying. There are 14 established Elk Hunt Zones for which antlered and antlerless elk licenses may be allocated each year. Hunters may choose up to five Elk Hunt Zones on their applications and select a fallback option. Licenses are assigned according to the drawn hunter’s application preferences. If a hunter is drawn, and their preferred Elk Hunt Zone choices already are filled, selecting the fallback option ensures the hunter will be assigned to the next available Elk Hunt Zone. Those drawn for an elk license are permitted to hunt within their designated zone, as well as within Elk Hunt Zone 1, which is open to all hunters with a valid elk license. Maps and descriptions of the Elk Hunt Zones can be found on the Game Commission’s website (www.pa.gov/pgc).

There are three elk seasons with three separate drawings and “buckets” of bonus points. A person may enter drawings for one, two or all three elk seasons, but may submit only one application per season per year. The cost to apply is $11.97 per season or $35.91 for all three seasons. Application fees are nonrefundable. Anyone submitting more than one application per season, will be subject to prosecution and have all of their applications voided. Those who don’t want to be drawn for a tag in the coming seasons, but who want to continue accumulating bonus points to increase their chances of being drawn in coming years, may purchase a bonus point for any or all of the three seasons.

Apply online by logging into your www.HuntFish.PA.gov account, or apply in person at any hunting license agent location.

ELK LICENSE DRAWINGS are scheduled to occur on July 26, 2025 at the Elk Country Visitor Center near Winslow Hill in Benezette Township. If drawn, a Pennsylvania resident may purchase an elk license for $25; nonresidents for $250.

There will be some changes to the application process next year, when elk license applicants will need to first buy a hunting license and no more than 10% of available tags will be awarded to nonresidents. Also, beginning next year, anyone drawn for an antlered elk license will be ineligible to apply for an antlered elk license again. As it is now, hunters drawn for a bull license can apply for a bull license again after waiting five years. Individuals drawn for an antlerless elk license will still be able to apply again the following license year, as is the case now. Unsuccessful applicants earn bonus points for future drawings.

Hunters can check the status of an elk application and review their bonus points at www.HuntFish.PA.gov.

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