Cover Photo by: Jimmy Shirey

Article by: Beau Martonik

If you're from the East (or even from anywhere) and haven't heard about the giant bull elk living in the Appalachian region of Pennsylvania, you might be living under a rock. In all seriousness, Pennsylvania has had one of the most successful reintroduction efforts of elk throughout the country, with approximately 1,400-1,500 elk living in the Keystone State as of 2025. That said, drawing one of the few tags given out is extremely difficult, and the drawing system can be tough to understand for someone new. If you are used to applying for tags in the western states, then this will be simple to understand. In the last few years, there have been a lot of changes to the PA elk season, and I wanted to give you the facts from the Pennsylvania Game Commission, as well as my input and strategies for applying.

In last year's East Meets West Hunt podcast episode with Bryan Hale of Elk County Outfitters, he gave a complete breakdown on how to apply for elk in Pennsylvania in 2024, the top zones you should consider applying for to find the biggest elk in PA, previous years' success stories, and much more. There will be an updated episode releasing in June of 2025.

---

🦌 2025–2026 Pennsylvania Elk Hunting Seasons

Archery Season:
📅 September 13–27, 2025
🎯 Tags: 20 antlered, 10 antlerless

General Season (Firearms):
📅 November 3–8, 2025
🎯 Tags: 35 antlered, 45 antlerless

Late Season:
📅 Dec. 27th, 2025 - January 3, 2026
🎯 Tags: 15 antlered, 25 antlerless

---

📅 Application Period & Drawing

• Application Window: February 1 – July 15, 2025

• Drawing Date: July 26, 2025, at the Keystone Elk Country Alliance's Elk Expo in Benezette, PA

---

📝 Application Options

You can apply for four different options:

• Antlered Only: For bull elk

• Antlerless Only: For cow elk

• Either-sex: Willing to accept either antlered or antlerless tag

• Point-Only: If you aren't able to hunt any of the seasons this year but wish to obtain a point

You can apply for 1, 2, or all 3 seasons for a nonrefundable application cost of $11.97 per season for both residents and non-residents. So, if you were to apply for all 3 seasons, your total cost would be $35.91. You can only be drawn for one tag (or season) per year, in which they start off with an archery season and move along in the order of the seasons. If you were to draw an archery tag, your name would be pulled for the other seasons, but you would still gain a bonus point in each. Each season has its own bonus points, meaning that if you already had 5 bonus points in the general season from years past, then you will still have those points, but would start with 0 for the archery and late season tags if it’s your first time applying.

Bonus points give you one extra name in the hat in the overall lottery system. For example, if you have 5 bonus points that you've accumulated over 5 years of applying, then you will have 5 extra chances to get drawn.

You can apply online through the HuntFishPA system, which will also tell you your status of the application and how many points you have acquired.

---

🗺️ Zone Preference

Choosing a preferred zone can make a difference if you want to do it yourself. Pennsylvania currently has 14 different elk zones, but some of those zones don't have options for each season. Two major contributors are knowing the amount of public land available and road access. Elk have been successfully harvested in all of the zones available, so if you're not sure where you want to apply - don't worry that much. If you choose a zone and your name gets drawn, but the tags in that zone are already allotted, then they will give you the next available tag in another zone. You might want to look at the harvest data and maps located here. Another resource for looking at the zones is the PA Game Commission Elk Hunt Zones Map Book.

In 2022, the new state record archery bull was shot in Zone 10 by Dave Kammerdiener, with its massive 7x11 frame measuring 446 inches!

Lastly, I use the Spartan Forge app to really dive into these zones. You can find where the game commission plants food plots from the aerial view, which the elk like to feed in. In addition, you can find the public/private land boundaries and road access that may sway your decision one way or another. Use code eastmeetswest to save 20% off the Spartan Forge app.

---

🎯 My Strategy

I'm looking at previous harvest statistics through the harvest map links, as well as using my knowledge of the area to pick a preferred zone, but like I said above - all of the zones with available tags will produce huge elk and an unbelievable experience! I will be applying for all three seasons and for bull only in all of the seasons. Your odds are much higher by applying for any available tags. With that being said, I am set on trying to get a bull tag, so that is my reason for applying this way. If you want the best chance at drawing any tag, then any available option is the way to go.

If you are lucky enough to draw one of these coveted tags, check out the PGC's management plan to get a history of the elk in Pennsylvania as well as where they typically live and thrive. Pennsylvania residents may purchase an elk license for $25, and nonresidents may purchase one for $250 if drawn. Licenses are on sale now, and you can apply for elk through midnight (Eastern Standard Time) on July 15, 2025. Licenses will be drawn on July 26, 2025, at the Elk Country Visitor Center in Benezette Township.

Apply here.

🔄 Major Regulatory Changes Effective January 1, 2026

1. Mandatory Hunting License for Application: Hunters must purchase a general hunting license before applying for an elk tag. Previously, applicants only needed to buy a license if drawn. Sun Gazette+2Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation+2Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation+2

2. Lifetime Bull Elk Tag Limit: Hunters who draw a bull elk tag after January 1, 2026, will be ineligible to apply for another bull tag in the future. Those who drew a bull tag before this date can still apply for a second. This limitation does not apply to Special Conservation Elk Licenses auctioned and raffled off by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Keystone Elk Country Alliance, respectively. 

3. Nonresident Tag Cap: A maximum of 10% of elk licenses will be allocated to nonresidents annually. Previously, there was no formal cap, and nonresident allocations had reached up to 13% in recent years.

4. Simplified Application Process: Applicants are no longer required to include their Social Security numbers or hunter ID numbers on applications, as this information is already captured through the hunting license system.

5. Updated Drawing Description: The language describing the elk license drawing process has been updated to reflect the current electronic system, replacing outdated references to manual drawings. 

6. Elimination of Mandatory Orientation: The requirement for hunters who draw an elk tag to participate in an orientation program has been officially removed, as the program is no longer conducted. 

Didn't draw, but want to visit PA Elk Country? Check out the Elk Crossing Getaway in the PA Wilds and stay in the heart of elk country.

To learn more about the Pennsylvania elk herd and Pennsylvania elk hunting, check out the podcast I did with the Pennsylvania Game Commission elk biologist, Jeremy Banfield here.