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2026-27 · State forest
Elk State Forest, a Hunter’s Guide
217,000 acres of state forest in WMU 2G, with access rules, licenses, harvest numbers and a map.
Photo: Nicholas A. Tonelli (CC BY 2.0)
Elk State Forest by the numbers
Think of Elk State Forest as a DCNR state forest district open to hunting and trapping, spread over Cameron, Elk, McKean, Potter, Clinton and Clearfield counties and lying in WMU 2G. The DCNR Bureau of Forestry runs it. At 217,000 acres it is number 3 of the 20 state forests that report a size. The DCNR boundary layer measures 217,308 acres. From Emporium, the nearest town guide, the area is around 5 miles to the southeast.
Where Elk State Forest sits, county by county
| County | Courthouse town | Population | Land, sq mi | Units | Special Regs | Feeding ban | Head bins 2026 | Bear count 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cameron County | Emporium | 4,348 | 396 | 2G | No | — | No | 56 |
| Elk County | Ridgway | 30,124 | 827 | 2G, 2F | No | — | Yes | 44 |
| McKean County | Smethport | 39,478 | 980 | 3A, 2F, 2G | No | — | Yes | 78 |
| Potter County | Coudersport | 15,993 | 1,081 | 2G, 3A | No | — | No | 109 |
| Clinton County | Lock Haven | 37,865 | 890 | 2G, 4D | No | — | No | 157 |
| Clearfield County | Clearfield | 78,132 | 1,145 | 2E, 2G, 4D, 2D | No | 6 municipalities | Yes | 67 |
From the source record (DCNR Elk State Forest page: "It encompasses almost 217,000 acres of northern hardwood and mixed oak forest located in:"), counties and WMUs from the PGC county and WMU layers; county facts from the Census and the 2026-27 digest; bear counts from the PGC 2024 bear release. Checked October 12, 2026.
Hunting Elk State Forest by species
Listed game runs to 5 groups: whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys, elk and ruffed grouse.
White-tailed deer
19,900 deer came out of WMU 2G in 2025-26 (PGC estimate).
Black bear
The 2025 bear count for WMU 2G was 488.
Wild turkey
WMU 2G hunters took roughly 2,966 spring turkeys in 2024.
Elk
Elk, 2025: 140 licenses, 108 taken.
Ruffed grouse
Statewide grouse harvest, 2025: 3,175.
Species from the area record; bag limits and seasons from the PGC seasons and bag limits; harvest from PGC deer report, PGC harvest data and PGC turkey report. Checked October 12, 2026.
Hunting Elk State Forest legally
What applies on this ground, card by card.
Where and when you may hunt
Open to hunting and trapping under PGC seasons and regulations throughout the forest except safety zones around buildings and picnic areas; Sunday hunting follows PGC dates.
Forest hunting rules
Forest land follows PGC Sunday dates. Buildings and picnic areas carry closed safety zones; everything else is open.
License checklist
The general license covers small game plus the antlered deer and turkey tags; add the extras below as needed.
Sundays and blaze orange
Orange is needed in small game seasons and every firearms deer, bear and elk segment; archery seasons, turkey, waterfowl, doves and furbearers are exempt.
Except for migratory birds, every season in 2026-27 includes its Sundays.
Features mapped inside Elk State Forest
Everything here is read from the agency record, nothing estimated.
| On the ground | Count or size |
|---|---|
| DCNR wild area | Quehanna Wild Area · 21,317 ac |
| DCNR wild area | Square Timber Wild Area · 5,615 ac |
| Natural areas | 13 |
Elk zones touching Elk State Forest
| Zone | PGC description | Bull | Cow | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 306 | 193 sq mi, 91% public land; Quehanna Plateau. | — | — | — |
| 304 | 724 sq mi, 76% public land; First Fork and Main Branch of Sinnemahoning Creek and Kettle Creek Valley. | — | — | — |
| 303 | 251 sq mi, 40% public land; includes Lyme Conservation Easement open to public hunting. | — | — | — |
| 302 | 231 sq mi, 38% public land; large portion of SGL 14 and Elk State Forest; healthy elk population. | — | — | — |
| 301 | 448 sq mi, 38% public land; low elk population, high human/elk conflicts around Weedville. | — | — | — |
| 305 | 152 sq mi, 50% public land; SGL 311, Elk State Forest and Bennett Branch of Sinnemahoning Creek; surrounds Benezette. | — | — | — |
Every elk license here comes from the PGC drawing, zone by zone.
Agency description
Hunting for deer, turkey, grouse, black bear and other wildlife is a popular use of the forest during designated seasons.
Facts from the source record, pa.gov, PGC AGOL layer, pa.gov; retrieved 2026-10-12, checked October 12, 2026.
Harvest and allocation near Elk State Forest
PGC sets deer licenses and reports deer harvest by WMU, not by property, so these are unit figures.
| WMU | Square miles | SGL area | Antler restriction | Doe licenses | Change | Sellout | CWD detected | Deer taken |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WMU 2G | 4,112 | 294 | 3 points, one side | 57,000 | +/- 0 | 8/3 | No | 19,900 |
Harvest peaked at 19,900 in 2025 and bottomed at 10,200 in 2015. Antlered 7,600, antlerless 12,300 in 2025-26. Firearms seasons accounted for 13,500 deer, archery 4,960 and muzzleloader 1,440. Figures before 2024 exclude the old WMU 2H, merged into 2G that year. The unit’s 2026-27 antlerless quota is 57,000 (+/- 0).
Bear harvest, counties
WMU harvest
| WMU | Spring turkey 2024 | Bears 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| WMU 2G | 2,966 | 488 |
PGC elk drawing: Single $11.97 application (PA hunting license required), up to five options (season, Elk Hunt Zone, antlered/antlerless); deadline 11:59 p.m. July 12, 2026; drawing July 25, 2026 at the Elk Country Visitor Center. Bonus point per unsuccessful application (max 37 for 2026-27). Antlered elk licenses are once in a lifetime. Nonresidents max 10% of licenses. 155 licenses allocated: 80 bull, 75 cow. Survey estimate for 2026: 1,563 elk.
WMU areas from the PGC WMU pages; antlerless allocations from the PGC allocation; deer harvest from the 2025-26 PGC report and the PGC historic harvest dashboard; bears from PGC releases; turkeys from PGC job report. Checked October 12, 2026.
Elk State Forest seasons by Wildlife Management Unit
24 species and 51 dated segments for WMU 2G. The last column compares each one with today’s date.
| Species | Segment | Unit | From | Through | Status today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Agricultural Deer Control (Ag Tag, antlerless only) | This area | Aug 1, 2026 | Apr 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery (antlered and antlerless) | Statewide | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | October muzzleloader (antlerless only) | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Special firearms (antlerless only) | Statewide | Oct 22, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Rifle (antlered and antlerless) | Statewide | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery (antlered and antlerless) | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 24, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Extended regular firearms (antlerless only) | This area | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 24, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Flintlock (antlered or antlerless) | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 24, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Archery | This area | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Oct 22, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Special firearms | Statewide | Oct 22, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Rifle | Statewide | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 24, 2026 | |
| Elk | Archery (antlered or antlerless) | Elk Hunt Zones | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Elk | First regular firearms (new) | Elk Hunt Zones | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Elk | Second regular firearms | Elk Hunt Zones | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Elk | Third regular firearms | Elk Hunt Zones | Jan 9, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall season (male or female) | This area | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring gobbler youth hunt | Statewide | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring gobbler season (morning only) | Statewide | May 1, 2027 | May 15, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring gobbler season (all day) | Statewide | May 16, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Regular | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 24, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Junior hunt | Statewide | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (male or female) | Statewide | Oct 24, 2026 | Dec 24, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (male or female) | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Regular | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Dec 24, 2026 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Regular | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Cottontail | Junior hunt | Statewide | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Regular | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 24, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Regular | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe hare | Regular | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Squirrels | Junior hunt | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Squirrels | Regular | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Dec 24, 2026 | |
| Squirrels | Regular | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodchuck | Regular | Statewide | Jul 1, 2026 | Dec 24, 2026 | |
| Woodchuck | Regular | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 | |
| Crow | Regular (Thursday-Sunday only) | Statewide | Aug 20, 2026 | Mar 21, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | Statewide | Jul 1, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 | |
| Fox | Hunting | Statewide | Oct 24, 2026 | Feb 21, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | Statewide | Oct 24, 2026 | Feb 21, 2027 | |
| Porcupine | Hunting | Statewide | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 27, 2026 | |
| Porcupine | Hunting | Statewide | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 24, 2026 | |
| Porcupine | Hunting | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Mourning dove | Regular | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 27, 2026 | |
| Mourning dove | Regular | Statewide | Dec 18, 2026 | Jan 2, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Regular | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 8, 2026 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | This area | Jan 9, 2027 | Feb 3, 2027 | |
| Opossum, striped skunk and weasel | Hunting | Statewide | Jul 1, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 | |
| Starling and English sparrow | No closed season | Statewide | Jul 1, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 | |
| Gallinules | Regular | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Virginia and sora rails | Regular | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Regular | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 8, 2026 |
From the Pennsylvania Game Commission seasons and bag limits and the 2026-27 digest, checked October 12, 2026.
The 25-mile ring around Elk State Forest
12 public areas within 25 miles, plus Elk State Forest in orange. Biggest neighbor: Susquehannock State Forest, 265,000 acres.
| Public ground | Type | Acres | Distance | Which way | WMU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sinnemahoning State Park | State park | 1,400 | 7 mi | east | 2G |
| State Game Lands 14 | State Game Lands | 17,360 | 10 mi | west | 2G |
| Sizerville State Park | State park | 200 | 10 mi | north | 2G |
| State Game Lands 311 | State Game Lands | 3,589 | 11 mi | southwest | 2G |
| State Game Lands 293 | State Game Lands | 5,470 | 13 mi | west | 2G |
| Kettle Creek State Park | State park | 1,640 | 15 mi | east | 2G |
| State Game Lands 30 | State Game Lands | 11,658 | 15 mi | northwest | 2G |
| State Game Lands 34 | State Game Lands | 9,558 | 16 mi | south | 2G |
| Moshannon State Forest | State forest | 190,031 | 18 mi | southwest | 2E, 2G, 4D |
| State Game Lands 338 | State Game Lands | 4,738 | 18 mi | southwest | 2G |
| Susquehannock State Forest | State forest | 265,000 | 20 mi | northeast | 2G, 3A |
| State Game Lands 25 | State Game Lands | 24,379 | 21 mi | west | 2G |
Points from PGC, DCNR, USFS, USFWS and NPS GIS layers (DCNR Bureau of Forestry boundary GIS (point inside largest parcel)). Distances are straight-line. Statewide public land map.
Elk State Forest and its related units
Straight-line miles from this page’s map point.
Other areas sharing its counties
| Area | Type | Where | Size (ac) | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allegheny National Forest | National forest | Warren, Elk, Forest | 512,932 | 45 mi |
| Sproul State Forest | State forest | Clinton, Centre, Potter | 305,450 | 24 mi |
| Susquehannock State Forest | State forest | Potter, Clinton, McKean | 265,000 | 20 mi |
| Allegheny National Forest, Bradford Ranger District | Ranger district | Warren, McKean, Forest | 262,965 | 45 mi |
| Allegheny National Forest, Marienville Ranger District | Ranger district | Elk, Forest, McKean | 249,968 | 41 mi |
| Bald Eagle State Forest | State forest | Union, Centre, Mifflin | 194,602 | 60 mi |
| Moshannon State Forest | State forest | Clearfield, Centre, Elk | 190,031 | 18 mi |
| Tioga State Forest | State forest | Tioga, Lycoming, Bradford | 161,890 | 43 mi |
| Tiadaghton State Forest | State forest | Lycoming, Clinton, Potter | 146,539 | 44 mi |
| State Game Lands 44 | State Game Lands | Elk | 39,335 | 31 mi |
| State Game Lands 25 | State Game Lands | Elk | 24,379 | 21 mi |
| State Game Lands 100 | State Game Lands | Centre, Clearfield | 21,071 | 25 mi |
| State Game Lands 54 | State Game Lands | Jefferson, Elk | 19,408 | 38 mi |
| State Game Lands 158 | State Game Lands | Blair, Cambria, Clearfield | 17,463 | 54 mi |
| State Game Lands 14 | State Game Lands | Cameron, Elk | 17,360 | 10 mi |
| State Game Lands 87 | State Game Lands | Clearfield | 17,296 | 43 mi |
| State Game Lands 295 | State Game Lands | Clinton, Centre | 12,338 | 48 mi |
| State Game Lands 30 | State Game Lands | McKean | 11,658 | 15 mi |
Where the Elk State Forest acres lie
| County | Acres |
|---|---|
| Cameron County | 126,894 |
| Elk County | 46,174 |
| McKean County | 25,792 |
| Potter County | 15,998 |
| Clinton County | 1,828 |
| Clearfield County | 623 |
State forest land by county from the DCNR forest boundary layer intersected with Census county outlines.
Legal hunting light around Elk State Forest
Pennsylvania small and big game may be hunted from a half hour before sunrise until a half hour after sunset. Doves, waterfowl and woodcock stop at sunset.
Times worked out for Elk State Forest in Eastern time from the rule in the Pennsylvania Game Commission digest (shooting hours). Some furbearers may be taken at night; check the digest. Shooting hours for every county.
Ranges within reach of Elk State Forest
Closest public range: State Game Lands 44 Public Shooting Range, roughly 33 miles from the middle of Elk State Forest. Nearby clubs are shown too.
Trap / skeet / sporting clays / shotgun / 5-stand / rifle / smallbore / handgun / archery / muzzleloader
From the PGC Shooting Ranges layer and the Game Commission range rules, checked October 12, 2026.
Help close to Elk State Forest: shops and offices
Nearest towns by straight-line distance.
| Town | County | Distance | Toward | Population | Public ground within 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emporium | Cameron | 5 mi | southeast | 1,842 | 108,633 |
| Sinnamahoning | Cameron | 10 mi | northwest | — | 155,000 |
| Benezette | Elk | 13 mi | northeast | 215 | 151,373 |
| Austin | Potter | 14 mi | south | 467 | 107,210 |
Shops and processors
Region and district offices
Towns and populations from the Census 2024 estimates and Gazetteer; public acres within 10 miles from PGC, DCNR and federal layers; businesses from Hunters Sharing the Harvest, PDA, store locators and listings; offices from PGC and DCNR pages. Checked October 12, 2026. Call ahead.
Gear that fits Elk State Forest
Chosen around the hunting done here; listings update on every click.
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Short answers about hunting Elk State Forest
Will a general license do for Elk State Forest?
A Pennsylvania hunting license: $20.97 resident adult, $101.97 nonresident adult.
What is the orange rule on Elk State Forest?
Yes: 250 square inches, head, chest and back, in the seasons that call for it.
Which elk zones cover Elk State Forest?
Only with a drawn license; it lies in elk hunt zones 306, 304, 303, 302, 301 and 305.
What game is Elk State Forest known for?
5 groups: whitetails, black bears, wild turkeys, elk and ruffed grouse.
What is the buck harvest in WMU 2G?
Unit-level only: 19,900 deer in WMU 2G, 2025-26.
Which other areas are close to Elk State Forest?
The closest public ground on our list is Sinnemahoning State Park (7 miles), State Game Lands 14 (10 miles) and Sizerville State Park (10 miles).
Is there bear hunting near Elk State Forest?
PGC counted 511 bears in Cameron, Elk, McKean, Potter, Clinton and Clearfield counties in 2024.
How do I find parking on Elk State Forest?
The agency link above has the map.
What does Elk State Forest measure in acres?
217,000 acres, per DCNR Elk State Forest page: "It encompasses almost 217,000 acres of northern hardwood and mixed oak forest located in:".
Whose rules govern Elk State Forest?
the DCNR Bureau of Forestry manages this DCNR state forest district open to hunting and trapping.
Is Elk State Forest a three-up antler unit?
WMU 2G, by the PGC WMU layer. A legal buck in WMU 2G has three points on one side.
One more check on Elk State Forest
Before the drive to Elk State Forest, confirm the WMU dates, your licenses and any posted closures.
Sources for this page: pa.gov: hunting · pa.gov: elk · PGC AGOL layer: FeatureServer 1 · pa.gov: hunting · PASDA: MapServer 9 · PGC AGOL layer: FeatureServer 301; regulations from the 2026-27 PGC digest. Checked October 12, 2026.
Other photos on this page: USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); bgautrea (CC BY-SA 2.0).