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Elk Hunting in Pennsylvania
The 2026-27 elk drawing put out 155 licenses, 80 bull and 75 cow, across nine Elk Hunt Zones (301 to 309). Season rows, limits, legal arms and mapped public land for elk.
Photo: Grand Teton (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Zones were redrawn and renumbered 300 to 310 for this license year; 300, around Benezette and the Elk Country Visitor Center, and 310 stay closed. In 2025, 108 elk were taken on 140 licenses, an overall success rate of 77%. The latest PGC survey estimates 1,563 elk in the herd (95% interval 1,362 to 1,863).
The PGC elk summary
- Archery Sept. 12-27; firearms Oct. 3-11 (new), Oct. 31-Nov. 8, Jan. 9-17, 2027.
- 155 licenses (80 bull, 75 cow) by lottery; application $11.97 by July 12.
- Elk Hunt Zones reconfigured as 300-310 (300 and 310 closed).
Elk opening and closing days
Elk hunters get 5 segments in 2026-27. Day counts include the first and last day.
| Season | Zone or WMU | Begins | Ends | Days | Sundays | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery (antlered or antlerless) | Elk Hunt Zones 301-309 (by license) | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | 16 | 3 | |
| First regular firearms (new) | Elk Hunt Zones 301-309 (by license) | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | 9 | 2 | |
| Second regular firearms | Elk Hunt Zones 301-309 (by license) | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | 9 | 2 | |
| Third regular firearms | Elk Hunt Zones 301-309 (by license) | Jan 9, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | 9 | 2 | |
| RMEF auction and KECA raffle tags | Elk Hunt Zones 301-309 (by license) | Jul 1, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | 131 | 19 |
What the season notes say
- One elk per license year with elk license (lottery).
- New early October firearms season for 2026-27.
- One elk per license year with elk license.
- Moved later in January for 2026-27.
- Season for conservation auction/raffle tag holders as shown in the digest.
From the Pennsylvania Game Commission seasons and bag limits and the 2026-27 digest, checked October 12, 2026.
How many elk you may take
What a game warden will check: the elk limits.
Elk
One elk per license year with an elk license (antlered or antlerless as issued).
Best public tracts for elk
34 public tracts list elk, led by 20 State Game Landss; the biggest is Sproul State Forest at 305,450 acres.
| Public land | Type | County | WMU | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sproul State Forest | State Forest | Clinton, Centre, Potter | 2G | 305,450 |
| Susquehannock State Forest | State Forest | Potter, Clinton, McKean | 2G/3A | 265,000 |
| Elk State Forest | State Forest | Cameron, Elk, McKean | 2G | 217,000 |
| Moshannon State Forest | State Forest | Clearfield, Centre, Elk | 2E/2G/4D | 190,031 |
| State Game Lands 44 | State Game Lands | Elk | 2F/2G | 39,335 |
| State Game Lands 25 | State Game Lands | Elk | 2G | 24,379 |
| State Game Lands 100 | State Game Lands | Centre, Clearfield | 2G | 21,071 |
| State Game Lands 14 | State Game Lands | Cameron, Elk | 2G | 17,360 |
| State Game Lands 30 | State Game Lands | McKean | 2G | 11,658 |
| State Game Lands 61 | State Game Lands | McKean | 2G | 9,972 |
| State Game Lands 34 | State Game Lands | Clearfield, Elk | 2G | 9,558 |
| State Game Lands 59 | State Game Lands | Potter, McKean | 3A | 7,023 |
| State Game Lands 331 | State Game Lands | Clearfield | 2G | 6,438 |
| State Game Lands 293 | State Game Lands | Elk, Cameron | 2G | 5,470 |
| State Game Lands 92 | State Game Lands | Centre | 2G | 5,234 |
More public land naming elk
Bald Eagle State Park (4,910 ac) · State Game Lands 338 (4,738 ac) · State Game Lands 90 (4,157 ac) · State Game Lands 311 (3,589 ac) · State Game Lands 323 (3,308 ac) · State Game Lands 321 (3,254 ac) · Elk State Park (3,150 ac) · State Game Lands 77 (3,038 ac) · State Game Lands 94 (2,297 ac) · State Game Lands 255 (2,221 ac) · Kettle Creek State Park (1,640 ac) · Sinnemahoning State Park (1,400 ac) · Parker Dam State Park (800 ac) · State Game Lands 78 (777 ac) · Denton Hill State Park (650 ac) · Lyman Run State Park (505 ac) · Simon B. Elliott State Park (230 ac) · Sizerville State Park (200 ac) · Ole Bull State Park (11 ac)
Elk counties
- Cameron County7 elk-range tracts
- Centre County7 elk-range tracts
- Clearfield County11 elk-range tracts
- Clinton County7 elk-range tracts
- Elk County10 elk-range tracts
- Lycoming County1 elk-range tract
- McKean County6 elk-range tracts
- Potter County9 elk-range tracts
PGC State Game Lands GIS, DCNR forest and park hunting pages and federal managers (PGC layers), retrieved 2026-10-12. Species lists are what each manager names; area rules still apply.
PGC harvest figures for elk
1,940 elk have been taken in the 25 seasons from 2001 to 2025 in this PGC table.
| Year | Licenses | Bulls taken | Cows taken | Total | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 140 | 56 | 52 | 108 | 77% |
| 2024 | 140 | 59 | 47 | 106 | 76% |
| 2023 | 144 | 59 | 59 | 118 | 82% |
| 2022 | 178 | 55 | 76 | 131 | 74% |
| 2021 | 187 | 53 | 91 | 146 | 78% |
| 2020 | 164 | 36 | 97 | 133 | 81% |
| 2019 | 142 | 32 | 95 | 127 | 89% |
| 2018 | 125 | 25 | 74 | 99 | 79% |
| 2017 | 118 | 25 | 79 | 104 | 89% |
| 2016 | 124 | 25 | 79 | 104 | 84% |
Harvest data: elk report. Estimates as published by the PGC.
Rules for elk: licenses, hours, orange
These cards cover the paperwork and field rules for elk.
What to buy
Fees that apply to elk.
Legal light
The PGC day for elk runs sunrise minus thirty minutes to sunset plus thirty.
Blaze orange
Orange is required for elk in rifle, muzzleloader, special and extended seasons, and anyone in a ground blind shows 100 square inches outside it.
Sundays
Sunday hunting is legal for elk throughout the season. All Sunday rules
The 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.
Elk check
Tag to the ear immediately; take elk with hunting and elk licenses to the PGC elk check station (Elk Country Visitor Center, Benezette) within 24 hours.
Feeding and herding elk
Unlawful to feed elk at any time or to drive or herd elk.
Big Game Records minimums for elk
typical elk firearm 300, typical elk archery 200, nontypical elk firearm 325, nontypical elk archery 275.
From the Pennsylvania Game Commission 2026-27 digest, license types and harvest reporting, checked October 12, 2026. Pennsylvania hunting laws · License guide.
Elk: legal arms
From the digest’s sporting arms pages and the general rules, the rows that apply to elk.
| Season | Permitted | Not permitted |
|---|---|---|
| Elk | Manually operated centerfire rifles and handguns .26 caliber or larger with expanding bullets of at least 120 grains; 12-gauge or larger shotguns with single projectiles; muzzleloaders .50+ with 210 grain projectiles; bows 45 lb; crossbows 125 lb; broadheads at least 1 in wide, max 3.25 in long. | Semiautomatic rifles. |
How elk may be hunted
Elk
Unlawful to feed elk at any time or to drive or herd elk.
Drives
Drives permitted for deer and bear only; unlawful to drive elk or turkeys; drivers must be licensed and wear orange.
Hunting parties
Max 25 for deer, elk or bears; max 6 for small game (not waterfowl/dove hunters in blinds or stationary).
2026-27 digest, sporting arms and unlawful acts pages, checked October 12, 2026.
Elk: what hunters ask
How do I apply for a Pennsylvania elk license?
Single application, up to five season/zone/sex options; deadline 11:59 p.m. July 12, 2026; drawing July 25, 2026. The application costs $11.97 and a Pennsylvania hunting license is required.
Can nonresidents hunt elk in Pennsylvania?
Yes, through the same drawing, but nonresidents are capped at 10% of licenses and pay $250 if drawn.
Is a bull elk license once in a lifetime?
Yes. Starting this license year, antlered elk licenses are once in a lifetime. Unsuccessful applicants earn a bonus point.
Which Elk Hunt Zones are closed?
Zone 300: Closed to elk hunting; area immediately surrounding the Elk Country Visitor Center and Benezette. Zone 310: Closed to elk hunting; habitat improvement area.
Is there a bag limit on elk?
One elk per license year with an elk license (antlered or antlerless as issued).
When is elk season in Pennsylvania for 2026-27?
Elk run archery (antlered or antlerless) Sep 12 to Sep 27, 2026 (Elk Zones 301-309); first regular firearms (new) Oct 3 to Oct 11, 2026 (Elk Zones 301-309); second regular firearms Oct 31 to Nov 8, 2026 (Elk Zones 301-309); third regular firearms Jan 9 to Jan 17, 2027 (Elk Zones 301-309); rmef auction and keca raffle tags Jul 1 to Nov 8, 2026 (Elk Zones 301-309).
Which public lands list elk?
Start with Sproul State Forest, Susquehannock State Forest and Elk State Forest, the biggest of 34 tracts.
Which licenses cover elk?
The elk list: Elk License Application ($11.97); Elk License (if drawn) – resident ($25); Elk License (if drawn) – nonresident ($250); Resident Adult Hunting License ($20.97).
What orange rules apply to elk?
Orange is required for elk in rifle, muzzleloader, special and extended seasons, and anyone in a ground blind shows 100 square inches outside it.
What are legal shooting hours for elk?
The PGC day for elk runs sunrise minus thirty minutes to sunset plus thirty.
What arms does the PGC allow for elk?
Elk: Manually operated centerfire rifles and handguns .26 caliber or larger with expanding bullets of at least 120 grains; 12-gauge or larger shotguns with single projectiles; muzzleloaders .50+ with 210 grain projectiles; bows 45 lb; crossbows 125 lb; broadheads at least 1 in wide, max 3.25 in long.
Can I hunt elk on Sunday?
Sunday hunting is legal for elk throughout the season.
Packing for Elk country
Four items chosen for this ground and its seasons.
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Elk checklist
For elk on public ground, read the tract’s own notes as well as the statewide rules.
Other photos on this page: TheTurducken (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Mountain-Prairie (Public Domain Mark 1.0); USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Virginia State Parks staff (CC BY 2.0); Shenandoah National Park (Public Domain Mark 1.0).