PA elk drawing

jimbires · Thursday at 4:42 AM

I'm not sure if any of you guys apply for the PA Elk hunting license draw . the draw system for the PA elk tags has been getting scrutinized . I've felt a few times it's not 100% legitimate , but then again , how would I know . I'd have to look , but I think I have 23 preference points in the original rifle draw . a recently started , late season cow tag draw , I have applied every year , I think that's 4 or 5 points , I have accumulated . here's a few links about what's going on .

https://www.repmaloney.com/News/36990/Press-Releases/Maloney-Calls-Out-PGC-s-Illegal-Procedures-of-PA-Elk-Tag-Drawings

https://www.goerie.com/story/sports/outdoors/2025/11/18/elk-hunting-lottery-pennsylvania-game-commission-to-implement-several-changes/87338626007/

www.lehighvalleyoutdoorsbynickhromiak.com

PA Game Commission makes changes to elk tag lottery system amidst accusations

In an effort to make Pennsylvania’s elk lottery system more transparent, the Pennsylvania House Game and Fisheries Committee, has approved an amended version of House Resolution 356 to make...

www.lehighvalleyoutdoorsbynickhromiak.com

https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/ourstories/2025/11/pa-celebrating-25-years-of-elk-hunting-amid-concerns-license-lottery-not-compliant-with-law.html

wvbuckbuster · Thursday at 12:18 PM

I have a nephew and his sons that live in PA and they don't apply for elk tags. He said it was too much hassle and restrictions. Just going by his word not having really checked it out. He has lived there for over 30 years. If he had started way back when maybe he would have gotten a tag by now

jimbires · Friday at 5:45 AM

early on , before I started applying , I heard a game warden accompanied the hunter , and pointed out the one to shoot , about like a cull hunt . I'm not sure if that's true , just what I've heard . the only thing I know of now , is you have to hunt in the area the tag is for . if you use a guide , they need to be registered . I think there is something about people that accompany you ,in the field , during the hunt . all of this would mean nothing to me .

I've been pondering about keeping in the draw game . I'm really thinking , I'm done with it . there are some monster bulls here , but I'm not sure the juice is worth the squeeze . they have burned me out on trying to be successful in the draw .

salmonchaser · Friday at 6:38 AM

I have never applied out side of Oregon, Montana or Wyoming but the idea of hunting Pennsylvania for elk is intriguing. Given I’m 70 I’m likely to remain in Oregon wondering if I’ll ever draw a tag in Pennsylvania.

What the heck, if the cost isn’t too high and you’re in that area why not? They do kill some great bulls there.

sako2 · Friday at 9:04 AM

It got pretty scrutinzed when Greg Ritz drew a tag and did his tv show.

Charlie-NY · Friday at 1:27 PM

It looks like 99% of the paid applications will be unselected. This has got to be a HUGE money maker for the state.

I saw something like this locally where you could apply to bowhunt whitetails in a large park that had NEVER allowed hunting. A paid applicant had to carefully watch for the selection date to see if he was one of the 100 successful applicants. If you were selected but didn't see it in 7 days, your spot was given away. I asked why they couldn't just notify paid applicants, through email, if they were successful or not. I was told, "that would be ridiculous because we have almost 15,000 applicants."

At $20 a pop, that should be $300,000 for a rather limited hunt. What a scam!

wvbuckbuster · Friday at 2:40 PM

salmonchaser said:
I have never applied out side of Oregon, Montana or Wyoming but the idea of hunting Pennsylvania for elk is intriguing. Given I’m 70 I’m likely to remain in Oregon wondering if I’ll ever draw a tag in Pennsylvania. What the heck, if the cost isn’t too high and you’re in that area why not? They do kill some great bulls there.

KY might be another option for you. Not sure of the size of bulls that are killed though.

salmonchaser · Friday at 8:05 PM

wvbuckbuster said:
KY might be another option for you. Not sure of the size of bulls that are killed though.

Catherine and I have talked about the Kentucky hunt. She was raised there and her people are still there. One of the nephews has applied out in Oregon so he can hunt with me. So far he hasn't drawn.

jimbires · 2026-03-28T05:32:43-0700

up until now , it was a $10 application fee to get in each one of the elk draws . so if you applied in all three it cost $30 . I'm not sure if this has passed , what they are talking about now is , the applicant has to purchase a hunting license BEFORE being able to apply . I think this will drastically cut down on nonresident applicants . they are also talking about giving more tags to PA residents , this will probably also cut down on a lot of nonresident applicants .

why I question the fairness of the draw .

one of the first times I applied , I went to a county fair grounds that was hosting the Elk EXPO . the license drawing was live at this event . a couple Game wardens were on stage with a laptop . the laptop was used to pull the lucky names . a few name into the drawing the warden announces the next winner , John Doe you are awarded a bull tag . the other warden says , I know John Doe , he just retired from the fish commission this summer , what a lucky guy .

every elk has to go to a check station to be checked in . there is only one check station . I would go an evening or two, each season , and hang around to see what the hunters are bringing in . this was when there was only one elk season . the check station was beside the Quehanna boot camp , at a penndot building . this was before the Elk viewing center was built , the check in is at the viewing center now . one year I'm at the check station hanging around . a group of guys bring in an elk . while it's getting weighed and a tooth pulled , and whatever else they do , a guy from this group was talking to one of the game commission big shots . this hunter was from NY . he was telling him what a great hunt this is . everyone in his group has been lucky in the draw except one , and he'll keep trying hopefully this coming year he'll be lucky . it was something like one of his group of 6 or 7 hunters was lucky each year in a row .

I heard about a guy I used to work with drawing a bull license . I'm thinking that's great , he did like to hunt when we worked together , and he's just your average guy . a year or two later I find out this guy is a volunteer , to help give hunter safety classes .

now this celebrity hunter , Greg Ritz draws a license , probably on his first attempt .

call me crazy , but something doesn't smell right to me .

Firebird24 · 2026-03-28T08:56:09-0700

I’ve seen a couple of the tv famous draw extremely hard to get tags-but I think it’s because they are applying for everything that comes along.
You should also realize that the best bull
Units nationwide require over 20 points to draw. Utah and Wyoming where I apply are both in that category. There are easier units to draw but less “big” Bull opportunities in those easier units, often managed for a younger age class of Bull.
I have no interest in PA or KY but it’s always fun to have your name in th hat.
Utah applications are processed in Nevada by computer as I understand it, cutting down th likelihood of funny business in the draw process. I wish I was a skilled hacker!