Elk Hunt Zone 2 & The Viewing Areas

During my visits to the Pennsylvania Elk Range I have noted from a number of conversations that many elk viewers are confused over where that elk are hunted.  For example one gentleman who struck up a conversation while watching a dominate bull and his harem at the parking area located in the bottom of this photograph commented that "they don't hunt these elk".  He was surprised when he learned just how close to this position that legal elk hunting is conducted. 

Porcupine Run-Winslow Hill Elk viewing area

This photo was taken from the hillside to the west located in Elk Hunt Zone 2.  The boundary between the no kill zone and zone two is just below the bottom of the photograph.

Our friend Richard accompanied Willard & I Wednesday morning when we walked into Zone 2 to photograph elk at one of Willard's favorite observation spots located on the wall of a retention pond.  On the way back we encountered this young bull polishing his antlers.  This photograph was taken with a 24mm-105mm lens set on 50mm focal length. 

With his mock combat finished the bull moved closer to a food plot and began grazing.  This photograph was taken at the 24mm focal length.  Remember some will claim that Pennsylvania elk hunting is conducted well away from the viewing areas and that the elk in the kill zones are "wild" elk and are not the same animals seen around Benezette.  Not only was these images taken in hunt zone 2 but they were taken while the individual possessing the governor's conservation tag and his guide was archery hunting elk in this exact area. 

Photograph taken from the Porcupine Run-Winslow Hill viewing area bordering the Winslow Hill road.

The area center right of this photograph where the ground cover is a mixture of brown & green is in hunt Zone 2.  I overheard one individual discussing with another about how he would like to be drawn for a tag for this area.  He stated that he wants to kill an elk but wants it to be a fair chase hunt, not a high fence hunt where the elk cannot get away.  I shudder to think that anyone could think that hunting elk anywhere near this area could conceivably be considered fair chase hunting.

Pennsylvania provides some of the very best elk viewing to be found anywhere thanks to the habitat around these and other viewing areas and the acclimated animals that will allow visitors to watch with wonder as these magnificent animals go about their daily business with scarecly a concern for the people standing nearby.