Pennsylvania Game News - Feburary 2011 - 31

what “purple mountains majesty” meant. Looking out over the folds of mountains; the budding oaks and hickories gave a lavender tinge to the whole scene before me. Vultures circled in the drafts above, while pileated woodpeckers hammered their love-sick tunes in dead oaks. Just about the time I felt myself nodding off, one of the elk stood up. It seemed weird that they moved as one, the younger bull following right in the footsteps of the dominant one. They moved off the pipeline onto a well worn animal trail, moving slowly and deliberately. I couldn’t believe the antler was still holding fast as the bull wormed his way through the sweeping branches of the hemlocks. With the sun now fading fast, the bulls shifted direction as the wind changed. I knew I would have to head back to my truck shortly. Getting off the mountain in the dark, carrying my pack and the elk antler I had found, would be treacherous. I would have to try to meet up with these elk tomorrow. For more than six hours I had trailed the two bulls. I made it to the truck without any mishaps, and back at camp I was full of mixed emotions. An overwhelming happiness came over me as I stroked the antler I had found; but it was bittersweet that I followed the bull over such rough terrain and he still had possession of his other antler. It was two days later before I met up with the bull again. He was in the same general area of the bigger bull, but they were not such buddies anymore. I followed these particular bulls for five more days. The smaller bull still had his antler. With commitments at home it was a full week before I could return to my beloved mountains. Early the next morning I caught up with my bull again; unbelievably still sporting his antler. It was a full 17 days since he had lost his first “horn.” Many campers arrived that night, getting ready for the first day of trout season. I figured this would push the elk farther into the mountains. I was wrong. The next
FEBRUARY 2011

THERE ARE still two more bulls with both antlers intact that I’ll be keeping in my sights. Maybe I’ll see you out there, while I’m still watching the arse end of some bull elk.

morning, a fellow about a half-mile from where I had left the bull the night before looked out his camp window. He spotted a bull elk. Grabbing his binoculars, he watched the bull saunter through the woods behind his camp. Just as he was to lose sight of him, the antler fell off. He retrieved it and now has his own trophy. Yes, it upset me that I was not able to complete my set of Pennsylvania elk antlers. But in nature, it doesn’t always go your way. There are still two more bulls with both antlers intact that I’ll be keeping in my sights. Maybe I’ll see you out there, while I’m still watching the arse end of some bull elk.
Individuals may retain naturally shed deer and elk antlers for their own use. Antlers may not, however, be sold, bartered or traded.

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Pennsylvania Game News - Feburary 2011

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