Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 7

Hiking the Elk Range
By Cindy Ross

I

AM in love with elk, more specifically . . . bugling bull elk, which I find absolutely thrilling. The affair goes back to our days as long distance backpackers on the Continental Divide Trail in Montana. How I hated to go to sleep but lay there all night in our tent in the meadow, listening to the magic. I was emotionally moved, so grateful to be in the presence of such magnificent animals. We all know how fortunate we are to have elk right here in Pennsylvania. And although I put in for an elk tag, I’m not banking on ever scoring. It goes to a good cause. I’m also not fond of following the long lines of elk watchers cruising the Benezette roads looking for bulls. So I talk my hunting buddy and elk guide, Bill May, into leading me on a hike in the elk range during the rut, and pitching our tent in hopes of witnessing a concert. We’re heading into SGL 311 in the Winslow Hill area of Elk County near Benezette. Here is where lands devastated decades ago by coal companies are slowly being brought back to health to support a healthy herd of elk, as well as a myriad of other wildlife, and to the benefit of residents and visitors to the area as well.

Bill and I are taking a walk to see for ourselves how the land can heal and, we hope, see and hear some elk. Many different mining companies strip mined Winslow Hill from the late 1940s until the 1980s. About 1,400 to 1,500 acres were strip mined, and 1,000 of these acres later became State Game Lands. We drive uphill past the viewing area and turn left on the dirt road to arrive at a locked gate. Before heading out on our loop hike, we climb the hill directly behind us for a bird’s-eye view of the land we will be exploring plus get our bearings. Bill tells me that because of the mild winter, this knoll was void of all snow

BILL MAY led the author into the elk range during the rut on a camping trip. Bill is an excellent caller and showed his prowess.

AUGUST  2012 

7



Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012

Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012
History of the Whitetail
Contents
Decisions, Decisions
Hiking the Elk Range
Young Gun 2
Pennsylvania’s “Wildest” Places
Out of the Fog
Looking Forward To
European Skull Mounts
You Never Know
Just Gittin’ Started
Field Notes
Conservation News
Off the Wire
Another View
The Naturalist’s Eye
Straight from the Bowstring
Fun Game
Lock, Stock & Barrel
Crossings
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - Cover2
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - History of the Whitetail
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - Contents
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - Decisions, Decisions
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 4
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 5
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 6
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - Hiking the Elk Range
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 8
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 9
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 10
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - Young Gun 2
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 12
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 13
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - Pennsylvania’s “Wildest” Places
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 15
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 16
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 17
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 18
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - Out of the Fog
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 20
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - Looking Forward To
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 22
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 23
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - European Skull Mounts
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 25
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 26
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 27
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - You Never Know
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 29
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 30
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - Just Gittin’ Started
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 32
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 33
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 34
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 35
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - Field Notes
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 37
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 38
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 39
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 40
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - Conservation News
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 42
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 43
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 44
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 45
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 46
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - Off the Wire
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - Another View
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 49
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 50
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - The Naturalist’s Eye
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 52
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 53
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - Straight from the Bowstring
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 55
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 56
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 57
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 58
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - Fun Game
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - Lock, Stock & Barrel
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 61
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 62
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - 63
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - Crossings
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - BB1
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - BB2
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - Cover3
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2012 - Cover4
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