Pennsylvania Game News - August 2019 - 20

I pulled down on the final cow, but
State Route 120 was in my sight line and
the safety never came off.
I went north along an old fenced vineyard, then turned west, moving quickly for
about 450 yards. Winded, I set up looking
north for the elk, hoping they were in
front of me.
One at a time, they began crossing a
trail about 150 yards or so away. It was
an open shot on a thin trail with a good
backstop.
Still breathing like a locomotive, I tried
to steady that thumbhole-stock rifle. First
came a cow, then the bull, which stopped
broadside and looked right at me. He
moved on after about five seconds and a
cow stepped across the path and stopped
broadside.
Still heaving, I squeezed off a shot. I
saw a puff of dirt low and left of the cow.
I clearly had missed, and she quickly
moved out of sight.
I checked the area where the elk had
stood, finding no blood and no animals
moving. Did they all take off?
I looped downhill and spotted another
cow, which saw me and trotted off. I
repositioned quickly again, about 60 yards
away, and set up. She crossed to my front,
below me at about 80 yards.
I shot at and hit her, but she didn't go
down. I cut her off again, however, and
caught her standing under a hemlock with
a 2-by-2 bull.
I dropped her with a 65-yard shot.

Helping Hands
The temperature dropped and big
snowflakes began to fall. The snow turned
to rain and it got messy quickly.
The nearest tree was over 55 feet away.
Two days earlier, I'd seen a photo
showing an easy rope rig to lift the legs
of an elk to help with field-dressing when
20

Hunting Elk

Those seeking a 2019-20 elk license have until July
31 to apply for any or all of the three drawings for
the archery, general or late antlerless elk seasons.
Apply online or at any license issuing agent.

alone. I pulled out every strand of paracord and drag rope I had, and made it with
about 10 inches left for the ear tag!
About 90 minutes later, with the elk
cleaned, John Trout appeared. John is a
guide, but his client never showed that
morning. He'd watched me and the elk
from the hillside across the river.
John showed me how to retrieve the
cow's uterus for Game Commission testing and told me where I could get a skiff to
make dragging easier. My samples went
into the cooler in my Jeep and I thanked
him for his kindness.
At the Driftwood Saloon & Grill lot,
I met up with my friends and let them in
on the news. Suddenly these silverbacks
all were young and full of vigor again.
Then I dripped into that bar and made
some more friends - Mark, Garrett, Gary
and John, who bailed me out on a cold,
rainy elk drag in Cameron County.
With the elk aboard, Brother Dave fired
up the Chevy pickup and down Route
555 we went to the check station. Larry
and Dick followed in my Jeep. Weighing,
sizing, measuring, photographing and
some storytelling followed!
No one stopped smiling.
Only three elk were taken that Friday,
and another of those was by Pat, who
heard my shots, repositioned and took a
nice cow about 25 to 30 minutes later. His
cow was a great final touch to my elk hunt.
So for those who will be hunting elk
this season, remember permission, preparation and pursuit will get you there.
God, and few friends at a bar, will
handle the rest.
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2019

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