Pennsylvania Game News - February 2021 - 42

Nicola Sr., of Waterford.
For Gulvas, whose pursuit of his
massive buck spanned three seasons
and resulted in dozens of captured trailcamera photos and two recovered sheds
- and ended in a heart-pounding 18-yard
shot with a recurve bow - there is no
disappointment in the official score.
" It's a phenomenal buck whatever it
scores, " Gulvas said. " I'm just so lucky.
I still wake up in the morning and think,
'How was I given the opportunity to hunt
a deer like this?' "
An enthusiastic and dedicated shed
hunter, it's not unusual for Gulvas to find
sheds from old bucks, and he's targeted
many of them in the hunting seasons that
followed, without ever seeing them. So
to have the story of this buck work out so
perfectly, almost magically, truly was a
dream hunt, he said.
" If you'd have told me two years ago
this would happen, I would have laughed
so hard at you and told you, 'There's no
way in the world,' " he said.
That said, Gulvas and his chocolate
lab Mighty already have started their
shed-hunting season, and if either turns
up an especially big antler, another twistsand-turns pursuit of a different mountain
monster could be just around the corner.

PA bull hunters perfect in 2020
Pennsylvania's 2020-21 elk seasons
got off to a good start, with 105 elk taken
through the archery and general seasons.
All 36 bull hunters filled their tags. And
as of presstime, the season's overall elk
harvest still had a chance to grow because
the Jan. 2-9 late season for antlerless elk
had not yet begun. Thirty-four tags were
issued across 12 Elk Hunt Zones for the
late season.
In total, 21 of 26 archery elk hunters (10
bull, 16 cow) were successful, as were 84
of 104 elk hunters in the general season
(26 bull, 78 cow).
Ten bulls taken in 2020 weighed over
700 pounds each. The heaviest was 777
pounds, while the heaviest cow weighed
558 pounds.
Hunting in Pennsylvania's elk season
is a highly sought-after opportunity, with
licenses awarded by lottery to randomly
selected applicants. Applying to hunt in
one of the state's elk seasons costs $11.90.
A hunter may apply for all three seasons
for $35.70.
Hunters who don't apply may purchase
a bonus point that will increase their
chances in years to come.
All applicants who are not drawn are
awarded a bonus point for the season.
Each year, there's a July 31 deadline for
elk-license application and the purchase
of bonus points. The elk license drawing
occurs in August.

PLEASE REPORT YOUR DEER HARVEST
With the deer seasons coming to a close, the
Game Commission is issuing one last reminder to
hunters to report any and all deer harvests from
the 2020-21 seasons.
By law, harvests must be reported within 10
days. But those who miss the deadline and report
late will not be prosecuted.
" While all successful deer hunters should know
the law requires them to report deer harvests soon
after they occur, and that harvest reporting benefits deer management, hunters sometimes simply
42

forget, " said Game Commission Executive Director
Bryan Burhans. " The Game Commission still is
compiling deer harvest reports from the 2020-21
seasons, which means there's still time for every
successful deer hunter to report their harvests. "
Harvests can be reported online at the Game
Commission's website, www.pgc.pa.gov by clicking
on the Report a Harvest icon on the homepage.
Reporting online is the quickest and most costeffective way to report a harvest. Hunters also may
report by mail or by phone.

http://www.pgc.pa.gov

Pennsylvania Game News - February 2021

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