PA 1st Mega-Bull in the bag....

[bluedog69]

I feel like it's less habitat than it is low harvest numbers. Great bull regardless

That is very very true especially in any given location.
On the other hand there are many places in the mid west where corn might peak out at
140 bu/acre, and other places where 220 bu/acre is common. Then there are places that are hitting 300 bu/acre.

Super rich soils seems to translate into antler potential in whitetails and I am betting it would for elk also.... as long as they
reach their potential.

 

[Rosebud]

The RMEF tag has been filled and it is a mass- monster. The World Record is coming and is still walking around, hopefully someone will find him. Lots of bugling just starting, enjoy the photos of some big boys, again not all mine but enjoy them....sweet dreams.View attachment 491356View attachment 491357View attachment 491358View attachment 491359View attachment 491360View attachment 491361View attachment 491367View attachment 491362

That thing looks like the extinct Irish Elk. Takes a big animal to just carry that much antler around.

 

[capod28]

^^^THIS^^^

There are areas out west that don't seem like "elk country" so not many hunters, and they have massive bulls too.
Didn't PA just recently start having elk seasons? It's not surprising that there are monster bulls if they are allowed to get old.
No diffferent than my favorite Bluegill honey hole as a kid. Used to be able to get HUGE fish out of there but once word got out and more people fished it, no more bigguns.

Thanks for sharing! Love looking at big bulls no matter the locale!

Pennsylvania's elk hunt has continued every year since 2001.

 

[CMP70306]

^^^THIS^^^

There are areas out west that don't seem like "elk country" so not many hunters, and they have massive bulls too.
Didn't PA just recently start having elk seasons? It's not surprising that there are monster bulls if they are allowed to get old.
No diffferent than my favorite Bluegill honey hole as a kid. Used to be able to get HUGE fish out of there but once word got out and more people fished it, no more bigguns.

Thanks for sharing! Love looking at big bulls no matter the locale!

It's been going on for over 20 years but they only harvest between 20 and 60 bulls a year out of a 1,400 animal herd. In the last 12 years they have only harvested 375 bulls so there simply aren't enough tags to kill all the big ones in a year so they just keep getting bigger.

 

[Shoot1000]

Good Lord what a beast!

The RMEF tag has been filled and it is a mass- monster. The World Record is coming and is still walking around, hopefully someone will find him. Lots of bugling just starting, enjoy the photos of some big boys, again not all mine but enjoy them....sweet dreams.View attachment 491356View attachment 491357View attachment 491358View attachment 491359View attachment 491360View attachment 491361View attachment 491367View attachment 491362

Awesome bull congratulations .

 

[Philward]

So if Iowa and northern MO could just start growing elk....then the world would see what good soils
and plenty to eat could do for an elk.

wonder how farmers would feel about that, herds of elk eating crops and tearing down fences.

 

[Leaf Litter]

wonder how farmers would feel about that, herds of elk eating crops and tearing down fences.

They complain endlessly anyway so what would be the difference?

 

[Frank in the Laurels]

From a friend of mines camera..lol

 

[Frank in the Laurels]

Not mine but I like it...don't see many b&w these days..

 

[Nipper]

As far as I know, all the elk transplanted to PA, MI, TN, KY etc are ALL Rocky Mountain species. Its the habitat, food, water, great antler mineral nutrition, lack of predators found out west, so able to max out genetics. They are in lush gardens of Eden in comparison to out west. They even don't have to travel for food, surrounded by it! So yeah, they can grow big everything!

Muddy.
You are so right on the RM elk. I remember when they brought some of the first ones into Pa. They put up huge wall fencing behind their hunting cabin each Penn consisted of about 15 acres with a few inside they wanted to see how much food I think they would consume in a given amount of time either way. Looking at a state that had none and now this!! It's like a miracle was bestowed upon the state of Pa.

 

[Nipper]

Muddy.
You are so right on the RM elk. I remember when they brought some of the first ones into Pa. They put up huge wall fencing behind their hunting cabin each Penn consisted of about 15 acres with a few inside they wanted to see how much food I think they would consume in a given amount of time either way. Looking at a state that had none and now this!! It's like a miracle was bestowed upon the state of Pa.

My buddies hunting cabin in Clinton Co.

 

[RYEWSKY25284]

The RMEF tag has been filled and it is a mass- monster. The World Record is coming and is still walking around, hopefully someone will find him. Lots of bugling just starting, enjoy the photos of some big boys, again not all mine but enjoy them....sweet dreams.View attachment 491356View attachment 491357View attachment 491358View attachment 491359View attachment 491360View attachment 491361View attachment 491367View attachment 491362

he's a wall HANGER! BIG CONGRATS to you!

 

[Frank in the Laurels]

I'm glad to see everyone is enjoying the photos and videos....PLEASE type in, PA GAME ELK CAM

IT'S LIVE 24/7 for another week, right in a food plot, you'll see and hear it live, they stop once archery begins..please check it out...

 

[Frank in the Laurels]

..new genetically altered species, vampire elk.