The Northwest Pennsylvania chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation will have its annual dinner and benefit auction March 16 at 3:30 p.m. at Cross Creek Resort, 3815 Route 8, Titusville.

Two of the four founding directors, Charlie Decker and Bob Munson, will be on hand to celebrate the organization’s 25th anniversary during a reception at 2 p.m. for any current Life/Sponsor/Habitat members or anyone interested in upgrading their membership.

Ticket costs, which include an annual membership and a prime rib or chicken dinner, range from $75 for an individual to $380 for couple sponsor. Seating is limited to 275 people. Buy them online here.

A pre-banquet raffle will include a Ruger Hawkeye .270 with carved stock; Savage 30.06 with scope; Remington 870 Camo 12-gauge; Savage 93R 17XP Camo with scope. Raffle tickets are $5 each or 3 for $10.

For information, call Barb Tobin at (814) 425-7528 before 9 p.m.

Since 1984, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation says it has conserved more than 6 million acres of prime elk country, opened more than 650,000 acres of previously off-limits land to public access and helped restore elk to six states.

A St. Marys man shot the heaviest antlerless elk harvested during the annual Pennsylvania elk hunt Nov. 5-10.

Sylvester Kronenwetter shot a 616-pound elk Nov. 9 in Huston Township, Clearfield County. It was one of 52 elk killed during the hunt, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

The heaviest antlered elk was Richard Tratthen Jr.’s 8×8, which weighed an estimated 840 pounds. The Lackawanna County hunter shot it Nov. 7, in Jay Township, Elk County.

Trout stocking dates and times have changed for the basin ponds at Presque Isle State Park, Cascade Creek, Crooked Creek and two sections of Elk Creek.

The East Basin Pond and West Basin Pond at Presque Isle; Cascade Creek; and Crooked Creek will be stocked on April 17 at 2 p.m. instead of on April 24 at10 a.m. Volunteers or observers may meet the stocking truck at the Niagara boat launch parking lot at Presque Isle.

Elk Creek will be stocked April 18 at 1:45 p.m. instead of April 24 at 9:45 a.m. Meet at McKean Exit 39 off of Interstate 79.

The statewide trout season opening day is Saturday at 8 a.m. Check more preseason and in-season stocking schedules on the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission site.

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation does more than benefit elk and elk hunters in the Mountain West. Since its inception in 1984, the organization has protected and enhanced more than 6 million acres and opened or secured more than 630,000 acres for public access; helped restore populations in Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina and elsewhere in North America; and established more than 500 chapters featuring more than 181,000 members

The group also features busy chapters in Pennsylvania, where the mid-state elk herd is abundant and winning a permit in the annual elk is a goal for many.

You can help support the foundation by attending a fundraising banquet in northwestern Pennsylvania this month. Pick from one of two:

Northwest Pa. Chapter: March 17, 3:30 p.m., at Cross Creek Resort, 3815 Route 8, Titusville. For tickets and information, call Barbara L. Tobin (814) 425-7528.

French Creek Chapter: March 31, 4 p.m., Zem Zem Shrine Temple, 2525 W. 38th St. Includes chances on guns, hunting items and a Colorado elk Hunt.

Purchase tickets for either at rmefevents.rmef.org/shop.aspx.

Another banquet is coming up Sept. 29 in Meadville.

Jim Mantsch, of Erie, shot a 6×5 bull elk during a hunting trip Oct. 24 near Durango, Colo. The guide told Mantsch it was a 4-year or 5-year old that weighed 900 pounds to 1,000 pounds.

Congratulations to Joshua Brubaker, of Edinboro, whose elk was the fifth-heaviest cow killed during the 2011 Pennsylvania seasons.

Brubaker killed a 517-pound antlerless elk Oct. 31 in in Benezette Township, Elk County. It was one of 34 antlerless and 19 antlered elk killed during the seasons. Of the 57 licensed elk hunters, 53 harvested an elk.

The heaviest antlered elk was a 930-pound 9×8 shot Nov. 1 by William G. Zee, of Doylestown. Zee shot the elk Nov. 1, in Goshen Township, Clearfield County. With an unofficial Boone & Crockett green score of 426 5/8 inches, it could be second on Pennsylvania’s Big Game Records for non-typical elk.

We’ve cycled through all of the photos (that have proper identification) that have been contributed by the area’s deer hunters, so a little change-up to today’s deer of the day post.

Chris Melzer, whose parents Richard and Pat live in Erie, shot a bull elk shot in Colorado with his muzzleloader.

Richard and Pat Melzer’s son

Check out more trophy photos in the www.GoErie.com hunting and fishing album.

There were 41 successful hunters in this year’s Pennsylvania Game Commission elk hunt. Here’s the PGC news release.

ELK HUNTERS HARVEST 41 ELK IN 2010

Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe announced that 41 of the 51 licensed elk hunters were successful during the 2010 elk season, which includes a possible new state record for the typical elk category. Of that total, 18 were antlered elk and 23 were antlerless elk.

“Elk are one of North America’s premier big game animals,” Roe said.  “Pennsylvania is privileged to offer this unique hunting opportunity, a product of successful wildlife management that supports Pennsylvania’s rich hunting heritage.  It’s an unparalleled experience for hunters, particularly those who can’t afford to go on an expensive one- or two-week guided elk hunt out West.”
The heaviest antlered elk was taken by John A. Murray Jr., of Grindstone, Fayette County.  He took a 880-pound (estimated live weight), 7×7 on Nov. 1, in Benezette Township, Elk County.
Those hunters rounding out the top five heaviest (all estimated live weights) antlered elk harvested, were: Charles H. Stowman, of Westover, Clearfield County, took a 868-pound, 8×7 on Nov. 3, in Grove Township, Cameron County; Domenic V. Aversa Sr., of Woolwich, New Jersey, took an 867-pound, 7×7 on Nov. 1, in Jay Township, Elk County; Richard R. Lundgren, of Kittanning, Armstrong County, took a 852-pound, 8×9 on Nov. 1, in Jay Township, Elk County; and James F. Wolfe, of Mercersburg, Adams County, took an 823-pound, 7×7 on Nov. 1, in Covington Township, Clearfield County.
Roe noted that the antlers from Aversa’s elk green-scored at 389 and seven-eighths on the Boone & Crockett Club’s official scoring system.  If that score holds after the required 60-day drying time, it will set a new record for Pennsylvania state typical elk taken with a firearm. The current record is held by John A. Polenski, of Meyersdale, Somerset County, who, in 2009,  harvested a 6×7 antlered elk that scored 370.
The heaviest antlerless elk was taken by Mark E. Gowarty, of Johnstown, Cambria County, who harvested a 582-pound (estimated live weight) antlerless elk on Nov. 2, in Benezette Township, Elk County.
Those hunters rounding out the top five heaviest (all estimated live weights) antlerless elk harvested were: Nicholas J. Draghi, of Elmira, New York, took a 575-pound antlerless elk on Nov. 2, in West Keating Township, Clinton County; George R. Shupe, of Scottdale, Westmoreland County, took a 571-pound antlerless elk on Nov. 1, in Jay Township, Elk County; Russell P. Krut, of Beaver Falls, Beaver County, took a 555-pound antlerless elk on Nov. 3, in West Keating Township, Clinton County; and Timothy J. Conners, of Monroeville, Allegheny County, took a 549-pound antlerless elk on Nov. 4, in West Keating Township, Clinton County.
Roe also noted that Robert Ehle, of Orefield, Lehigh County, who was the successful bidder for the Elk Conservation Tag, harvested an antlered elk, as well.  Ehle harvested a 5×6 on Oct. 7, in Shippen Township, in Cameron County.   Ehle purchased the Conservation Elk Tag during the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundations’s national conference in early 2010, and was able to hunt from Sept. 1-Nov. 6.
Agency biologists extracted samples needed for chronic wasting disease testing. Results are expected in early 2011.
For more information on elk in Pennsylvania, visit the Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us), choose “Hunting,” and then click on the photograph of an elk.

Pennsylvania’s short but much anticipated elk hunting season is just days away. Get a taste of what the 50 permit winners will encounter with these videos:

1. Massive bull.

2. It’s not just hunters who get a thrill out of elk. Get tips on viewing from the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

3. Elk Fest in Estes Park, Colo.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission’s public drawing for 2010 elk hunting licenses will be webcast Sept. 10 at 10 a.m.

50 elk licenses will be awarded.

Hunters who submitted applications can check the website to see if they were selected. It should be updated by Sept. 17. An individual’s status will be changed to “Awarded,” from “Pending.” Those not selected will see the status changed to “Unsuccessful.”

More on elk licenses here.