Pennsylvania Elk Rut

Nothing compares to the sights and sounds of the elk rut. Here's your guide to everything you need to know about elk and elk viewing.

Pennsylvania Game Commission

A Pennsylvania bull elk with his harem during the fall rut. — Pennsylvania bull elk with his harem during the fall rut

Imagine beautiful scenic views and crisp fall air as a giant bull elk emerges from the fog. This is a real event that can only be experienced in Northcentral Pennsylvania during the elk rut in September and October. Read on to learn where to go, how to see it, and all about Pennsylvania's magnificent elk herd

Pennsylvania bull elk bugling during the fall rut. Video by Jacob Dingel.

Fall is the mating season for elk, called the rut. The noise you heard in the video above is a bugle. Bugles consists of a low bellow the ascends to a high note, which is held until the bull runs out of breath, followed by guttural grunts. Bugles are made by males during the breeding season to attract cows into their harem. Bulls can amass harems of 15 to 20 cows. As the harem forms, herd bulls drive yearling bulls away. Bulls also bugle to warn other bulls to stay away. However, a bull of similar size may bugle to challenge the herd bull to a shoving match to win the rights to breed with the cows in that harem. While bulls fight, they lock antlers and shove each other to show their strength. The strongest bull will stay with the harem while the other bull runs away.

Two Pennsylvania bull elk sparring during the fall rut. Bugling heard in the background. Video by Jacob Dingel.

During the rut, you may see bulls rub their antlers on trees and shrubs, rake their antlers in the grass, and bathe in a wallow made of mud and urine (elk cologne). These interesting behaviors help bulls attract cows into their harem and warn away other bulls. The bull works tirelessly to keep control of his harem, herding the females to stay in the group and to keep them from escaping to a rival.

Pennsylvania bull elk trotting into his harem and then bugling. Video by Jacob Dingel.

The rut begins in early September and goes through mid-October. Winslow Hill in Benezette is the most popular place to view elk and the place to be if you want scenic views and have the best chances to see elk.

Elk Management Area

Here are a few things to know before you go:

View Elk Safely

Elk are wild animals that are unpredictable and potentially dangerous. During the rut, bulls are territorial and will defend themselves and their harems. Please keep a distance of at least 100 yards away from elk. While in elk country, practice the principles of ELK SMART. Watch the video below to learn how to be ELK SMART.

Video on how to be Elk Smart while visiting in Pennsylvania's elk range. #ElkSmart Video by Tracy Graziano

Poster on the four principles of Elk Smart, an educational campaign to encourage those visiting, recreating, and living within the elk range be mindful of their actions and to help keep the elk wild. — The four principles of Elk Smart

Where to go

Photo of the Elk Country Visitor Center in Benezette, Pennsylvania — Elk Country Visitor Center

Winslow Hill, Benezette, PA is the place to be. The first stop for most is usually the Elk Country Visitor Center. This beautiful eco-friendly facility is owned by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and operated by the non-profit organization, the Keystone Elk Country Alliance (KECA). It is a premiere elk viewing location that features three trails, viewing blinds, a 4-D theater, interactive exhibits, and an all American made gift shop.

The next few stops are also along Winslow Hill. There are three viewing areas with large parking areas: Winslow Hill Viewing Area, Woodring Farm Viewing Area, and the Dents Run Viewing. Each of these viewings were once a part of coal-mining operations. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) partnered with the Game Commission to purchase these spoiled lands and reclaim them into prime elk habitat, which are now part of State Game Land 311.

View of coal mining operations on now State Game Land 311 prior to reclamation — State Game Land 311 prior to mine reclamation (left) and after reclamation today (right)

The view of State Game Land 311 today after mine reclamation — State Game Land 311 prior to mine reclamation (left) and after reclamation today (right)

Each viewing area offers stunning views of meadows surrounded by hardwood forests that attract elk, deer, turkeys, raptors, songbirds including the endangered Dickcissel, and many other animals. Click the binoculars on the map below to learn more about each Game Commission viewing area.

Elk Viewing Areas - PGC State Game Land 311

Elk grazing at the Winslow Hill Viewing Area (top left); Fall sunset at the Dents Run Viewing Area (top right); Fall view from the observation deck along the Wooding Farm Hiking Trail (bottom)

Elk grazing in the field at the Winslow Hill Viewing Area on State Game Land 311. Attribution: Mandy Marconi — Elk grazing at the Winslow Hill Viewing Area (top left); Fall sunset at the Dents Run Viewing Area (top right); Fall view from the observation deck along the Wooding Farm Hiking Trail (bottom)

The best times of day to view elk

The best times of day to view elk are from sunrise to about 2 hours after and about 2 hours before sunset. Elk are crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk) and tend to rest during the daylight hours.

What to expect visiting during the elk rut

Expect crowds of people and traffic jams, especially in the evenings. Benezette is a small, rural town. Cellular service is almost non-existent, so don't rely on your phones. With the crowds of people comes more traffic congestion, longer lines, and at times, limited places to park, so be prepared to take more time to get from one area to another. Do not stop or park along roads or trespass on private property outside the visitor center and viewing areas. And in case you are wondering, yes, toilets are available. The visitor center has flushable toilets and each viewing area has portable toilets.

Visitors at the Winslow Hill Viewing Area during the fall elk rut on State Game Land 311. Typical representation of the crowds during the fall. — Visitors at the Winslow Hill Viewing Area during the fall elk rut

During the early morning hours, it tends to be very foggy and can take several hours of sunlight before the fog lifts. However, mornings are often less crowded than the evenings and the fog adds to the haunting bugling sounds echoing off of the hills.

Pennsylvania elk in early morning fog. Video by Jacob Dingel.

Attend an educational program

The Game Commission hosts several educational programs on the weekends from Labor Day to Columbus Day. Visit the kiosk at the Winslow Hill Viewing area for a list of weekend programs and locations. The Elk Country Visitor Center also hosts weekend programs every Saturday and Sunday at 2 PM.

Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Waterways Conservation Officer providing a rattlesnake program to fall visitors at the Dents Run Viewing Area — Rattlesnake program at the Dents Run V.A. provided by the PA Fish and Boat Commission

Additional places to view elk

There are several other designated viewing areas outside of Winslow Hill that provide opportunities to view elk with less crowds.

Sinnemahoning State Park
Hicks Run Viewing Area
Hoover Farm Viewing Area
Click the link below for a map to other points of interest and wildlife viewing areas:

DCNR's Elk Scenic Drive Map

The 127-mile Elk Scenic Drive is a picturesque driving tour in the heart of the Pennsylvania Wilds region.

http://elibrary.dcnr.pa.gov

All About Elk

Elk are the second largest member of the deer family in North America and the largest mammal that lives in Pennsylvania. The deer family includes: moose, elk, caribou, mule deer, and white-tailed deer. Only elk and white-tailed deer live in Pennsylvania

A mature male elk, called a bull, weighs between 600 to 1000 pounds and stands about five feet at the shoulder. For comparison, the average adult buck (male deer) weighs about 140 pounds and stands less than three feet tall at the shoulder. Bulls grow antlers that sweep up and back from the head. A female, called a cow, weighs between 500 to 600 pounds. Baby elk, called calves, weigh between 35 to 45 pounds at birth

Elk fur in the summer is thin and reddish in color. Their fur in winter is brownish in color with their neck, chest, and legs dark brown. Their rump patch is a light beige color year-round. Elk can run up to thirty miles per hour. They jump well and swim often. Elk are prey animals. Their eyes are located on the sides of their head, giving them a larger field of view to see predators. Their ears are large and shaped to allow them to capture and channel sound. They make a “clicking” sound that originates in their ankle joints and can be heard when an elk walks. This sound lets other elk know if it is an elk or possible predator nearby

Elk need habitat that provides them food, water, shelter and space. Elk habitat in Pennsylvania consists of forests of varying age classes mixed with grassy openings. Elk need a healthy habitat and are affected by how many people live in and visit their habitat.

Elk are herbivores. A herbivore is an animal that only eats plants. Elk are primarily grazers, eating mostly grasses and flowering plants. In winter, elk eat more browse (twigs, buds and bark of trees). Elk have a four-chambered stomach, classifying them as a ruminant animal. Their multi-chamber stomach helps them to digest the plants they eat. The first chamber is called the rumen, and it acts as a large storage tank. The rumen allows elk to eat a large quantity of food at once. When an elk feels safe, it will regurgitate small quantities of food, called cud, to re-chew it and break it down further. This adaptation helps an elk decrease its time in open spaces where it has greater exposure to predators.

In spring and summer, bull elk live by themselves or in small groups with other bulls. Elk begin growing antlers in April and May. Antlers begin growing out of two bony bumps on an elk’s head called pedicles. Antlers start out as layer upon layer of cartilage. They are tender and easily damaged in this stage. Soft furry skin, called velvet, covers the growing antlers. The velvet contains blood vessels and veins that supply nutrients to the growing bones. Antlers are the fastest growing tissue in any mammal and can grow up to an inch a day. After the antlers fully develop (by August), the blood supply stops flowing to the velvet and it dries up and falls off. Bulls may rub the velvet off on trees and shrubs. Some bulls may grow antlers with main beams 4 to 5 feet in length and having five to nine tines to a side.

During the last week of May and the first two weeks of June, is when most of the elk calves are born in Pennsylvania. Prior to giving birth, cows, will separate from their herds and seek a secluded place to give birth to a single calf. Calves are born virtually scentless and dappled in spots, which helps them camouflage into their surroundings. To avoid attracting predators to her calf, females feed away from her calf and return to nurse it only a few times a day. The calf will lay motionless and quiet to deter any predators from detecting it. This strategy gives the calf its best chance of survival in its first few weeks of life, when it is not strong enough to out run predators or keep up with the herd. Calves can stand when they are only twenty minutes old, and within an hour, they begin to nurse. Calves feed on plants before they are a month old. By July, nursery herds form, which consist of several cows, calves, and yearlings. Within this herd is a lead cow, sometimes called a babysitter cow, that the calves look to for alerts of danger

Elk breed in the fall. The breeding season is called the rut. Elk will bugle to attract cows and to warn away other bulls. A mature bull will form a group of cows and calves called a harem, and he will defend that harem from other bulls. Yearling males are driven from the harem. Another bull, nearly equal in size to the lead bull, may challenge the lead bull to a fight. If a fight begins, the bulls will lock antlers and shove each other to show their strength. The weaker bull will run away. After the rut, the harems will disband and bulls will go off on their own or in small bachelor groups. Both males and females will focus on eating to build up their fat reserves for the winter

Elk are well adapted to survive the cold winters of Pennsylvania. The winter fur is thicker than their summer fur and consist of two layers-long guard hairs over wooly underfur. Their winter coat keeps them warm and waterproof. They also eat less and spend more time resting to conserve energy. Most elk begin to shed their antlers in late winter, during March. Antler sheds play an important role in the ecosystem. Rodents and other animals gnaw on them for nutrients such as calcium and phosphorus.

The elk population in Pennsylvania is estimated to be around 1500 elk as of this year (2021).

Elk are an important part of the Pennsylvania ecosystem and are an important natural resource in Pennsylvania. Elk provide recreational opportunities through wildlife watching and lawful hunting.

The Game Commission’s goal is to manage elk in a manner that ensures a healthy and sustainable elk herd for current and future generations.

Elk History in Pennsylvania

Before settlers arrived in Pennsylvania, elk lived throughout the state. By the late 1870s, and more than likely earlier, elk were extirpated from the state. Eastern elk were declared extinct in 1880.

In an effort to re-establish an elk population, the Pennsylvania Game Commission participated in a Rocky Mountain elk trap and transfer program between the years 1913-1926. On January 17, 1913, 50 elk were loaded onto trains in Gardiner, Montana at the entrance to Yellowstone National Park. A total of 177 were introduced to central and northeastern Pennsylvania. Only the northcentral releases survived.

"Some of the elk about to enter the chute leading to the cars in which the animals made the long journey."

The route the first 50 elk took from Garnier, Montana to Pennsylvania

Approximate elk release sites of during the reintroduction from 1913-1926. Credit: PA Elk Management Plan

An elk hunting season was established in 1923, but ended in 1932 due to a decline in elk numbers, partially from illegal crop kills. Eventually, because of research, habitat management, public interest, and Game Commission conservation partners, elk numbers began to increase. By 2001, the elk population was around 700. That same year the Game Commission established, a highly regulated elk hunting season, which continues today.

The elk seen today are descendants of the elk released by the Pennsylvania Game Commission between 1913 and 1926.

Elk grazing on Winslow Hill on State Game Land 311. — Elk on Winslow Hill, Benezette, PA

Map of current vs. historic elk range in the U.S.A. — Map of current vs. Historic elk range in the U.S.A. Illustration provided by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.