Pennsylvania Elk Range

We will miss our annual trip to the Pennsylvania Elk 

Range this year.  I hope you will forgive me for 

reliving past trips. The following is 

from our first trip in 2013...

We were up early on day four, and didn’t waste any

time heading for the elk viewing areas in Benezette.

The road mostly followed creeks and bottom land,

but we could see fog on the mountains.

We encouraged each other with the notion that

Winslow Hill wasn't all "that high".

Alas, when we arrived the viewing area was 

blanketed in fog causing very limited visibility…

It was eerie to stand in the heavy fog, listening to bull elk bugle all

 around us.  Occasionally, a ghost-like figure would emerge briefly

 from the fog and then disappear again just as quickly…

At one point a large bull elk came within 25 yards and bugled as he 

passed by.  Having never experienced anything quite like it before, 

I am sure it was something I will never forget…

Various cows and bulls moved through the fog as the photographers and 

wildlife watchers waited for the fog to burn off…

Suddenly a bull bugled very close to us.  He was chasing a cow that 

was trying to escape his control to join another harem.  When he 

ran after the cow we could hear each hoof beat, and even the 

contents of his stomach sloshing, as he made sharp stops and turns 

to keep her in his herd…

When the fog finally moved off, the elk had moved 

to a nearby hillside to bed down and chew their cuds 

out of the direct heat of  the sun…

Several hours passed before the elk re-emerged into 

the grazing area where many onlookers waited…

Bulls were kept running as they tried to keep their 

harems together and away from other bulls…

It was all just for show.  When the dominant bull pressed the 

subordinate one he just walked off and bugled his frustration...

As the sun began to set, the light on the field changed to a warm 

golden color...

We left soon thereafter to return to the campground for our last 

night in Pennsylvania.