I’m proud to introduce the very first issue of our new PA OUTDOORS Woods and Waterways! As someone who has long loved running, hiking, and enjoying the beauty of Pennsylvania’s trails and landscapes, it’s an honor to launch a publication that celebrates the rugged beauty and timehonored traditions of the PA outdoors.
Inside, you’ll find stories that capture the spirit of Pennsylvania sportsmen—family legacies passed down through generations, the opportunities to mentor young hunters and anglers gaining a deeper interest, and trophy highlights from local and regional outdoorsmen of every skill level—from seasoned sportsmen to enthusiastic beginners. These stories capture not only the adventure of the outdoors but also the sense of community that surrounds it. You’ll also find feature articles on an unforgettable elk hunt in Colorado and a wide range of fishing opportunities across Pennsylvania’s lakes, rivers, and streams.
This is just the start. We’ll be back in the spring with more, and I’d value your feedback to help us shape a guide worthy of Pennsylvania’s great outdoors.
Here’s to the hunt, the hike, the cast, and every adventure that calls us outside.
Onward,
Jocelyn Engle Publisher jrengle@engleonline.com
Shoes Built for the Wild
Unspoiled Outdoors
Tucked neatly in the east central mountains of Pennsylvania, Schuylkill County is a natural treasure trove of outdoor activities just a few hours from most major Northeast cities. With three state parks, the Appalachian Trail, the Schuylkill River, plentiful state forest lands, and innumerable lakes and streams, your outdoor getaway is ready when you are.
schuylkill.org
Finding Joy in Mentoring Young Anglers and Hunters
BY GEORGE DEIBEL
For John Groff, hunting and fishing isn’t about the harvest. It’s about helping others. It’s a lesson he first learned from his grandfather Clifford Aukamp when John was 5 years old.
“He took me to the mountains the first time in the Northern Tier,” John recalled. “I just got hooked on the mountains, and he introduced me to hunting. He took me to Chincoteague, Virginia, when I was 6 years old, and I've been going there to fish for 44 years now. He taught me everything I know.”
Now John, a Quarryville resident, is passing on what he knows by mentoring aspiring anglers and hunters. He started while volunteering for the National Wild Turkey Federation for 10 years and working for the organization for another year. John helped implement the mentor hunting program through the National Wild Turkey Federation and the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
“It’s just been a passion to get kids into hunting and fishing because it's what kept me out of trouble,” said John, who was born and raised in New Providence and graduated from Solanco High School in 1994. “I try to get the kids away from video games and TV and all that good stuff.”
John began with his own kids, Kyla and Chase. “I started them hunting right when the mentor program started, and they both harvested their first deer at 6 years old,” said John. “That got them hooked on it. It’s a family affair. We have a family cabin in Tioga County, and the kids love it there. They love to hunt there. We just come together, and that's what we do.”
John’s wife, Jessica, likes to joke that he is closer to their kids than he is to her. “It’s because we share that common bond,” John explained. “My daughter has moved out, and she's going to school for nursing and has her own house now. My son still lives at home. But hunting and fishing always brings us back together. We go down fishing together, and we go hunting together. It’s just that things that bring us back together. It's almost like Thanksgiving for us.”
John also spends time hunting with his nephews Caden and Owen Lock. They had a memorable moment last Halloween when Owen was 8 and Caden was 11. “Owen always had opportunities to kill, but when he's with his dad (Shawn), for some reason, he gets a nervous giggle and can’t ever pull the trigger,” John said. “I told him before we went out that morning, ‘I'm taking you out. Now, listen, you got to keep yourself composed.’ Well, this deer comes walking in, and I talked him through it: ‘Keep your composure. Don't look at the antlers. Just relax.’ And he made a 50-yard shot with a bow.”
John became emotional. “I was in tears,” he said. “Owen asked, ‘Uncle John, are you OK?’ I'm like, ‘Yeah, I'm fine, buddy.’ I said that’s what it’s all about.”
Bryce Cox with the buck he shot while hunting with John Groff
John Groff holds a flounder he caught in Chincoteague.
When Owen called his dad, he learned Caden had killed a buck at another spot, and the brothers got to come together with their own bucks they got within five minutes of each other.
“When I shot it at 50 yards, I couldn’t believe I hit it,” Owen recalled. “I was so excited I cried, and so did Uncle John. It was the best hunt ever.”
“I get excited when I harvest a deer, but I've harvested so many, it's not the same,” John said. “I’ve always been that way when hunting with friends or family. I get more excited. I want to jump in and help right away. I think I enjoy somebody else's harvest more than I do myself. It's like when we're down fishing and kids that have never caught a flounder or never been on a boat and they're out there and they catch fish. I enjoy watching that happen.”
John has also mentored the three sons of his friends Tony and Hope Cox. The oldest, Gavin, is a fisherman and became a more active angler while attending college at Salisbury University. John, Jessica, and the Coxes recently went on a fishing trip together during a vacation.
Bryce Cox is a rising senior at Solanco High School. “Bryce was probably 13, and he came to me, and he asked if I'd introduce him to hunting,” John said.
Three years ago, Bryce was working as a ballboy
for the Solanco varsity football team, which is coached by his dad. Bryce had been at every game, and didn’t want to miss a playoff contest, but his dad talked him into going hunting with John and missing a football game. “We went up early on a Friday, and we ended up seeing a ton of deer Friday night,” said John. “We went out Saturday morning, and I grunted a buck in to Bryce. It was about 40-yard shot, and he shot it. He was able to call Tony and Hope and tell them that he had killed his first deer, and I kind of felt bad because Tony wasn't there to experience it. Tony said to me, ‘There is nobody else that I would rather him be with than you.’” John has also taken the Coxes’ youngest son, Trey, on a couple of hunting trips.
John is a big proponent of Sunday hunting because it allows more time for families to become involved. “People that work a lot have an extra day to experience and get hooked to the outdoors,” he said. “People don't have unlimited vacations, so that extra day on a weekend gives you that extra time to hunt and spend time with families and experience the outdoors.”
John has been turkey hunting in South Dakota, Wyoming, Oklahoma, North Carolina, and Virginia, but deer hunting in Tioga County remains his favorite location. “It's a family cabin, and my wife's stepdad owns the cabin,” he said. “I started dating her in 1992,
John Groff (right) and his son, Chase, on a hunting trip
and I started hunting with them in 1993. And there's only one year since 1993 I haven't killed a buck up there.”
Within the next year, John plans to obtain his captain’s license so he can charter fishing trips for flounder out of Chincoteague. “I want to eventually make that my retirement plan,” he says. “I've been fishing there 44 years. I know the waters. I know how to catch the fish.”
John and Jessica have no plans to leave Quarryville for good, but Chincoteague holds a special place in his heart. “There’s a causeway that goes into it, which is basically a road that they built through the marsh,” he said. “When I go across that causeway, it's the weirdest feeling. Every time for 44 years, it's like a sense of calming comes over me. And when I'm on that water, nothing matters. I just feel completely free. That's why I think I love that, and I'm so passionate about it. When I'm out with the kids and the wife and people that I take out, it is just a whole different world.”
He has found a new perspective since he started
mentoring younger people and gained a great appreciation for simply being outdoors. “I love experiencing being out in nature, watching everything,” he said. “I'm in the tree stand an hour before daylight, watching everything come awake. You’re seeing everything that God made just come to life right in front of you. The biggest thing is spending the time with the people. Some of my fondest memories of hunting camp come after the hunt, when we get back to the cabin and we're all telling our stories and we're sitting there and we're having a good time.”
John’s grandfather Clifford is 95 years old. He was still climbing tree stands at age 94. Two years ago, Clifford shot a buck in Lancaster County. John left work early, and he and his father-in-law, Darrell Roten, went to help. “It was just a great experience,” John said. “Because we’ve hunted together for so many years, the fact that all three of us shared that is priceless. I've always said that the harvest is just a bonus. It is about being able to be out there and experience the outdoors and spend time with family and friends. That's the experience.”
John Groff (left) and his nephew Jonathan Leed show off their harvest.
Public Land in the Commonwealth of
PHOTOGRAPHY AND
STORY BY EVAN BUCK
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has something to offer for every variety of sportsman; from chasing wild fish in wild places to the pursuit of trophy whitetails, the outdoor possibilities are endless. Pennsylvania is a public land hunter and fisherman’s dream, with approximately 4.2 million acres of land available to the public for people to pursue their own unique outdoor adventures.
Of these 4.2 million acres, around 2.2 million of them are found in Pennsylvania’s state forests. Managed by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for timber sales, these state forests offer endless hiking, camping, fishing, and hunting opportunities. In addition, 1.5 million acres of the public lands are found in state game lands. The state game lands are managed by the Pennsylvania Game Commision to enhance the habitat of both game and non-game species and to provide public land hunting opportunities.
There is no shortage of opportunities for the Pennsylvania angler. Home to approximately 86,000 miles of waterways, Pennsylvania has the second-highest number of miles of rivers and streams in the country. It would take more than a lifetime to fish every creek and river in the state, and opportunities are endless for both the coldwater and warmwater angler. Each region of the commonwealth offers its own unique outdoor opportunities.
Pursuits Pennsylvania
A fisherman ties a fly on along a wild trout stream.
Northcentral Region
Northcentral Pennsylvania is the location of the Pennsylvania Wilds, big woods, and remote places. Encompassing approximately 2 million acres of public lands, the Pennsylvania Wilds is home to Pennsylvania’s elk herd, the Allegheny National Forest, and some of the most rugged terrain in the state. Deep valleys carved through the Allegheny Plateau by ancient rivers and their tributaries provide anglers with exceptional fishing opportunities for wild brown trout and native brook trout. Some of the most famous creeks for fly fishing on the East Coast are found here; Spring Creek and Penns Creek attract anglers from near and far.
Lake Erie Region
Pennsylvania’s Lake Erie region offers an incredibly unique fishery for anglers. People are drawn to this region from near and far to get a chance to hook a steelhead from one of Lake Erie’s many tributaries. These lake run fish get massive and pull like nothing else. With the area often crowded in the early fall, those who are willing to brave Lake Erie’s harsh winters can be rewarded with solitude and may find themselves a successful steelhead angler. If steelhead fishing is not your thing, Lake Erie itself offers an excellent lake trout, smallmouth bass, muskie, northern pike, and panfish fishery. This region also offers some of the best waterfowl hunting opportunities in the commonwealth. Erie provides excellent habitat that attracts diverse species of waterfowl and provides hunters with various ways to pursue them.
Below: a steelhead caught on the fly in a Lake Erie tributary
Above: wild brown trout caught in North Central Pennsylvania
Southcentral Region
Southcentral Pennsylvania can be easily recognized by its endless ridges and wide valleys. It is home to the mighty Susquehanna River. The Susquehanna boasts incredible warmwater fishing opportunities. Trophy smallmouth bass, muskie, carp, and catfish call this river home. Flathead catfish found in the Susquehanna can
grow to monstrous proportions; the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commision verified a 66-pound, record-breaking flathead caught out of the river in 2023. This region’s mixture of agriculture and densely wooded ridges also provides great turkey and pheasant hunting opportunities for those who prefer to hunt.
Western Region
Western Pennsylvania brings to mind coal country and trophy whitetails. This area's agriculture industry and topography from a rich history of coal mining provide habitat that can grow trophy class whitetail deer. These trophy buck are not only limited to private land; every year, large deer are harvested in western Pennsylvania’s state game lands and state forests.
Southeast Region
It may seem difficult to find outdoor recreation opportunities in southeastern Pennsylvania’s urban sprawl, but the opportunities are there for those who are willing to find them. Valley Forge National Historical Park provides a difficult and technical wild trout fishery for both the fly and conventional gear angler. The Delaware River in Philadelphia provides
Western Pennsylvania is also home to the Allegheny River, which provides anglers with great smallmouth bass fishing opportunities and also excellent muskie opportunities. These elusive fish are known as the fish of 10,000 casts, but patience and persistence can reward an angler with a predatory beast more than 50 inches in length.
a unique tidal fishery found only in this region. The Delaware is one of the few rivers in the state that remains undammed, and as a result, it provides opportunities for shad and striped bass fishing. While there may be less public land found in this region, the whitetail deer found here are some of the larger in the state.
American woodock, popular game among upland bird hunters
Northeast Region
Northeast Pennsylvania is home to the Pocono Mountains and the upper Delaware River. The Poconos offer numerous trout streams to explore, many of which support wild trout populations. Large populations of whitetail deer and black bear call this area home and are sought after by hunters. The wetlands of the Poconos also provide waterfowl hunting opportunities for those who seek them. The upper Delaware River, which straddles the border between Pennsylvania and New York, is a destination fishery renowned among fly fishermen. This fishery gives fly anglers the opportunity to target large brown trout and wild rainbow trout during some of the best dry fly hatches in the northeast.
Conclusion
The commonwealth of Pennsylvania has something to offer for every outdoors enthusiast. Whether your pursuit is hunting, fishing, hiking, or camping, the vast swathes of public lands and rivers have something to offer. Every ridge and every valley has a secret to be discovered, so get out there and explore.
Evan Buck is an avid outdoorsman based in Clinton County. He likes to spend as much of his free time as possible outdoors, from chasing wild trout in wild places and hunting pheasants and grouse in the fall to camping in PA's vast public lands. When he isn’t exploring some remote place in the PA Wilds, he’s dedicating his time to his career in environmental protection.
HAPPY VALLEY, PENNSYLVANIA
#HappyValleyPA is the Centre of Adventure ...where clear streams, winding trails, and wide-open forests invite you to cast, hike, ride, and completely RECHARGE. Exciting new adventures await, including fishing, hiking, biking, geocaching, and walking/driving tours, designed to deepen your connection with our remarkable surroundings. Happy Valley truly stands at the epicenter of outdoor exploration, o ering countless opportunities to connect with nature and create enduring memories.
Find Your Happy Place
Annual Events Annual Events
Muddy Run Recreation Lake
Trout Stocking
Oct. 3, 2025
Meeting place: Muddy Creek Forks
Clark Creek
Trout Stocking
Oct. 9, 2025
Meeting place: Dauphin County Anglers Clubhouse
Quittapahilla Creek
Trout Stocking
Oct. 9, 2025
Meeting place: Dauphin County Anglers Clubhouse
Stovers Lake
Trout Stocking
Nov. 6, 2025
Meeting place: Stovers Dam
Trout Stocking Information
Philadelphia Fishing Show
Jan. 9-11, 2026
The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center at Oaks, 100 Station Ave., Oaks phillyfishingshow.com
2026 Great American Outdoor Show
Feb. 7-15, 2026
Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex, 2300 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg
This show celebrates hunting, fishing, and other outdoor traditions and features over 1,000 exhibitors with exhibits focusing on shooting, outfitting, fishing boats, RVs, archery, and art.
The event also includes speaking events, archery competitions, celebrity appearances, seminars, and demonstrations. greatamericanoutdoorshow.org
35th Hunting and Outdoor Expo
Feb. 27-28, 2026
Wyndham Lancaster Resort and Convention Center, 2300 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster
This expo is hosted by the Eastern Chapter of the Wild Sheep Foundation. Admission is free, and many prizes will be given away. ecwsf.org/hunting-and-outdoor-expo
The Fly Fishing Show
March 14-15, 2026
Lancaster County Convention Center, 25 S. Queen St., Lancaster flyfishingshow.com/lancaster-pa
Donegal Fish and Conservation Association
Spring Show
Visit donegalcreek.wordpress.com for updates on the 2026 spring show.
Photo by Bernadette Chiaramonte
The Yoders Go Outdoors To Get Away From It All
BY JEFF FALK
Camp life is about recreation, physical activity, tradition and family and friends.
But more than that, there’s something very spiritual, something metaphysical associated with a cabin in the woods.
Humans seem to be drawn to the mountains in a very primitive, connective way. Surrounded by nature, the experiences there seem to have the power to recharge our batteries and rekindle our souls.
For 21 years, Harold and Jane Yoder have owned a cabin in Tioga County. While the Elizabethtown residents initially purchased the 10-acre property for the sole purpose of providing Harold with a place to hunt, the cabin has evolved into something much more than that.
The Yoders try to visit their cabin as often as they can. The three-and-a-half-hour drive north transports them to an environment that’s
Jane and Harold Yoder see their time together in the Wellsboro area as shared experiences.
entirely different from the one where they live in Lancaster County.
“Here (in Elizabethtown) there’s a lot of people around,” said Jane. “Going to the cabin feels like it’s a different world. You can see the mountain ridge. There are two creeks. I like to bird watch and identify birds. We see bear and a lot of deer.”
“There’s so much quiet and peace,” she continued. “I feel like there’s more to do at the cabin that’s more rewarding. I just feel very much alive at the cabin. I have more purpose being in nature. Work isn’t work; it’s fun. We don’t need a clock at the cabin.”
“It’s a great place to get away from the real world and forget about work,” said Harold. “It’s a different place. It’s nice to get that break, relax and enjoy the outdoors. When we go up there, you can stay up as late as you want and get up as late as you want. It’s less stressful. We can work at things at our own pace.”
The Yoders’ cabin is located about 15 miles northwest of Wellsboro, not far from Pennsylvania’s Grand Canyon, state game lands and state parks. Although Jane doesn’t hunt, she and Harold do some fishing together.
“There’s probably some quality hunting areas around here (in Lancaster County), but I don’t have access to it,” said Harold. “There is very good hunting up there. I get a lot of deer there and see bear and turkey. I love seeing animals in the woods.”
“I started hunting as a kid,” Harold continued. “I learned from my dad and followed in his footsteps. My brother, my dad and I had a tradition of hunting rabbits on Thanksgiving. I still use the same rifle I had when I was 14. I’m into it. But I’m not into it as much as I’d like to be because I’m still working.”
“My husband was always looking for places to go hunting,” said Jane. “We just got the idea, ‘Let’s look for our own cabin.’ The closer to Lancaster County it was, the more expensive it was, so we kept going further north. At that time, we didn’t even know about Wellsboro or the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. It borders on state game lands, but I wanted it to be more than a hunting camp.”
“I think it’s great fishing,” added Jane. “There are five lakes, and the Pine Creek is close to where we are. There’s a stream not far from our cabin. It’s an excellent area for outdoor enthusiasts.”
The Tioga-Potter County area - the so-called Northern Tier - also offers visitors biking opportunities, sightseeing options and seasonal events. Simply doing nothing is also an accepted activity.
“Sometimes when Harold and I go, we split wood, we take walks and we go to Wellsboro,” said Jane. “We spend a lot of time at the cabin around the fire and making food over the fire. Sometimes we’ll take a ride at night and go spotting deer. It’s just a relaxing time, but we do a lot of work too.”
“We also enjoy star gazing at Cherry Springs (State Park),” said Harold. “We do some hiking with friends around the (Pennsylvania) Grand Canyon. And, of course, swimming at some of the state parks. I do enjoy fishing in Tioga County with my one grandson, and the fall foliage is gorgeous.”
Jane and Harold have been married for 45 years. They have two married sons and seven grandchildren.
The Pine Creek provides fly fishing opportunities for anglers of all skill levels.
The town of Wellsboro is a great place to visit any time of the year.
Photo by Bernadette Chiaramonte
Photo by Bernadette Chiaramonte
Fishing is a tradition that can be passed on to the next generation.
Streams are great worlds for kids to explore.
Fishing in Pennsylvania’s Northern Tier can be accomplished on the water or from the land.
“My one grandson already enjoys hunting,” said Harold. “I love taking him out with me. It is important. It’s a tradition. I’d like to see some of the other grandkids get into it. It makes me proud when I see them get a deer.”
“I view it as a combination. It’s both a hunting cabin and a place for recreation,” Harold continued. “Sometimes it’s a hunting cabin. But other times it’s just fun. It’s about friends and family. It’s sitting around the campfire telling stories.”
“Our grandkids love it; they always want to go again,” said Jane. “We like it because they’re not on electronics. We just play outside. We play badminton. They sleep outside and ride four-wheelers. When you’re up at the cabin, the outdoors kind of entertains them. It’s good family time. The grandsons like sitting around the fire, and there’s good conversation.”
Tourism is one of the top industries in Tioga and Potter counties and plays a key role in the local economy. There are many residents of central Pennsylvania who own or rent property in the area.
“You feel closer to God when you’re up there,” said Harold. “I love the trees and the mountains and the lakes. I grew up with more of it than is (in Elizabethtown). (The cabin in Tioga County) is all the things you don’t have here. You don’t have as many people around. There are more open spaces up there.”
“We’re both believers (in Jesus), and nature reminds us what the Lord has given us,” said Jane. “We look at everything we have here in Elizabethtown and up in the mountains, and we’re grateful. We really enjoy the solitude. When you’re in Lancaster, you see cars, buildings and pavements. When you’re in the mountains, you see God’s creations.”
For additional information on Potter and Tioga counties, go to visitpottertioga.com.
Photo by Bernadette Chiaramonte
Photo by Bernadette Chiaramonte
Photo by Bernadette Chiaramonte
Fishing Finds Off the Beaten Path
PHOTOGRAPHY AND STORY BY
JESSICA AIELLO
While there are many wonderful opportunities to walk a few hundred yards from a vehicle, cast a line, and catch a fish, there is something to be said for taking some time to find that ideal fishing spot. Hiking into Penn’s Woods with fishi ng gear can be a great way to find peace, quiet, and the next “big one.”
WHERE TO GO
Most anglers have their perfect fishing spot and are unlikely to spill where it is, but a few employees from Pennsylvania’s Bureau of Forestry thankfully were not so tight-lipped. Here are a few of their favorite places where great hiking intersects with great fishing.
“The Pine Creek Rail Trail immediately comes to mind,” said Jeff Woleslagle.
“Pi ne Creek is such a beautiful and diverse fishery, and the scenery is amazing. It has multiple easy access points i n the Tiadaghton and Tioga state forests, and the fishing can be amazing. Also, I have hiked portions of the Mid State Trail, mostly in the Rothrock State Forest, and there are areas along the trail that run close to pristine mountain streams that have great wild populations of our state fish, the brook trout.”
“The Mid State Trail also passes through two special state forest management where incredible fishing can be found on the Little Juniata and Penns Creek, respectively,” said Ryan Reed. “The Little Juniata Natural Area is part of Rothrock State Forest, and the Penns Creek Wild Area is found in Bald Eagle State Forest. Both bodies of water support wild populations of trout. Other fantastic fisheries that are accessible by numerous state
forest and state park trails include the Clarion River (Clear Creek State Forest), Sinnemahoning Creek (Elk State Forest), and Quebec Run (Forbes State Forest).”
“Penns Creek is particularly noteworthy to me too,” said Matt Beaver. “Along the Centre and Mifflin county sections of the creek - which is Pennsylvania’s longest limestone streamthe Fish and Boat Commission has
established a ‘trophy trout’ stretch where year-round trout fishing is permitted. An artificial lure, catch, and release area is located downstream. Penns Creek is as close to a wild and remote limestone stream as exists in the Keystone State. Vehicular access is very limited; significant hiking on Fisherman’s Path from the Coburn footbridge is necessary to sample the entire length.”
THINGS TO CONSIDER
While great fishing can be a reward for a long hike, there are certain things one needs to keep in mind the farther one ventures from their vehicle.
“Cell phone reception can be spotty or nonexistent, so fishing with a buddy and letting someone know where you will be and when you expect to return is important,” said Marci Mowery, president of the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation. “Packing all the fishing essentials, as well as plenty of water, snacks, insect repellant, sunscreen, a first aid kit, and a map and compass (for the likely time your phone’s GPS signal is lost) can mean the difference between fun and failure.”
Speaking of packing it all, Woleslagle noted that there are many lightweight rods that pack easily for a hike.
He added, “You never know what opportunities you might discover on the trail. I once stumbled onto a new beaver dam close to a trail that was full of native brook trout. I caught and released so many I lost count, and it is a great memory that I revisit often.”
Hiking provides anglers with the
opportunity to access some remote locations that might not receive as much fishing pressure while enjoying the scenic beauty and abundant wildlife of Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests. Learn more about where to go at paparksandforests.org.
For tips on photographing a catch while ensuring the safety of the fish, visit tinyurl.com/safe-fish-photos.
Original article published in the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Angler and Boater Magazine by Jessica Aiello. Adapted August 2025.
Visit MIDDLE
6,000 acres
To view waterfowl, grassland nesting birds, wetland-dependent species, and wildlife.
20 MILES
Of hiking trails. OVER OVER
interactive
Visitors Center
VISITORS CENTER
HOURS OF OPERATION:
Closed seasonally from Thanksgiving to Presidents’ Day Monday: Closed Tuesday - Saturday: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Sunday: 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Visitors Center Address: 100 Museum Rd, Stevens, PA 17578
Phone Number: 717-733-1512
Email Address: middlecreek@pa.gov
APPLY FOR A MIDDLE CREEK WATERFOWL BLIND
25
27 DECEMBER 23 DECEMBER 27 DECEMBER 30 JANUARY 3 JANUARY 6 JANUARY 10 JANUARY 13 JANUARY 15 JANUARY 17 YOUTH WATERFOWL HUNT: NOVEMBER 8
SCAN TO APPLY FOR A BLIND. APPLY EXACTLY ONE WEEK BEFORE DESIRED HUNT DATE TO BE CONSIDERED 2025 DUCK BLIND HUNT
UPCOMING EVENTS
SEPTEMBER
Native Plant Exchange
Saturday, Sept. 20 9:00 a.m.
National Hunting & Fishing Day
Sunday, Sept. 28
11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
NOVEMBER
History of Conservation and Conservation Law Enforcement in Pennsylvania
Wednesday, Nov. 12 6:30 p.m.
Avian Anatomy
Saturday, Nov. 15 11:00 a.m.
OCTOBER
More than Just a Good Time: Pennsylvania’s Outdoor Economy
Wednesday, Oct. 8
6:30 p.m.
2025 Big Sit! with the Lancaster County Bird Club
Saturday, Oct. 11
7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
DECEMBER
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year – Christmas Bird Count Season!
Wednesday, Dec. 10 6:30 p.m.
Winter Bird Walk and Christmas Bird Count Scouting!
Saturday, Dec. 27 10:30 a.m
BE SEEN. BE SAFE.
WEAR ORANGE ON GAME LANDS
FLUORESCENT ORANGE IS RECOMMENDED ON GAME LANDS DURING THE HUNTING SEASON & REQUIRED NOV 15-DEC 15
• Wearing a fluorescent orange hat and vest are best.
• Make sure dogs have orange leash, collar, and/or bandana.
• All backpacks must have an orange covering.
• Horseback riders are required to wear orange on themselves and their horses.
SUNDAY
From Left to right- Kory Enck, Dave Eppinger (Everett, PA) and Mike Konz, (White Haven, PA)
Scoring a Colorado Bull Elk
BY KORY ENCK
For about 25 years, my good friend Mike and I have been chasing wapiti all over southern Colorado. Most times the elk win, but on occasion we have scored. Together we now have tagged six bulls and a cow.
It’s an over-the-counter archery tag good for a cow or bull during a “do-it-yourself” hunt. Actually, it’s a 10-day camping trip where if we get something, it’s a bonus. No guides, no fancy lodges, no pack horses … just pure, unadulterated sweat, blood and tears in some of the finest, remote elk country around.
To the Hunt
After two decades, we have most of this trip fine-tuned, right down to how many people can go and how many people per vehicle. With only two guys on board in 2017, we needed a third, so we took along another friend, Dave. He had done his own share of “do-it-yourself” elk hunts in the past, so he was a perfect addition to our crew.
All of our trips are a drive-straightthrough type of trip, no flying. Everything goes with us in an overloaded truck and landscape trailer - all camping and hunting gear precariously perched between three quads, coolers and a ridiculous quantity of camo. If you need something out of the truck before we get there, it better be on top!
It’s a drive that takes about 31 hours. We sleep in three-hour shifts and time our bladders with our gas stops until we make it to the trailhead. Yes, we’re in a hurry to get there!
On a Thursday morning before the first day of elk season, we arrived at the trailhead with a typical glorious Rocky Mountain morning with crisp cool air, a light breeze and lots of blue sky. Our adrenaline was definitely flowing.
Let’s Go Camping
Excited to be there, we unpacked truck and trailer, and then we transferred as much as we could onto our ATVs. We picked, annoyed and
sarcastically insulted each other repeatedly. Good times!
You couldn’t find three happier hunters as we made our first trip up the mountain. This would be the first of two trips. That is as long as there were no wrecks or forgotten items. The trail includes rocks; really deep mud; downed trees; boulders; and, this year, a bear encounter. None of these are for the faint of heart. The slope is steep, and the curves are sharp with overhangs and ledges. If you break down here, your trip could be over!
Our camp is located on the downwind side of an aspen grove, perched overlooking about two-thirds of the mountain we hunt on. The upper third is northwest of us and is basically “straight up.” The lower side is a gentle slope down into a basin to the east and a series of small ridges. Below that it drops away to a huge cliff to our south and a steep ravine with a trout stream to the east.
Our final arrival to the campsite had us there 48 hours before the season started, plenty of time to set up camp, practice shooting, sip a few beers and spot for elk on the opposite mountain. Yes, it was both relaxing and exhilarating!
Where the Elk Are
The area we hunted is below our camp. We have several “spots” picked out and named them from years before. They include Yellow Spot, Honey Hole and Bear Basin.
The phrase “elk are somewhere all the time” is our motivation and mantra. This was a phrase we picked up in the late ’80s from an “expert” I had heard on whitetail hunting. At that time it was “deer are somewhere all the time.” Obviously, this had to become a joke along the way, as although it is true, it’s also nonsense, especially on the days when you hunt tirelessly and can’t find any elk or deer.
Actually, the national forest we hunt is well-populated with elk every year, so we have learned their routines and habits from before. Usually, our main concern is how many other
hunters are there and if the pressure will be hard. If it is, being there the first week is the best opportunity because, once the pressure increases, most elk climb out of our drainage and seek sanctuary on the neighboring private land.
The Hunt
After relaxing for a day and enjoying the star-filled night sky, we tried to get some sleep. As the opening day awaited us, we were very anxious. It was bigger than Christmas for each of us.
Dave was new to the area, so I took him with me to drop him off at another favorite location called the Salt Lick. It’s a great spot and one we have killed elk on before. Then I was to go out on a ridge past and around Mike’s spot and hunt to the end of another of our hunting spots. This put us in an area resembling the back of your hand with a thumb and four fingers, each representing a ridge. Dave would be in the ravine between thumb and index finger, Mike on top between where the middle and ring fingers connect and me going out around to the end of a short pinky finger. All of the ridges feed down to a huge cliff connecting what would be the fingertips. The area we hunt is well-balanced with spruce, aspen and lush grass. It’s elk heaven!
Now if you have elk hunted before, you know they seem to have eyes in front and behind their heads. They can see in the dark and are keen to if you are sleeping, breaking for lunch, or in their “living room” at dawn. With that said, Dave and I were about 100 yards from where I was dropping him off when he whispered, “I hear elk calling.” I began to argue that it was birds, and we couldn’t agree, so we stood there listening. As I strained to hear anything, it was a bit maddening. In your mind you can see the elk, picture where they might be heading and become frustrated knowing that no matter what tactic you take from here, the elk will probably outmaneuver you. Eventually, we heard nothing, and Dave dropped down into the Salt Lick while I moved back up toward Mike’s location.
The first 300 yards would take me right past Mike but around to the northwest side. From there I would be beyond him and far out toward the last ridge (a.k.a., the pinky). By this time, I would have daylight and the wind from the uphill thermals in my face. I would hunt out the ridge to the end and then drop down with the cliff on my right and Dave across the ridges in front of me. Mike would be posted up watching down into the fingers and ravines between.
For safety reasons, we have a check-in time on our radios at 9 a.m. For the first two or three hours, our woods were silent except for Steller’s jays, ravens, squirrels and occasionally mosquitoes. Nobody heard another human and longed for that fond and familiar phrase, “Bull down!” over the radio.
I picked my way slowly, checking all the familiar elk haunts as I went out the ridgeline. A cow and a calf held my attention for about 10 minutes as they grazed from one side of my ridge crossing over to the other. They were alone. By 8:45 a.m., I had reached the spot where I would drop down off the ledge and sit to wait until something happened.
I ate a quick breakfast snack while I waited. Then the radio buzzed, and everyone checked in. Dave had been right, as he walked right into a small herd and they scattered down
below him and Mike in the dark. Mike saw nothing. I mentioned the cow and calf. We agreed to talk again at 10 a.m.
Packing up my stuff, I decided to go lower on the steep mountainside. I moved with slow, tiny footsteps, surveying the ground below and trying to find the right vantage point to watch from for the day. After about 30 steps, I was down on a fringe between aspen stand and spruce timber. I was getting close to where I wanted to be. Hopefully the wind would continue to blow uphill toward me.
Suddenly, I could see elk heads below and ahead of me. One was a bull, but I couldn’t distinguish how many points because of the glare. Their brown necks and tan legs were lost in the multicolor glare of the sun.
The scene made me squint, trying to discern exactly how many, where they were heading and what the bull looked like.
A crash to my left and uphill revealed a lead cow that saw me. She continued up over the hill to my left in the same direction the herd was traveling.
Looking back, I could see that some of them were wary, but none were committed to running off.
I had the bull in front of me at 40 yards and still moving toward my left. Using a dead spruce for cover, I dropped further down the hill undetected for about 10 paces, the soft grass quieting my steps.
Then another cow spotted me, spooked and turned around, taking another cow with her as they ran below and behind the bull, back in the direction they came from.
All others were on alert, yet unaware of where I was. The dead spruce tree stood between the bull and me. It was a “no shot” scenario!
Nobody moved for a few seconds, and then together the herd began to turn. I knew I had to get around that spruce if I had any chance of a shot. I went for it. The bull was still traveling ahead as the rest of the herd was turning back. He had to decide if he should move around on my side of this dead spruce or exit to the downhill side. He chose wrong! As I moved forward, he suddenly spotted me, but like a pick in a basketball game, that dead spruce was now in his way, thus forcing him to turn around on my side of the tree, bringing him closer for a shot. The distance was now about 25 yards.
I took one more step as I drew back my bow, focused on the bull and released the arrow as he broke into a run. My arrow found its mark and passed through both lungs, leaving a paintbrush splatter of blood on the far side.
I waited in place, as elk were running everywhere. I concentrated on the noise that I thought was my bull and finally heard what I thought was him going down.
Got Elk?
Adrenaline pumping, I reached for my radio and shouted, “Bull down, bull down!” as I looked wildly around the area where the bull was standing. I could see skid marks and hoof prints in the direction he went. A spot of blood here and another spot on a stick there, then farther behind, a small spray pattern of blood across a log.
The boys replied back over the airwaves with both congratulations and questions. “Is he big?” “Where are you?” “Which way did he go?” I responded that he ran out of sight and he headed toward the cliff away from us. I was sure I hit him well, but he ran out of sight. I would have to wait a while to be sure he was down.
The next hour spent in place was a bit disturbing. I was feeling less confident since I couldn’t see him down. Moving on him too soon could make for a really long day if he wasn’t quite dead. That hour was exhilarating and excruciating.
Our Plan
With each elk hunt, our plan is that if anyone gets one, the rest drop what they’re doing and help out the lucky guy. It’s a celebration, but it’s also a huge sacrifice for those who are hunting but now are being pulled away to pack meat. The work involved for one guy is tremendous, and although it could be done, you are facing weather problems, getting the meat cooled down quickly and sheer exhaustion - a lot for one person to go through. The work involved in field dressing and butchering it into manageable parts on-site, retrieving the packs from camp and hiking the meat out would take most of the day. Three guys working at it made it much more reasonable, and the reality is that it may be the only elk we get all week since the odds are so low. So this elk became “our” elk.
True Teamwork
I’m very thankful that Dave and Mike were more than willing to jump in and help. Dave headed straight back to camp to pick up the three frame packs waiting with supplies. Mike made his way halfway to camp to meet Dave and then brought the frame packs to me. In the meantime, I followed the blood trail slowly, trying to be sure I did not jump the bull if he was still alive.
I found my bull on the side of the hill no more than 75 yards from where I shot. A beautiful 5x5 awaited me in the ferns, grass and shade underneath a cluster of aspen trees.
I laid my pack down next to him and began to look at him. He was not one for the record books, but as a bull elk taken with a bow and arrow, with an over-the-counter license and while on public land, he was magnificent!
Mi ke showed up with the frame packs in about an hour, calling on his radio and blowing his bugle as I guided him to me on the mountain. Now the major work would begin. I had begun butchering and was hurrying through it, knowing it would be a long day and at any time the sun could move to where the bull would be exposed to the extra heat, which could be a factor in spoilage if there was any. And with him weighing in at about 850 pounds, we were not moving him anywhere until he was mostly butchered.
I had a hind quarter cut off by the time Mike had reached me. He helped me roll the bull elk partway, lifting a leg or turning a head. At one point the dead bull slid downhill, so we had tied him off onto a tree. Working while kneeling, I cut as fast as I could, knees screaming in pain and hands cramping up as I went. When we finally had a good amount of meat in the frame pack, Mike took off with this first load, straight up over the mountain and down the other side to an ATV trail. If it worked out, Dave would be waiting there with an ATV and would return with Mike for the next two loads.
I continued butchering until my hands were about numb and I could feel my back starting to ache. I leaned into the side of that hill cutting, grunting, sweating and smiling for five hours.
Let’s Celebrate!
Eventually the boys returned together, laughing and carrying on. Mike again shook my hand as hard as he could. It was a giant forceful handshake that just about pulled me over. Dave had a glint in his eye and sat down next to the bull’s head admiring the antlers - five points on each antlered branch. One of them said, “This is what it’s all about!” What he meant was the camaraderie. Not the kill so much, but the teamwork, the laughter and the continued ribbing.
It’s an experience that until you have it, you just don’t realize the accomplishment. As in Colorado, one in five successful elk hunters takes one with a bow. That’s any elk, either a bull or cow. This was an accomplishment for each of us. Hopefully after they sweated the work all day, they would still feel this good. I would owe them regardless.
Over the next few hours, we all worked like crazy. It rained a bit, which was fine, as it actually kept the bees and flies at bay. All told, Mike made two trips on foot with meat up and down over to the trail. Dave shuttled several times to and from camp and made one hike out. I made the trip with hide and antlers to the top of the ridge, then left that pack under a tree until I could retrieve it later. Finally, I made my way to meet both of them down on the trail with a second ATV. From there, we moved the meat down to the truck, which was 7 miles from camp; it had been eight very long hours from when I shot the bull.
A Special Time
This hunt, like so many others I have been on with friends, was special. It was bonding. It was later sharing a particular joke that came from the day whatever that might be. It hurt! It was fun! It was delicious, too! There is no better meal than elk
tenderloin fresh off the carcass accompanied by a can of cold brew chilled in a mountain spring at the end of a hunt with my friends. The rest of the week could have ended right there. We were that happy!
The Hunt Continues
Work is never done. The second day there was still plenty of work to do while Dave and Mike hunted. The first thing in the morning, I retrieved my pack with the elk hide and antlers. I’m pretty sure I was still walking three feet off the ground after my success. My next trip was down the ATV trail to take the truck into town, drop off the meat and try to find a taxidermist. Although it was a nice bull, I was not getting a full head and shoulder mount, only a European-style skull mount.
We enjoyed the rest of the week’s perfect weather. Dave and Mike continued to see elk and hunt with several close calls. At one point, Mike had two bulls nearly run over him. They sprinted off the top of a low hill, came down over right into Mike’s lap, stopped long enough behind some spruce trees (another “no shot” scenario) for Mike’s knees to nervously shake and sprinted away, leaving us all short of breath.
I worked on fleshing the elk hide stretched across several clumped aspens, cleaned up my gear, sharpened knives, spotted for elk on the hillsides and explored the countryside, scouting for more elk sign.
Reflection
You couldn’t have asked for a better elk hunt. When it comes right down to it - good friends, nice weather, great country and a special bonding of friends and hunting partners! Although I had made the shot, all of us could claim “our bull” that day.
Kory Enck was born and raised in Elizabethtown, where he currently resides. He is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University with an ag degree. He’s currently employed by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, where he directs and organizes volunteers to hold banquets in their respective areas of WPA and WV. Kory also held the same position with The NRA Foundation for 21 years. His hobbies include most anything outdoors but specifically archery hunting, fishing, kayaking, horseback riding, biking and spending time with friends and family.
PA Game Commission
pa.gov/agencies/pgc
• Information on seasons and bag limits - The Pennsylvania Game Commission has added Sunday dates for 2025. Beginning Sept. 14 and through Dec. 7, all Sundays that fall within established hunting seasons will be included as part of those seasons and open to hunting, with migratory game bird seasons as the only exception.
• Licensing - people can buy a license online a or in person through a local issuing agent.
• Information on different types of hunting licenses can be found online are valid from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.
Most replacement licenses and permits are $6.97. For more information on these licenses, add-on licenses, and permits, visit pa.gov/agencies/pgc.
PA Trappers Association
• District 11 page (Berks, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Schuylkill, and York)
• Trapper trainings
• Resources for trappers
• PA Game Commission’s information on furtaker licenses
PA FISH & BOAT COMMISSION
pa.gov/agencies/fishandboat
• Seasons - information on fishing seasons and creel limits both statewide and in specific areas, visit online for details.
The trout season runs from the beginning of April to the beginning of September. The extended trout season, with a daily limit of three trout, will run from Sept. 2 to Feb. 16, 2026.
• Licensing - A valid Pennsylvania fishing license is required for people age 16 and older. People can buy a license online or in person through an issuing agent, who can be searched for by county online.
• Boats are required to be registered in the state where they are primarily used. A valid registration card must be carried on the boat and expires on the date indicated on the decal. Visit the website for more information on registration and titling a Boat.
FISHING LICENSE PRICING
Local and State ORGANIZATIONS
DUCKS UNLIMITED ducks.org
• Upcoming events
• State officers’ contact information
• Information on wetlands and the organizations efforts to conserve them
• Hunting information, including information on gear, destinations, and tips, as well as a migration map
• Information on memberships
TROUT UNLIMITED patrout.org
• Information on the Pennsylvania Council
• Find your local chapter and upcoming events
Learn more about Trout Unlimited’s conservation efforts and information on memberships at tu.org
NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATIONnwtf.org
• General information
• Find your local chapter
Resources for hunters and search for upcoming events at your.nwtf.org
ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK FOUNDATION rmef.org
• General information
• Find your local chapter
• Look for upcoming events
Information on memberships can be found at shop.rmef.org
DELTA WATERFOWL deltawaterfowl.org
• Information on Delta Waterfowl’s efforts to recruit more waterfowl hunters in North America
• To learn about the organization’s conservation efforts
DONEGAL FISH AND CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION donegalcreek.wordpress.com
• General information
• Membership
Watershed Planner Returns to His Neck of the Woods
PHOTOGRAPH AND STORY BY
GEORGE DEIBEL
Brian Gish takes great pride in each plan he writes to heal sick waterways, but his latest project hits home.
Gish, who is the Pennsylvania senior watershed planner for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), is in the early stages of devising a proposal to improve the condition of 13 streams that impact portions of Columbia Borough, Mountville Borough, West Hempfield Township, and Manor Township.
“This one is special for me,” he said.
Gish, whose grandfather worked in Columbia, grew up outside of Marietta, dining on mouthwatering shifter sandwiches, the local delicacy made up of ham, sweet pickles, lettuce, tomatoes, and mayo. “It’s wonderful,” he said with a chuckle.
As a Boy Scout, Gish searched for the albatwitch, the miniature, apple-eating ape-man rumored to roam the Chickies Rock region.
“I enjoyed writing the other plans, and they were places that are important to me,” said Gish, who works out of the CBF office in Harrisburg. “But this is home. These streams are ones I’ve encountered throughout my life.”
This will be the third plan Gish has written for Lancaster County waterways. He also put together game plans for the Pequea Creek and upper Conestoga River.
The coverage area of Brian Gish’s latest plan
Gish said the state analyzes the health of waterways in four categories of use: aquatic life, recreation, fish consumption, and use as a public water source. “We focus on aquatic life,” he added.
Penning a plan involves geospatial analysis, which essentially means combining maps and statistics to figure out answers to real-world environmental problems, Gish said. The plan’s coverage area involves 30 miles of streams in an area inhabited by approximately 20,000 people.
Strickler Run and Shawnee Run are the biggest of the 13 streams in the area that flow into the Susquehanna River, making up more than a third of the drainage area. Some of the streams don’t even have a name. Shawnee Run goes through Columbia, and Strickler Run is the one stream that drains from all four municipalities in the plan’s coverage area. “That is the thread that connects them all,” Gish said. “It’s going to make a great opportunity to bring wide ranges of communities together.”
This plan will be unique. “Here, these streams don’t flow into each other,” said Gish. “They all enter the river in their own place. We saw that these streams, unlike a lot of the streams in Lancaster County, didn’t have a plan. We realized if we didn’t write a plan for these, these are streams that will probably never get a plan.”
Gish noted that as it pertains to water quality, they are equally important as the bigger waterways, especially when viewed all together. “The other neat thing about them is because they’re so small, in
shorter amounts of time, you can have success stories,” he said.
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation will hold events including stream cleanups throughout the area in the coming months to engage the community and hear feedback. “Even though I feel invested in these communities, these are really their creeks,” said Gish. “(They belong to) the people who live here. We want to find out what they value. What’s important to them? What are their goals at the end of the day?”
Gish began the multiyear process by starting internal work several months ago, and he expects to complete it in 2026. Plans typically have a 20-year lifespan. The first review five years after it is finished will determine what’s working and what isn’t. A major review is conducted in the 10th year, and often parts of the plan will need to be overhauled. There is another review at the 15-year mark. After 20 years, the plan will probably reach the end of its usefulness.
“Sometimes we will see we met our targets, and the streams aren’t impaired anymore,” said Gish. “Most likely, you have to write another one, because even when you do all the right things, it can take decades for these streams to rebound.”
Bettering the Chesapeake Bay is a byproduct of the local efforts. “We like to say, ‘If you save PA, you save the bay,’” said Gish. “When I talk to people, I hardly ever mention the bay. The reason is, in the Pennsylvania office, our focus is 100% local clean water. Yes, that helps the bay. But
when I go out, I am not out there working on behalf of the estuary. I am working on behalf of all people who live here and the landscapes and waterways that are here.”
Gish added, “The creeks in their backyard and the Susquehanna River are things that are important to (people). Those are the things that are important to me. If we do good work here, it’s going to help the bay, but the reason we even have a Pennsylvania office is to connect with these local communities here in the commonwealth. We understand what we do affects the bay, probably better than most people. If a solution doesn’t work for the people here, it isn’t going to happen. We make sure everything we do is relevant to the folks here and stands to improve their local environment.”
Gish said residents can already start helping by planting trees, supporting local farms, picking up litter, limiting lawn chemicals, and being careful about what they are putting down drains.
“A lot of times plans focus only on water quality,” Gish said. “I really want this one to be a more holistic plan that provides educational and recreational opportunities. “We are using the plan as a vehicle to get local communities to cooperate on other things such as stormwater. It’s a great opportunity for everyone to pull together.”
Go to cbf.org/about-cbf/locations/ pennsylvania for additional information about the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
Brian Gish looks out over Shawnee Run.
BOMBAY CHILI
BOMBAY CHILI
JIM TALBOT, LANCASTER
INGREDIENTS
Bombay chili powder #14 (see below)
3 lbs. of ground venison or beef
3 large onions, medium chop
3 red peppers. Roasted and peeled, medium chop. Celery, half the volume of the onions, fine chop
3 Tbs. minced garlic
2 small cans of mushrooms or 1 lb. of fresh Portabella
sliced very thin
1 pound bacon minced fine
1 box crushed tomatoes, 28 oz. Or equal
1 can fire-roasted diced tomatoes, 14.5 oz.
3 cans black beans
BOMBAY CHILI POWDER #14
3 Tbs. New Mexico red pepper powder
2 Tbs. ancho powder
2 Tbs. guajillo powder
1 Tbs. chipotle powder (+/- for desired heat level - this is hot)
2 Tbs. course black pepper
2 Tbs. oregano
4 Tbs. dark brown sugar
1 Tbs. coriander powder
1 Tbs. cumin powder
4 Tsp. Kosher salt
2 Tbs. Hungarian sweet paprika
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Chop onions medium and celery fine.
2. Roast red peppers, peel, dice medium and set aside.
3. Mince bacon and fry hard until fat is rendered.
4. Add bacon and grease to onions, celery and garlic. Over medium heat, wilt vegetables, about 15 min.
5. Grill burger in large patties to medium rare. Break up after grilling and set aside.
6. Add crushed tomatoes, fire-roasted tomatoes, burger, beans and bean liquid, seasonings and fold in over medium heat. Mix well and bring to low boil. Lower heat, cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Stir regularly.
7. Remove lid, add red peppers and simmer for another 30 minutes uncovered. Stir regularly.
TROPHY TROPHY
Bevalee Tshudy
Lancaster County
At the age of 19, this is my biggest buck harvest of an 8 point and weighed around 140 lbs. in Union Co.
Brian Weaver
Lancaster County Archery PA black bear, 86 lbs. dressed
My bear was the first bear taken at our family's camp with a bow, and my first bear. This will always be a trophy to me.
Mark Oswald
Chester County
Location: Clinton County, Pennsylvania Turkey Trophy, beard length 9 1/4" long
Ryan Brennan
Berks County
Location: Montrose, Pennsylvania
Trophy: 5 1/2 years old, 159 inch, 11 point, 210 lbs. white tail deer.
WALL WALL WOODS
Ethan Swarr
and his dad, Lonnie Swarr
Lancaster County
Lonnie and his son Ethan, who got his first deer last year December 2024.
Lancaster County age 12
Allegheny County, PA on May 23, 2025
Triple-bearded turkey with beards of 9½, 9½, and 9¼ inches
Max Aument
Lancaster County "Cinco de Mayo"
Spring Gobbler on May 5th 2025 6:40am 10 1/4 inch beard Centre Co.
County
County PA
Clayton Grove and his dad, Josh Grove
Lancaster
York
Trophy, 1st Compound Bow Buck, 3pt.
Approximately 120 lbs. Shot out of a tree stand with his dad beside him!
Jeremiah Stoltzfus
TROPHY TROPHY
Joshua Stoltzfus
Berks County
Zoie Keck
Lancaster County
9 point buck one broken point, my first deer, 4C
Ted Schreiber
Lancaster County
83-year-old Ted Schreiber can still get the job done. This 9PT Ohio buck was taken with a crossbow on Nov. 2023.
TROPHY TROPHY
Caroline and Ben Aument
Lancaster County
Sherman's Creek Perry Co Youth Fishing Day 3/29/25
26" Golden Rainbow caught on green caddis rooster tail
Lancaster County 18" Brook trout (Potter County) 07/09/2025
Lancaster County
30” brown trout caught in June 2025 on the Cumberland
Cody Zellers
Hunter Henry Lancaster County
Catching big browns with dad and Uncle Teddy. Benton, PA
Michael Orr
River, Kentucky
WALL WALL WATERWAYS
York County Age 9, Smallmouth bass, Susquehanna River-Goldsboro. Caught on a top water popper. 2 lbs.
Samantha Bradley
Lancaster County
Caught in Des Moines, WA 13 lbs. 25” First time Salmon fishing August 2024
Lancaster County Conestoga River, PA 24" and around 5 pounds
Josh Anson
Matthew Hixon
Brady Firestone
TROPHY WALL TROPHY WALL WATERWAYS
Steve Prokopchak
Lancaster County
Stoney Creek, Dauphin County, PA
22 inch brown trout
Caught on a spinner lure
Galada Berks County Fishing location, Sandy Hook NJ 44” released quickly
Kory Enck
Lancaster County
Penn’s Creek
Smallmouth bass 18”
Temp was 95, water temp was 80.
Tom Herr
Lancaster County
07/31/2025 - While fly fishing along the Alagnak River which is located in southwest Alaska, this Chum salmon took my fly.
Rich
4.
TROPHY WALL TROPHY WALL
Colton Zeamer
Lancaster County Age 11
Lorida, FL
93 Yard Brain Shot with a .243 on an 8 1/2 foot American Alligator.
Wyatt Zeamer
Lancaster County Age 9
Lorida, FL
70 Yard Brain Shot on a 10’ 2” American Alligator with a 6.5 Creedmoor.
Jade Love-Morris
Lancaster County
This was one of my 5 sharks and also the largest of the week. August in the OBX at The Point 08/22/2024
BEYOND THE BORDER
Jeremy Hoffman
Dauphin County Bear in West Virginia
Steve Hershey
Lancaster County
66" Alaskan Moose
McGrath, Alaska
Harvested September 12, 2024
Discover the wild, winding unpaved backroads of Pennsylvania’s Endless Mountains region on two wheels.
FALL IN ELK COUNTRY FALL IN ELK COUNTRY
BY RICK HIDUK
Benezette in Elk County has established itself as the “Elk Capitol of Pennsylvania.” Nearly 1,400 elk roaming 3,000 square mi les in more than six counties draw hundreds of thousands of naturalists, hunters and the curious to the region every year. At Benezette, the Elk Country Visitor Center was established by the Keystone Elk Country Alliance (KECA) to benefit the future of Elk Country and provide guests with an up-close look at the majestic, timid creatures.
Elk once roamed the mountains of the eastern United States from New York to Georgia. Westward advancement of European settlers greatly reduced the herds, and the last of the wild elk disappeared
from Elk and Cameron counties in the 1860s. The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) slowly reintroduced transported Rocky Mountain elk to several north central counties between 1912 and 1915, and their numbers grew rapidly.
Farmers were not fans of the elk, as their sheer size and voracious appetites could destroy a cornfield in just one night. To ease the burden on farmers, the PGC authorized legal hunts of bull elk from 1923 to 1931. The hunts proved too popular, and the elk were all but eradicated once more, with fewer than 50 remaining in Elk and Cameron counties. Luckily, they were appreciated there.
According to a history of elk in Pennsylvania posted on the PGC website, “People were flocking to wherever elk could be found to
take pictures and feed them. Visiting hunters were also enamored by the elk, the sight of which widened the eyes and quickened the blood.” So it was fitting that Benezette would be the focus of the KECA’s revitalization efforts.
A renewed desire by people to explore open spaces during the COVID pandemic made the Elk Country Visitor Center a very popular destination, with attendance reaching upwards of 500,000 people annually. The venue is a partnership between the KECA and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and it features a multi-sensory 4-D theater, interactive exhibits, a gift shop, and gravel walking paths from which guests can safely view the elk. Horse-drawn wagon rides around the 245-acre preserve have
A horse-drawn covered wagon is perhaps the easiest way to view elk on the 245 acres managed by the Keystone Elk Country Alliance near Benezette in Elk County.
Visitor Center Hours:
Jan. - Mar.: Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Apr. - May: Thursday through Monday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Jun. - Oct.: Daily, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Nov. - Dec.: Thursday through Monday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m
also proven popular.
“We did a lot of habitat management here on the property, so it brings them up here to feed,” said Josiah Jones, director of communications and marketing for the Elk Country Visitor Center. “It gives them wide open spaces for different elk to come together. They are a beautiful animal, and they are massive.”
The most popular time of the year to visit Elk Country is in September and October when two elements overlap to attract naturalists and especially photographers: the annual elk rut, or mating season, and fall foliage. “It’s a lot of fun to watch elk during the rut season,” Jones remarked. “They are in a different element.”
While the Visitor Center may offer the easiest way to view elk,
There’s plenty to see and do at the Elk Country Visitor Center, which is open year-round. Days and hours are limited from November through May.
the PGC owns much of the land adjacent to the KECA property and has official viewing areas at Winslow Hill and Dents Run. Safety of both humans and the elk is a priority for both PGC and the KECA, and the PGC developed a simple Elk Smart program geared toward “Keeping PA Elk Wi ld.” Signage in viewing areas reads “Give Elk Space – at least 100 yards; Never Feed Elk – it’s dangerous and illegal; Don’t Name Elk – let wild be wild; and Do Your Part – if you see
something, say something.”
The best viewing times suggested by the KECA are just after daylight and at dusk, when the elk are moving back and forth from the open spaces where they feed and the woodlands where they spend most of their day.
Restricted hunting of elk is permitted by the PGC, with the number of licenses allotted each year determined by the estimated herd size and the previous season’s yield. Fourteen elk hunting zones have been
Pathways within a stone’s throw of the Visitor Center also provide opportunities to safely view elk. established and allotment varies from one to another.
The elk are beautiful and live in one of the most pristine regions of the PA Wilds. While they may be the focus of a trip, there are plenty of other thi ngs to do and see while in
Elk Country. In Benezette, visitors will find the Honor Walkway lined with Civil War, Veterans, and Boy Scout memorials. Nearby are the Quehanna Wild Area and Marion Brooks Natural Area. The week of Oct. 18 is considered the average
peak season for fall foliage in PA, but leaves begin changing color earlier in Elk Country.
For information on Visitor Center hours, as well as where to eat, shop, and stay, interested readers can log on to experienceelkcountry.com.
