There is good news and there is bad news if you are seeking an opportunity to hunt elk in Pennsylvania for the 2023 hunting season.

First the bad news, the three general elk hunting license seasons; archery, general and late seasons, officially closed their application process on July 16. The good news is that another opportunity for the Keystone Elk Country Alliance drawing is still being accepted until July 25.

The drawing is in a raffle form of $20 per single ticket or six tickets for $100 with the proceeds benefiting the Pa Elk herd and habitat. The winner gets to have a hunting season in any legal elk hunt zone from Sept. 1 through Nov. 4. The drawing will take place on July 30 at the 2023 Elk Expo in Benezette.

The package is really awesome and you need to check it out for that once in a lifetime experience. The KECA program is a 501(c) non-profit wildlife conservation organization that is tax deductible for your donation.

I am going to take a chance at the drawing for a bull hunt for two months in the prime range of an impressive elk herd. Pennsylvania’s bull elk are among the finest bulls in the country. I told my buddies at Hicks Run Outfitters that I was only applying for bull tags in the Archery and Late Season this year because of a commitment to a hunt in Colorado that I had booked two years ago that cancels my regular season hunt in Pennsylvania. We will see what happens and if my luck holds up!

Hunter-Trapper Education

There has been a change in the Game Wardens in Butler County and as in most things, it has taken them some time to get on track with their new duties including the Hunter-Trapper Education Classes in the county.

However, the fellows came through with a new calendar of classes being offered to local youth and these include the following dates. On Aug. 15 at the Butler Twp. Recreation Bldg., on Sept. 9 at the Mars Rod & Gun Club, on Sept. 16th at the Freeport Sportsmen’s Club, on

Sept. 16 at Moniteau High School, sponsored by the Boyers Sportsmen’s Association, and on Sept. 23 at the Peaceful Valley Campground.

We received a notice from the PA Trappers Association District 2 that they will be holding two events in the upcoming months. The first event is the Trappers School which will be held on Aug. 19 at the Boyers Sportsmen’s Grounds on Boyers-Forestville Road. Both adults and children are encouraged to apply to the school. There is no charge and lunch will be provided. Participants must pre-register by Aug. 12.

There will also be a FALL EXPO held on Sept. 9 at the Butler City Hunting & Fishing Club all are welcome and inside vendors must pre-register. For more information or to register for these events, contact Jim Colosimo at 724-794-4549 or 724-679-0157.

License received at last

I finally received my 2023-24 PA Hunting License through the mail. Everything was in order and I am finally ready for the fall hunts. My cousin is really excited that our schedules work out and we can do some early muzzleloader hunting.

It looks like another productive season for the whitetail deer. Too many deer are not a good thing as they really can over-browse properties as well as agricultural plantings. Deer will bed down close to homes and backyards and are not afraid to feed any time during the day or nights.

Hunting is somewhat of a control when antlerless licenses are used. Round 2 of the antlerless license drawings will start on July 24 at 8 a.m. There are plenty of licenses available and you will need to do it online or at an official license sales vendor.

Lake Erie fishing trip

We took another trip to Lake Erie for a walleye fishing trip and had the misfortune of a stormy lake on our first day’s effort, which was disappointing. The next day was ideal weather and we were greeted with a spectacular sunrise and a nice catch of walleye for our efforts.

The fish were scattered from 20 feet to the 65-foot depths of water. Smaller fish were very aggressive and it was a challenge to get down past them to the deeper water, which held nicer fish. They were feeding on smelts and any plugs or spoons with that look were hot items. We did well with dipsey divers back at 135-150 feet using wire lines.

Until we meet again, take care of business with your license purchases and watch those deadlines!

Jay Hewitt is an outdoors columnist for the Butler Eagle