PA HR356

Designates December 27, 2025, as "Pennsylvania Elk Hunt Day" in Pennsylvania, coinciding with the start of the late elk hunting season running through January 3, 2026

Pennsylvania's elk population currently numbers approximately 1,400 animals, primarily in the north-central region, attracting nearly 500,000 visitors annually

The state's native elk went extinct by 1880 due to overhunting; reintroduction began in 1913 with 50 elk from Wyoming and 95 more from Yellowstone in 1915

Modern regulated elk hunts resumed in 2001, marking 70 years after the original hunting seasons ended in 1931; the Pennsylvania Game Commission now holds three annual seasons (archery, rifle, and late)

In 2024, more than 55,000 hunters applied for just 140 elk licenses, reflecting the high demand for what hunters consider a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity