First-Ever Archery Season Elk Taken in Pennsylvania

The photo above was posted recently to the Facebook page of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Accompanying the image was the text below:

Pennsylvania hunting history was made over the weekend as the first-ever archery elk season opened on Saturday, Sept. 14. This year, there were five archery bull elk tags allocated. Jim Lickfeld was one of the fortunate hunters who had the opportunity to hunt this inaugural season.

On the first evening of the season, Jim was able to take Pennsylvania’s first-ever archery bull with a perfectly-placed shot during the new season! He is pictured here with his 7x6 dark-antlered bull in Hunt Zone 10. Congratulations, Jim!

Jim was guided by Trophy Rack Lodge and World Champion Elk Caller Al Morris, who works for Pennsylvania-based company, FoxPro. Tyler Hock from the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s marketing department was along and able to capture the whole hunt on film, which will be available in the future. Thank you to Jim for allowing the agency to document the hunt to share with current and future generations of Pennsylvania hunters.

We wish all our 2019 elk hunters, archery, general and late-season, the best for safe and successful hunts! While the elk hunting opportunities are exclusive in Pennsylvania, it’s an important component of maintaining a healthy and sustainable herd. We appreciate everyone who applied for an elk license this year. Thank you for your support and for being Pennsylvania hunters!

Editor's note: Previously in Pennsylvania, hunters who drew a license for the regular elk season could choose to use a gun or bow. Lickfeld's tremendous bull is the first one harvested during the state's inaugural archery-only elk season.

We learned more about Lickfeld’s bowhunt through a Trophy Rack Lodge Facebook post, which included the photo above showing the huge bull from a different photo angle.

The first day of the first ever PA elk archery season couldn't have been sweeter for Zone 10 bull hunter Jim Lickfeld! Trophy Rack Lodge was offered the help of five-time World Champion caller Al Morris who is sponsored by FoxPro. The PA Game Commission contacted Jim and asked him if they could document the hunt on video and Jim accepted. The first morning brought many bugles but no shot opportunities. Al, Jim and guides Larry and Matt knew that the evening hunt promised to have a lot of action.

At 7:10 p.m. the first bull bugled. Al called and the bull responded. After several bugles from the bull, they knew he was coming. At 7:20 he came into view, and they knew it was a shooter. At 7:35 he was in bow range. Pulling the bow back, Jim made the perfect shot at 57 yards. A double-lung shot and they watched the bull go 60 yards and fall.

A beautiful 7x6, dark-antlered bull with long swales, put it in the book, the first bull taken in the newly established PA Elk Archery season! Now let's do the same with Trophy Rack Lodge Zone 13 bull hunter Luke Miller!