BELLEFONTE – With Pennsylvania’s elk rut approaching its September peak, the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Elk Cam is back online, offering a front-row seat to the bugling bulls and other wildlife in the state’s north central region.
The camera, set in the heart of the 220,000-acre elk range spanning State Game Lands 311 and Elk State Forest, livestreams video and sound at www.pgc.pa.gov. Viewers may spot elk, deer, turkeys and more, with late afternoons being the prime viewing time.
The Game Commission urges visitors to be “Elk Smart” when viewing in person. This initiative, launched in 2020, emphasizes four key practices: maintaining at least 100 yards of distance from elk, never feeding them, avoiding naming them to preserve their wild nature and reporting disruptive behavior to the Northcentral Region office at 570-398-4744.
Pennsylvania’s elk herd, numbering up to 1,400, roams freely across 3,000 square miles in Elk, Cameron, Clinton, Clearfield and Centre counties. The rut, from September through October, draws thousands to Elk Country, where mornings and evenings offer the best viewing opportunities.
For those visiting, the Elk Viewing Area Information Radio Station at 1620 AM in Benzette provides “Elk Smart” tips, updates and emergency information, supported by the Game Commission, Keystone Elk Country Alliance and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Visitors are reminded to respect private property in the area.
