This year we took our yearly summer vacation to beautiful Benezette, PA. Home of the free roaming wild elk in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania's elk herd was totally extirpated by 1867 and became totally extinct in it's Eastern range from New England, New York and PA. The PA Game Commission released elk from Yellowstone back into PA between 1913 and 1926. Today the herd has well over 700 elk. They range in Elk and Cameron Counties but are being seen more and more in Clearfield and Clinton counties. If you have never seen PA's wild elk it is well worth a trip!!
We like the serenity and abundant wildlife we can see right from our window or deck from the places we stay. This year we stayed at the first class accommodation's of Winslow Meadow Lodge.
This is home away from home. Everything you need except your food. 4 bedrooms, central air, TV, hot tub, large deck, etc. The place was breath taking enough in itself.
As you all know...utilization of trail camera's allow even a different perspective on what lurks in PA's woods. It definitely helps me to sleep when I am up there just knowing that the technology will capture what magnificent animals that bound about while I am lumbering away. You see, when I go to beautiful Cameron county, I cannot sleep. Not because it's a new place away from home....but because I don't want to miss any wildlife that might be visiting outside the door. Just think about it; wild elk, bears, foxes, and numerous other critters free ranging in natural habitat. My trail camera was out and it allowed me to reduce my nightly trips from the bedroom from 30 to about 20. HA!! I just can't help myself! I go to the door peer out the glass with the spotlight to see what's there! I'm like a little girl at Christmas.
My dad hasn't been to the area in over 20 years and my mom and Grandma have never seen Pennsylvania's wild elk. So Don and I suggested they should drive up early Tuesday and spend the day with us. We all decided it was best to arrive around 6 AM so we could see the elk early before they bed. Boy little did we know what a treat they were in for! That morning we awoke to a cow elk in the front yard and a nice rack buck in the back yard.
We woke up Jimmy and headed out to the gate to meet my family. We could not have picked or put an order in for any better of a morning. It was if God placed an elk behind every corner and tree. Not to mention numerous does, fawns, calves, bucks, bears and turkeys.
We had been at our beautiful lodge for two days and had a general idea as to where some of the big bulls were.
So Don guided the tour. Right on the road to the lodge we saw about 6 cows and 4 calves.
The first stop would then be to where we had been seeing 3 big bulls. Sure enough there they were but that added one more big bull to the group and a lone cow. All within 75 yards off the road. Needless to say Mom and Grandma were in awe and dad was all fired up!
Down the road we come upon another 5 X 5 . On the way into town to see if the old bull # 36 was around we saw a flock of turkeys and poults crossing the road and a sow with a cub. Then headed down by the river and sure enough there were a couple cows and calves crossing the river. A beautiful site!
Mom, Grandma and Dad checking out the elk at a watering hole.
In town not far from the Benezette store was the big ol bull #36. This bull is Old, bowed knees. I have pictures from him from years past. According to the PGC Attendant at Winslow Hill Information Center, he is estimated to be approximately 16 years old.
We proceeded back to the lodge seeing elk and deer all along the way. Pulling into our lane we have a herd of cows grazing in the lawn. Now up until this point we had only seen one cow elk around the property.
After a quick tour of the Lodge we decided to sit on the big deck and enjoy the breeze while Don prepared our meal.
A few minutes later a heard of elk, cows, calves and one nice bull emerged from the tree line and fed through the property.
The whole time the cows were "talking" giving out that high pitch call. It was absolutely grand! Mom and Grandma were in disbelief! A short time later a cow elk came running into the yard and right behind her was the bull in an attempt to get her back with the other girls in the herd. She wanted NO PART of it and stood her ground. She would not leave our yard. We all stood there in total awe. The bull departed back to his harem and you could hear the cows shrill calls in the distance. thinking that was cool, something then happened that sent chills up all of us. The Bull let out a bugle. YES A BUGLE!! Not once, but twice!!!! We could not believe our ears! I have never heard one bugle before. We never have made it up in the fall. But to hear one bugle in JULY???? BREATHTAKING! We all knew we had just been blessed with an amazing memory. We were just all so taken back. Mom was so happy. Something she said she always wanted to hear was an elk bugle and she sure got her wish!
Mom, dad and Grandma had to leave. They Had a wonderful time and we promised we would all go up and spend more time together again in this northern PA paradise.
The cow elk stayed in the yard for another 4 hours. In fact she stayed in the yard for another 2 days until we went home. She was a fixture. It was so nice to be able to go out and sit on the deck and watch a cow elk, numerous deer, raccoons all right before your eyes.
Jimmy trying to sneak on the deck not to spook the elk that came into the yard while he was out front.
Here Don was cooking down at the campfire ring and the cow elk came in. Did you ever see the movie "Wild Hogs"? Well I think Don is going to "slap the Cow" LOL.
We all agreed this was the best vacation we have ever had up there. we have always enjoyed the places we have stayed. But to be able to experience all we did with my family for the first time was a true gift. I know we will be back again next year.
We are already making plans for next summer. Elk country Hide Away we already reserved our stay next September, 2010. This will be our first Fall visit and I can't wait! Benezette is a world away from the city. To see PA wild free roaming elk in an untouched natural setting is something to behold. Paradise not far from home!
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