‘Once in a lifetime’: hunters marvel at experiences during elk season | News, sports, jobs

Armstrong was at the elk check station in Benezette last week, during the general elk season, where lucky hunters were required to bring their harvested elk within 24 hours of killing them.

The elk hunters are chosen through a lottery system by the Pennsylvania Game Commission for a chance to win one of the 1,400 elk that call Pennsylvania home.

“I put 22 years into it, and I never thought I would get it,” said Scott Dimmitt of Pottstown, standing next to the elk he harvested in Benezette last week.

“I couldn’t be happier. This is a one-time event,” Dimmitt said, smiling.

A large bull elk hangs upside down as it is weighed at the Elk County Welcome Center recently on the first day of Pennsylvania’s elk hunt. This year, 140 elk were allowed to be hunted in Pennsylvania. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Like many elk hunters, Dimmitt used an elk hunting guide. Ernie Bertolasio of Hicks Run Outfitters helped Dimmitt locate a moose.

Bruce Jones of Montoursville, who harvested an elk last week, also sees the benefits of using a guide.

“Trophy Rack Outfitters and Todd Walters, they worked very hard to give me the opportunity to harvest an elk,” Jones said.

The hunters and guides did a lot of planning and familiarizing themselves with the area before opening day.

“A lot of effort has gone into scouting in the preseason, right up until the evening before the season,” Jones shared.

Two large bull elk were recently spotted along a road near Driftwood on the first day of Pennsylvania’s elk hunt. This year, 140 elk were allowed to be hunted in Pennsylvania. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“It takes a lot of work. For the past two weeks, I have walked between five and ten miles every day looking for a moose.” said Bertolasio.

His satisfaction comes from helping the hunter get his elk.

‘I didn’t even participate in the drawing. I would rather guide someone else and watch their joy and their excitement and their tears. I like that better than pulling the trigger.” said Bertolasio.

Jones’ opportunity to get his bull came last Tuesday after a tough day of hunting on Monday during which he saw nothing.

“We went to a field near Benezette. We sneaked in in the darkness, when daylight started to break, there was literally a mist in the field, like a postcard. We could see more and more as the lights came on, and there were elk all over that field. Jones said.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY BRUCE JONES Bruce Jones and son Dutch with the elk Bruce harvested this month.

As it started to get light, Jones’ guide saw that there was a shooting bull in the field.

“So I got excited, to say the least. I had to wait eight minutes for the recording time. He said this will be the longest eight minutes of your life,’ Jones said with a laugh.

Jones got his bull which turned out to be an 8×7 and had a green score of 385 inches. A green score is the total number of centimeters of the bull’s antlers.

It was a team effort for Dimmitt to get his moose as well.

“We found him last night and didn’t think he would be there this morning because he always comes out at night. So we thought we would give it a try and lo and behold my son was with me, that made it even more special and we saw him,” Dimmitt shared

He had to wait until daylight and took his shot.

The elk was recovered within 200 feet, which couldn’t be better, Dimmitt added.

Getting the moose out of the woods is no small task.

When nearby hunters and guides heard that Jones had shot his bull, they came to help.

“My son Dutch was with me, he was a great help to me. It took a total of eight people to get that bull out of that field.” Jones said

They took a large log, placed it behind the rack on the elk and used one of the man’s leather straps and wrapped it around it to secure him. They came in there like draft horses and pushed and pulled to get the elk to a trailer to take it to the check station.

“It was quite an effort,” Jones said.

One of the things that struck Jones is the camaraderie of the experience.

“It was a really nice experience, everyone did their best and wanted to help each other,” Jones shared.

“The local people in the area congratulated you when we stopped for gas. It’s like your 15 minutes of fame. You’re swamped, everyone wants to take pictures, people want to touch the antlers,” Jones said.

Dimmitt, 69, has been hunting since he was 12 and thought he might never get the chance to harvest a Pennsylvania elk.

When he got a call telling him he had won a license in the lottery, he let the call go to voicemail.

“I thought it was spam,” he shared with a laugh.

Jones had also played the lottery for 22 years and wasn’t sure he would ever be chosen.

“Don’t give up, don’t give up, every time you don’t get drawn you get a point, your name goes back in. I would encourage people to keep trying,” Jones said.

Thousands of people come every year to the elk check station at the Benezette Welcome Center to view the enormous animals and where state biologists examine and sample the animals.

“The moose, it’s super unique to see them up close. If you see them in the wild, keep 100 meters away. At the control station, even though they have died, you can get a nice picture of them and learn to appreciate the large size of those animals.” said Mercy Melo, wildlife management supervisor for the Game Commission’s Northcentral Region.

“Last week all my children and grandchildren were here. This was a family affair,” said an emotional Dimmitt.

‘I said to them: now you have put a lot of pressure on me’ Dimmitt added.

“All I have to do is not screw this up.” Dimmitt said about the night before the hunt.

When he finally got his moose, emotions ran high. “My wife is crying, I’m crying, it’s all good,” Dimmitt said, smiling.

One of the best parts of his hunt for Jones was sharing it with his 22-year-old son Dutch, a senior at Lycoming College.

“It’s just a unique experience. I know he will never forget it. He still talks about it with his friends. That’s something special he and I can share for the rest of our lives and one day hopefully he can tell my grandkids about the time he and Dad got that big bull. Jones said.