Under the current rule, hunters who receive an antlered elk tag must wait five years before reapplying
Beginning in 2026, Pennsylvania hunters who draw an antlered bull elk tag will not be eligible to apply for a second one. (Photo by Harry Collins Photography)
Starting next year, a hunter who successfully draws a bull elk tag in Pennsylvania will be ineligible to ever draw another one. The new once-in-a-lifetime change is one of several preliminary changes to the elk hunting program that have been approved by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
Goerie.com explains that each summer, the agency holds a lottery drawing for elk licenses. Although the chances of winning one are slim, the agency has had some repeat winners. In 2024, 55,778 hunters bought 109,780 applications for Pennsylvania’s three annual elk seasons. A total of 140 elk tags were available.
“Your chances (of getting a bull) are very good if you pull a bull tag,” Commissioner Haley Sankey said about high success rates with this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Beginning in 2026, hunters who draw an antlered bull elk tag will no longer be eligible for another one in their lifetime. Currently, hunters who receive a bull elk tag have to wait five years before reapplying. There’s no waiting period for those who receive antlerless elk tags and successful bull hunters will continue to be eligible to apply for future antlerless elk tags.
In addition, in 2026, successful bull elk hunters who have earned bonus preference application points can apply those points toward a future cow elk tag.
The board also gave preliminarily approval to several additional changes to the elk hunting program.
To apply for an elk license for any of the three elk hunting seasons, the hunter, including nonresidents, must be in possession of a valid general hunting license.
Elk applications usually become available in February, meaning their current year license that expires June 30 qualifies them. Someone who purchases an elk application in July will have to purchase the new year hunting license.
The other major change places a limit on nonresident elk tags at 10%. In 2024 there was no limit for nonresidents to receive an elk tag.
“These changes that we just approved bring us in line with what other states are doing with their big game unique hunting opportunities,” Sankey said.
All of the changes will be considered for final adoption at the board's April meeting.