Ep. 492: 2026 Pennsylvania Elk Hunting — New Seasons, New Rules w/ PGC Elk Biologist Jeremy Banfield

East Meets West Hunt

Beau Martonik

Sports, Wilderness

4.9 • 796 Ratings

🗓️ 26 May 2026

⏱️ 84 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Beau Martonik sits down with Pennsylvania Game Commission elk biologist Jeremy Banfield to break down the biggest changes to Pennsylvania's elk hunting program in years. They cover the new October season that overlaps the rut, once-in-a-lifetime bull tags, the non-resident cap and higher application cost, how bonus points from all three old seasons are now combined into one application, and the completely redrawn hunt zones numbered 301–309. Jeremy also gives an honest update on the current state of the herd — population estimates, bull to cow ratios, habitat improvements, and where CWD stands relative to the elk range. If you're applying for a Pennsylvania elk tag, this is required listening before July 12th. Apply at huntfish.pa.gov — drawing is July 25th at the Elk Expo in Benezette Topics: 00:00:00 – Intro 00:04:21 – Herd Population — 1,563 Elk and How They Count Them 00:10:31 – Bull to Cow Ratio and Why It's Too High 00:13:27 – CWD — What It Means for Pennsylvania Elk 00:17:21 – Why the Herd Grows Slowly by Design 00:23:05 – New October Season — Why It Was Added 00:26:47 – Resident vs. Non-Resident Changes 00:32:59 – Bull Tags Are Now Once in a Lifetime 00:33:50 – New Bonus Point System — One Application, Combined Points 00:41:11 – How to Apply and What Your Choices Mean 00:52:47 – New Hunt Zones 301–309 — How They Were Built 01:02:12 – Zone Selection Strategy 01:07:10 – Application Deadline and Drawing Day Details 01:16:08 – What Elk Eat and When to See Them 01:20:53 – Closing and Where to Find the Rules Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@eastmeetswesthunt⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@beau.martonik⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠East Meets West Outdoors⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Shop Hunting Gear and Apparel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.eastmeetswesthunt.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: Beau Martonik - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQJon93sYfu9HUMKpCMps3w⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Partner Discounts and Affiliate Links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.eastmeetswesthunt.com/partners⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Poncho Outdoors - Poncho Outdoors makes tough, sharp-looking, no-BS apparel for hardworking outdoorsmen who put in the time year-round. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ponchooutdoors.com/EASTMEETSWEST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to save $10 and free shipping Amazon Influencer Page ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/shop/beau.martonik⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	We had the conversation of like we could, we could spread some of all of these changes over maybe two or three years or we can just force all the changes at once and rip off the bandaid and everybody was like, just rip off the bandaid. So that's what we're doing. It's doing all these changes at once. But our population is still growing. It's growing slowly. And that's by design, right? Like, we don't want tremendous growth to go really fast. we want it to kind of subtly just creep up a little bit every year. And we continue to give out additional licenses. Strong hunting season and still a good kind of tourism component there as well. It depends on your perspective, whether that's a positive thing or a negative thing. But that's part of Pennsylvania for sure. We've got a strong ectourism that kind of surrounds our elk population as well.
0:39.3	I was like, well, if I throw a mic on, then I can help others the way that these people, that will help me.
0:44.7	Born in the heart of the Pennsylvania deer camp, with the help of experts, friends, and local legends, we bring you valuable knowledge and powerful stories for your hunting adventures.
0:59.6	Welcome to the East Meets West Hunt podcast with your host, Bo Martonic. If you're serious about mobile and saddle hunting,
1:18.9	Timber Ninja outdoors make some of the most proven gear in the woods.
1:22.8	Their saddles, carbon fiber climbing sticks, and the Kunai hybrid platform are designed for hunters who want to go lighter without sacrificing safety and stability.
1:32.8	The ultimate saddle is named Outdoor Life's best overall saddle in both 2024 and 2025, and it's been earned through real-world use, not height.
1:42.6	Timber Ninja is also rolling out the highly anticipated frostline boot covers,
1:47.6	which I help design specifically for cold, late-season hunts when keeping your feet warm
1:52.6	and quiet matters most.
1:54.6	You can find Timber Ninja Gear at Timber Ninja Outdoors.com and EastmeetsWesthunt.com
1:59.7	in the gear shop.
2:02.6	Use code East Meets West for free shipping on Timber Ninja products and sign up for the email newsletter if something's not available
2:07.8	right now. One piece of gear I never leave behind no matter the season is a good pair of binoculars.
2:13.8	Over the last eight seasons, I have tended to reach for the Maven B3, 8x30s more than any other glass.
2:20.5	They're lightweight, compact, and perfect for covering ground during shed season, spring turkey hunts or deer hunts.
2:27.3	The 8xification gives you a wide field of view and plenty of depth of field, making them easy to glass timber, edges, and open country
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	...

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