Pennsylvania’s potential new state record archery elk, a massive 8×8 typical bull out of Centre County, has come under scrutiny after two of the guides on the hunt face trespassing citations. OL reported on the hunt for this bull, which happened September 15. The citations were issued October 7 after a property owner said the hunting party didn’t have permission to be on his land.
“At this point, charges are only going to be filed on the guides,” Harold Malehorn, Pennsylvania Game Commission northcentral region law enforcement supervisor, told Go Erie. “[As hunters], we’re expecting [guides] to take us places where we have permission to hunt. The hunter was not aware that they didn’t have permission to be there.”
The state agency sent a warden to talk with the successful hunter, Mike Skvarla, October 16. Skvarla harvested the estimated 900-pound bull with his crossbow on his 40th birthday. Out of 50,000 applicants in this year’s lottery, he’s one of the 15 who drew. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime hunt so Skvarla hired a guide and a caller.
“It was a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Skvarla told Outdoor Life in September. “I’ve been bowhunting deer for 20 years, but this was an elk – not a whitetail. Because I don’t know much about them, I decided to hire an outfitter for my hunt, and I’m sure glad I did.”
Guide Mike Conaway and caller Abner Druckenmiller, both of Trophy Rack Lodge, helped Skvarla during his hunt. Skvarla’s sister-in-law was also on the two-day hunt. Skvarla was not cited, but he was surprised when a warden showed up at his house with questions and a camera to shoot photos of the rack.
“We didn’t sneak onto the property or anything,” Skvarla said. “The game warden assured me. I’m not getting charged. I can keep the elk. I’m in the clear as far as the Game Commission is concerned.”
Conaway and Druckenmiller have both pleaded not guilty to charges of trespass, according to a statement issued by their lodge. They go to court November 19.
The potentially new state-record antlers are still in their 60-day drying period. Skvarla estimates a 428-inch green score and a 395-inch net score. The current Pennsylvania typical archery record is 381 1/8 inches harvested in 2021 by Christopher Sebulsky, according to the Pennsylvania Big Game Record System. The largest typical elk taken by any method in the state, according to the B&C books, is a 415 2/8 bull taken in 2022 in Clinton County. Pennsylvania Game Commission scorer Bob D’Angelo says the bureau has yet to decide how to handle the new entry. Regardless, the bull is clearly one of the biggest ever taken in the state.
“I’ve seen a lot of elk in my work as a researcher for Penn State,” Skvarla told OL. “But the size of this bull was just incredible. It took all four of us to load it into a pickup truck.”
About 1,400 elk live across 3,000 square acres in northcentral Pennsylvania, including Centre County where the potential new record comes from. The 2021 record comes from the same county.
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation started partnering with Pennsylvania in 1991 to restore the state’s elk population. Today, RMEF estimates the state’s elk are worth more than $33.7 million.