ELK Co.-- Pennsylvania's reputation as a prime elk-hunting location continues to get stronger.
The state's Special Elk Conservation Tag, a license created by the Pennsylvania General Assembly and auctioned off by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) to benefit wildlife, commanded $85,000 at auction March 26.
RMEF is located in Montana and has about 13,000 members in PA. Eight tags for use in seven different states were auctioned off; Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Washington.
Not only was $85,000 a record amount, it eclipsed the previous high of $52,500 set last year.
"It went from a low of $35,000 in Colorado to a high of $250,000 in Arizona," Mark Holyoak, Communications Director of RMEF, said.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission said PA's special tag extends the season by 59 days during September when the elk are more active and gives the privilege of choosing where to hunt.
"We take 100 percent of those funds and return it to the state, so in this particular case we returned the entire $85,000 to the PA Game Commission," Holyoak said. "They can take those funds and put them on the ground to benefit wildlife and wildlife habitat. It's a win-win for everyone."
The $85,000 will be used to expand the elk herd and improve their habitats. A number of people placed bids by phone for the well sought PA tag.
"The fact people are willing to pay that kind of money to come to PA and hunt elk speaks for itself," Matthew Hough, executive director of the PA Game Commission, said. "What people need to understand is the incredible amount of good that money will do."
RMEF has made 10 land acquisitions that have opened or secured public access to 8,999 acres on PA's elk range, and has been involved with land-enhancement projects on the elk range that total another 11,776 acres.
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