Advertisement Officials: Hunter illegally shoots third-biggest Pa. elk ever Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Three Pennsylvania men are accused of poaching after shooting and killing one of the largest bull elks ever recorded in the state. Photos: Elk illegally shot, officials sayGame Commission officials said three bulls were shot. But the largest had a 10- by 9-point non-typical rack initially measured at more than 432 inches. If the bull had been legally harvested, it would rank as the third biggest ever taken in Pa.Officials said the men, all from Centre County, illegally killed the elk the area of Karthause Township in Clearfield County over two nights of hunting.Frank Buchanan Jr., 25, Jeffrey Bickle, 46, and Cody Lyons, 20, have all been charged. Buchanan is accused of shooting all three bulls at night from a vehicle."If the men are convicted in the incident, the Game Commission will seek they contribute toward $11,500 in replacement costs for the illegally killed elk. Additionally, each man faces thousands of dollars in fines, with the maximum potential fine exceeding $13,000 for the men charged with killing all three elk," a news release from the Game Commission states.Officials said they investigated after a resident found the first bull on Sept. 9. The antlers had been removed, but most of the carcass was left behind.Wildlife Conservation Officer Mark Gritzer looked into the incident. On Sept. 15, while working a night patrol, officials said he caught the suspects."At about 9 p.m. (Gritzer), parked in an area overlooking a reclaimed strip mine where multiple elk could be heard bugling. Within 15 minutes, he saw a pickup approach. Its occupants appeared to be spotlighting recreationally, but, suspiciously, the driver would turn off the headlights each time the pickup stopped," states the Game Commission news release, citing court documents. "At about 9:45 p.m., a single gunshot erupted from the area of the pickup."Officials said Gritzer turned on his lights and drove to the truck. After backup arrived, he found a 7 mm rifle laying on the ground near the truck. Officials said the rifle was consistent with the one used to kill the first elk. Officers also found a handsaw caked with elk hair and tissue in the pickup, according to court documents.Documents indicate that Buchanan admitted to shooting a large bull elk and all three men were arrested."Buchanan admitted to killing the third bull, as well, and told the officers he had intended to sell the antlers on eBay, court documents state," the Game Commission news release states.