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Welcome to the 2020 Elk Cam Season!

Live 24/7 views of Pennsylvania's Elk

In Partnership with the Pennsylvania Game Commission • Powered by HDOnTap

About the Elk Cam

The Elk cam is located in Benezette, Pennsylvania on some of the 1.5 million acres of state game land owned and managed by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. This camera is live during the elk rut, which takes place from mid-September to mid-October. During this time, male elk (bulls) attempt to win the loyalty of a "harem" of female elk (cows). Adult bulls can weigh up to 1,000 pounds. To show their strength and prowess, they will rub their antlers on trees, shrubs and the ground, and occasionally engage in battle with other bulls. And they will bugle! The elk bugle is one of the most distinctive sounds in nature - you will certainly know this high-pitched squealing noise when you hear it.

Elk are crepuscular, moving more during dawn and dusk. The best time to catch them on screen is early in the morning or during late afternoon/evening. You may also see white-tailed deer, turkeys, ground hogs, crows and other wildlife, maybe even an occasional black bear.

As of March 2020, there are about 1,350 elk in Pennsylvania. Here, a wild cow elk lives and average of 10 years, while bulls live an average of 8 years. The oldest known cow in Pennsylvania was 32, and the oldest bull was 15. Captive elk live longer than wild elk. The Game Commission and several partner organizations put a tremendous amount of time and effort into improving elk habitat, benefiting deer and other wildlife. Learn more at http://bit.ly/PGCElk

Be ELK SMART! When visiting elk county, do your part to preserve the WILD nature of the elk herd.

1. GIVE ELK SPACE. Keep a distance – of at least 100 yards – between you and the elk. Never approach them. Elk are wild animals that are unpredictable and sometimes aggressive, especially during the fall breeding season. Cows are also known to defend their young when they feel threatened.

2. NEVER FEED ELK. Not only is it illegal to feed elk in Pennsylvania, but it teaches them to associate people, cars and/or homes with food. This could cause them to approach people looking for more. Feeding also promotes the spread of infectious diseases by having them unnaturally congregate into small areas.

3. DON’T NAME ELK. Characterizing elk, or any wildlife, by naming them degrades their wild essence. The very reason people are drawn to the elk is their unaltered independence from humans. Personifying elk as humans takes away from their truly wild nature.

4. DO YOUR PART. The welfare of the elk herd is a shared responsibility. If you see someone being disruptive or careless, whether intentional or not, kindly ask them to stop or report it to the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Northcentral Region by calling 570-398-4744. We all have a duty to ensure the safety of people and the long-term welfare of the elk.

For more information visit the Game Commission’s website.

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