Hard to believe that Pennsylvania’s hunting seasons are less than two weeks away when the seasons for doves, geese, and quail opening on Sept. 1.

Archery deer season in Wildlife Management Units 5C and 5D are not far behind with opening day set for Sept. 19.

Another much anticipated date is for the opening day of archery elk season which falls on Sept. 12 and runs through Sept. 27. Like many other would-be Pennsylvania elk hunters, I once again applied for a license this year and again failed to get one.

So once again I’ll be doing my elk hunting online courtesy of the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s elk cam, now up and running to bring you all the sights and sounds of rutting, bugling bulls to your screen.

The cam is located in the heart of Pennsylvania’s elk range, an area totaling more than 220,000 acres including State Game Lands 311 and Elk State Forest.

Video and sound from the camera will be livestreamed at www.pa.gov/pgc and viewers can expect not only to see elk, but turkey, deer and other wildlife, as well.

Elk in the coming weeks will ramp up activity – with bulls becoming more vocal and competing with one another for available cows. Enjoying the show is just a few clicks away.

“Whether it’s experiencing these remarkable animals in person or online, the elk herd in Pennsylvania continues to connect people across the Commonwealth and beyond,” said Jason Beale, Game Commission Division Chief for Conservation Education and Social Science. “Their growing presence is a testament to the dedication of the Game Commission’s biologists, habitat managers, game wardens and the strong partnerships we have built with other agencies and private organizations that help conserve elk habitats.”

The livestream is provided by HDOnTap and made possible with the help of the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission.

“We are proud to continue this partnership with the Pennsylvania Game Commission that brings wildlife viewing in Elk County to anyone in the world,” said Tim Sears, the founder of HDOnTap. “Each year, millions tune in to these livestreams nationwide, which offer a front row seat to Pennsylvania’s wildlife around the clock.”

The elk cam will run until the first elk firearm season, which begins on Oct. 3. The top times to see elk on camera are in the mornings and evenings. The stream can be accessed on the Game Commission website at https://www.pa.gov/agencies/pgc/wildlife/wildlife-viewing/wildlife-cams.

While those viewing the elk cam need not worry about getting too close to elk or potentially compromising their wild qualities, things are different when viewing elk in person, something I’ve done more than a few times when visiting Elk County where I even bugled in a bull elk our two, close enough to shoot them with my camera.

The Game Commission remind people that wildlife is best appreciated from a comfortable distance, and those enjoying Pennsylvania’s elk country should do their part to preserve the wild nature of the herd. “ELK SMART” provides four simple, effective ways to ensure a wild elk herd for generations to come.

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.

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.

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.

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 by calling 1-833-PGC-WILD. We all have a duty to ensure the safety of people and the long-term welfare of the elk.

If you get a chance to visit the Elk Country Visitor’s Center in Benezette next month, I would highly recommend it. You’ll learn all about Pennsylvania’s elk herd and the Game Commission’s elk management strategies. In the meantime, check out their website at https://elkcountryvisitorcenter.com .

Game and Fish Commission news

Following a Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling in the “open fields” case, a ruling designating that warrantless searches of posted or fenced private land by wildlife officers is unconstitutional, the Pennsylvania Game Commission will end its 123-year-old Deputy Game Warden Program on Sept. 1 and will cut the positions of 140 to 145 deputy wardens. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is also ending its Deputy Waterways Conservation Officer Program which will dismiss 36 active deputies.

Tom Tatum is the outdoors columnist for the MediaNews Group. You can reach him at tatumt2@yahoo.com.