Today while heading home from camp we had the most amazing experience on Winslow Hill. We were driving through just before noon when we noticed 2 cars stopped on the side of the road and someone wildly gesturing towards the field to the left. My initial response was that there was a newbie who spotted an elk in a field and was freaking out. Then I looked and saw about 20 or so elk walking through the field. I was impressed, but that was not too unusual.
It was just then I was about to pull past the cars and out of the corner of my eye I see about 5 elk sprinting down towards the road. I of course waited for them to cross and then it happened. The largest heard of elk I have seen in a long time started pouring out of the woods and down across the road to the front and rear of me. They were coming to fast and in numbers to great to count, but my gut tells me it was way over 50 and closer to 100 if you include all the ones that were already across when we got there and the ones that were still walking in the field above us that had not crossed yet.
My wife and I were absolutely blown away by the numbers and the pace they were keeping. We were so excited we almost forgot to take photos. We luckily snapped out of our daze and here is a video and some pics we took.
MAKE SURE YOU CHECK OUT THE SECOND STAMPEDE WE FILMED AS WELL. SECOND ELK STAMPEDE VIDEO.
This first pic is of a small section of the largest group of elk that ran in front of us. There were already a lot of elk already across the road and already in the woods where these are heading.
Similar to the first photo this is part of the large group that crossed to the front of us.
Below is the tail end of a smaller group that crossed.
Here are a couple shots of different elk running in front of us. Each photo is of different elk.
This last guy is one I believe I have heard called “Crazy Legs or Crazy Legs Jr.” and he was in full out sprint after cows when he noticed the cars and stopped for just a second. This pic does not do justice to his rack, but trust me he is a beast.
This was truly one of the coolest moments I have experienced elk watching. It happened so fast that we were literally left stunned and amazed. I wish you all could have been there.
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Wow that is awesome, too bad you didn’t have a video of this happening. I think I would have freaked too and froze LOL
Actually, we did take a little bit of video and just added it to the post. It was after most of the elk had crossed, but you can still get an idea from the video of how many elk were involved.
I go to Benezette every year for the rut. Tjese animals are magnificent. They have a new nature center there where you just stand at fields edge and view and photograph them. I think that Benezette is my most favorite place in the country. It takes me 6 hours to get there, but it is worth it.
Wow I was thrilled to see your pics and video.That was Awesome!!!!
we live in Butler,Pa and go there quite often,I love it and hope one day to live up there,lol.
I agree about living there. We lived on Winslow for a little over a year and in a few months will be moving back again.
Tracy,
I agree with you about loving to go there and see the elk, but as for moving there I disagree. There are to many houses up there now. My husband and I go there every year for our anniversary (13 years). You would not believe how it has changed. So much property is up for sale and people moving there that the elk won’t have anywhere to go and will move on. I think the elk should have there land back and the people go to see them but not move in and take their habitat away.
AWESOME!!! Don’t see that in Jersey! Sure miss sights like that. I’m from Emporium.
Amazing video of a tremendous recovery. Pennsylvania has a lot to be thankful for and being able to see majestic animals like this can be a life changer…How cool!!
My dad’s family is from Benezette. (Woodring) and I have spent many years visiting there when I was younger. I love to see the elk when I go north and have done so hundreds of times and it never gets old. They are amazing and beautiful creatures. I was born in St. Marys, raised in Oil City and now live near Atlanta. No elk here that’s for sure. (frown)
I to am from st marys and live close to the ATL. Great god and pics. Thanks for sharing!
Beautiful, thank you for sharing. We were there last week and didn’t see a one. But the area is so wonderful and the fall colors were well worth the trip.
yes they are magnificent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and we are killing them.!!!!! WHY???????????????
Well, we have to hunt elk to control their numbers…just like deer, turkeys, etc. Humans have extirpated virtually every forest carnivore that would otherwise naturally regulate elk populations. Plus, agricultural interests don’t care for damage to their crops from elk, AND, your car insurance company will increase your rates unless these large critters are controlled. Hunting is a valid, necessary management tool. Basically, if humans were more in balance with the earth’s environment, hunting would not be needed. But, hunting would still occur due to the cultural aspect of it. A very limited number of elk are killed in PA every year, and the herd has increased from around 30 (back in the 1930′s) to nearly 1,000 today. Thank hunter-based groups and agencies such as the Keystone Elk Country Alliance, the PA Game Commission, PA Dept’ of Conservation and Natural Resources and others for this. Funding for elk habitat improvements come almost exclusively from hunter dollars. Also, the immediate area around Winlsow Hill is off-limits to elk hunting.
Spurious reasons for killing wildlife. Control their numbers? Nature controls their numbers. Not enough food? Creatures reproduce less. Not enough predators? They’d find their way in. How many bears were killed in PA, which has the worst record for hunting and protection of wildlife? Hunting is emphasized here for one reason. The money it brings in for the state. Much more could be said about this, but those who take pleasure in killing animals always try to rebuff every argument against it.
You hit the nail right on the head!!! Having been born and raised in Kane, I sometimes thought I was the only one who thought like that.
well said winspeck! hunters find all kinds of excuses to go out there and get their adrenaline rush off by killing all kinds of animals not just deer, elks, wolves, and bears… from sea (seals/whales/daulphins)to land to air(geese,ducks, pegeons) etc etc.. all about cash and the power over the animal.
The video and pics are great . Thanks for sharing. I live in NC (Stanly Co ) all we see is deer which are beauiful animals
if you dont hit them.
Beautiful… we have them up on the mountain behind my house in AZ. I had several “foot prints”.. biggggggggggg hoofs…. right next to my front door walkway one morning.. I wish I had seen them standing at my front door.
I am working right in this area, and by the Hicks run veiwing area and I love it, check out my page, I have tons of pics and video from there, love your page, thanks for sharing..
Yes, they are beautiful, I was fortunate enough to ride up there a month ago and we ran into a herd of 70. we got to ride right next to them. They crossed in from of us and we counted them. The horses were a little freaked out when they started to follow us, but we stopped and let them watch. That’s how I know how many. I’ve been going up there to see them for a lot of years and never seen so many together before.
DID YOU PAY ATTENTION ON THE VIDEO…. THE HOUSE THAT THE ELK WERE RUNNING THRU THE YARD…IT’S FOR SALE!!!! BET YA IT SELLS FAST!
Great video and pics !!! Thank you for sharing. We just came back from spending a week on vacation in the area and never saw that many elk together at one time. It’s great that the herd is now flourishing and people are finally getting an opportunity to enjoy a great natural resource and what an asset they are to the area.
It wasn’t that long ago that the elk were few and far between. Thanks to all who have worked to expand their numbers.
This is truly a sight. We received this link from my step daughter, ironically, we live 1/4 mile from where this occurred. We have Elk View Diner and see Crazy Legs 2 quite often.
Penny,
are you sure it was crazy legs, he was a 13 x 9 non-typical. I do believe he was killed I want to say 3-5 years ago.
hey craig! wonder if the post before you is jon deberti? he is really a huge part of the elk research and development now… This is a cool page for everyone who doesn’t get to frequent benezette to enjoy the elk….
Great pictures! How ironic, my husband and I were just in that area (Benezett) on the day before (OCT 15th)…We saw about a dozen or more…..but nothing like what you saw. We also visited the new center up there and that was an awesome place. We have a cabin in Tioga County and see deer and bear, but these elk were special!! Thanks for sharing your pictures and video.
Great shots. Thanks for sharing. They are magnificent animals. It’s too bad some of them will be shot and not with a camera.
I haven’t been up in that area for YEARS. My grandfather lives in St Mary’s and I remember going up there to see the elk with him several times. Now, I livein Chambersburg PA. When I took my fiance up to my grandfather’s for Christmas the first year we were together, he freaked out at the elk crossing signs that are on 255 (I believe…the road between DuBois and St Mary’s) He even stopped and made me take pics of him beside the sign and then had me drive so he could look for some elk.
He was impressed
It’s been 9 years now, and he still seems to be in awe when we drive to my Pop Pop’s. Some day I hope to be able to take him to Benezett
Say is this really true, are there that many in PA?
Yep!
These are just awesome
Great footage. On the weekend of the 23rd of October we had the pleasure of staying at the Elk Mountain Homestead with two other couples and visit the new Elk Visitor Center. Although there were not many elk to be seen at the Homestead, on Saturday evening at the viewing area along Dewey Road, where the old strip mine was reclaimed, there was a herd of over 200 elk from about 5:30 until dark. It attracted alot of attention and the traffic jam was there for quite some time. I have been going to Winslow Hill since the early 90′s and used to own a camp in Emporium and got to see the elk more often.Never has my family seen this many elk in one herd. Not only were there quite a few elk, the bulls were bugling like crazy and constantly herding their cows or chasing unwanted bulls from their area.
Animals have been hunted since man started walking the earth. They where put here for our use and besides, they taste good
Going forward I would love to keep posting your comments but I am not going to allow this to turn into a pro or anti hunting post. (even though I am a hunter [not elk] and would love to debate it) – Feel free to comment about the elk or the video but save the debate for another post.
I guess that was a little cruel to those who don’t have my views. I apologize and don’t want to mess with someones post. By the way. The photos and video clip was great. Thank you
No need for an apology as my comment was not directed to you specifically but instead the general direction of the discussion. You just happened to be the last comment I approved so it looked bad for you.
Thanks for sharing what must have been an exhilarating, heart pounding experience. I have visited the Winslow Hill several times and each has been a thrill, but nothing has matched this. Thank you again for posting.
Tim–not to be confused with the other Tim — LOL!
We were very impressed with the video and pictures. A couple of years ago we were travelling near Grant, unfortunately without cameras and a large group of elk came out of the woods and surrounded our car. We were astounded and might add we felt intimidated by them as they completely surrounded us. They had a literal “field day” running through the yard of the house across the road. If memory serves us correctly, it looked like the little red house that is for sale. After that experience, we can understand why it is for sale and as awesome as the sight was (is) the animals were damaging the property – a reason for the for sale sign, don’t you think?
P. S. What time of day were these photos taken?
MAGNIFICIENT VIDEO AND PHOTOS. THANKS FOR SHARING.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN ELK OTHER THAN IN A CAGED IN AREA. THEY ARE TRULY BEAUTIFUL CREATURES. WE LIVE IN PENNA. AND HAVE NEVER BEEN TO SEE THEM BUT I WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT SOMETIME. THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE PICS.
Didn’t know there were Elk in PA. Keep em right where they are, I had my fill in Canada….Bugling day and night…
What a thrill to see all these Elk. I was born and raised in Elk County, Pa. Johnsonburg as a matter of fact. I have been gone for many years but still consider it home.
I too was born and raised in Johnsonburg and I miss it very much
What a awesome site to see! Thanks for sharing this! My Mom and Dad both are from Elk county Pa.
Awesome video
Here’s that word again ‘AWESOME’ ! ! ! My cousin Ryan took me for the ride through Elk Co. & that’s all I could say while slowly riding. We saw lots of them and some were within touching distance from our car. I’d never seen anything like that before and what an experience it was. The people that never leave the city don’t know what they’re missing, it was a great adventure thanks to my family while I was visiting them.