Hunting Season 2007
Really Big Game Country

Hunting has be a staple of life in the area of the Eastern Continental Divide for as long a man has been here. The indigenous people were hunters and gatherers as well as small scale agriculturists. Because of the rugged terrain, agriculture never became the only source of food. Early white settlers also hunted game for food purposes. And, even when hunting was no longer needed for subsistence, it was a supplement foodstuff for residents. Now, it is primarily a sport but many still enjoy eating rabbit, squirrel, venison and even bear meat. Deer season is just around the corner. That is a time when the influx of hunters can double the population of Clearfield County.

When I was growing up in Clearfield County, DuBois was known at the “Gateway City”. It was the gateway to big game country. In those days “big game” referred to white tail deer and black bear. Now, because of phenomenal comeback of the elk population, it has a new meaning. The Pennsylvania Game Commission just released their statistics on the 2007 Elk hunt. Thirty five elk were harvested in the two season hunt. The largest was taken in Covington Township, Clearfield County. It was a bull weighing 792 pounds with an 8 X 7 rack of horns! Although the majority of the Elk herd is in Elk and Cameron Counties, this “big bull” reinforces Clearfield County’s claim as Big Game County…REALLY Big Game country!