Pa. Game Commission's elk cam returns ahead of mating season

A constant livestream in the heart of Pennsylvania’s elk country has restarted as the species begins its mating season, called the elk rut.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission announced Friday it had powered up its video and audio stream of an area near Elk State Forest and State Gamelands 311 for viewers to catch a glimpse of the species’ ritualized late summer rut.

As male elk compete for female mates, the animals often engage in bugling, a loud and distinct series of calls and vocalizations that draws tourists to north-central Pennsylvania each year.

The competition for mates also leads to occasional confrontations and battles among elk, some of which routinely weigh more than 1,000 pounds.

The elk cam is not the only livestream the commission offers, but it always proves to be one the most popular, Game Commission spokesman Travis Lau said.

“I think people who are elk enthusiasts are elk enthusiasts in a big way,” he said.

The stream is consistently viewed by more than a million screens each year, according to Tim Sears, founder of HDOnTap, the company that manages the stream.

Even at night, Sears said, the stream continues in infrared.

According to a game commission release, viewers may also spot other wildlife, such as turkey or deer, on the livestream.

The release said the best time to spot elk is around dawn and dusk, when they’re most active.

The stream will continue until mid-October, when the bugling season concludes. Those interested can find the stream by visiting hdontap.com and searching for “Pennsylvania Elk.”