09/22/2026
BULL DOWN in ZONE 302!
Jeff Pepper, from Canton PA, drew a Zone 302 archery bull tag. He wanted to share the rare opportunity to hunt a PA bull with his sons Ben, Chase and son in law Darton. He visited Trophy Rack Lodge and met our guide Steven Stiner, whom he later described after searching for the right words as “high gear”. I know what he meant as Steve is always thinking of his next move, always positive and is all in with everything he does!
Up at 4 AM and gone the entire day on the mountain, dragging themselves in at 10 PM, the days are long and grueling. The group heard bugles every day. On Tuesday the moment came with a bull so huge there was no doubt about taking the shot. Jeff had his bow ready and was standing beside a tree and when the bull presented a shot he heard a loud crack and the arrow went 3 foot off to the side. His limb had hit the side of the tree! He missed a bull so big he couldn’t imagine one like it could be in the woods! He went from the highest high to the lowest low.
As he came off the mountain he had a moment to reflect, he had let everyone else’s expectations put so much pressure on him he wasn’t enjoying the hunt. Things had to change. He and the boys took the morning off on Wednesday, went shopping for a new bow and rested up. Refreshed and with a new attitude, they set off to Zone 302.
The bulls were going absolutely crazy on Wednesday and Thursday. That evening they heard bugles and decided to head toward one that sounded like a herd bull. They set up when they neared the bugles and saw the herd bull with 13 cows trying to keep the herd together, and trying to keep 3 or 4 other satellite bulls away. A scene like that gets chaotic, all the elk constantly moving, Jeff waited for an opening on the huge bull. Steve was 60 yards behind Jeff calf calling and breaking brush. Finally the bull came within range and this time he hit the mark.
Steve had told Jeff and the boys not to celebrate until they were sure the bull was down. He heard all the hooping and hollering and was ready to say hold it down. They told him the bull was on the ground! The intensity of emotions came over the group ranged from tears, to relief and laughter.
Steve called for help to bring the bull off the mountain. It took 3 hours for our guide Buck to drive up and bring a cart to the site. The entire time bulls bugled around them in the clear night. The entire experience was unforgettable.
I had supper for them in a crock pot and at 4 AM I heard voices outside. There they were at the skinning pole, just finishing up and putting the quarters and head into the walk in cooler. The adrenaline was wearing off, they were too tired to even eat after the long drag they had.
Jeff had accomplished what had seemed lost. He said the hunt had pushed him to limits he didn’t know he could reach. This was not the same bull from the Tuesday hunt, it is thought the one he missed was bigger, but this bull is huge none the less. He took the rack home and had it measured by a certified scorer. It green scored 410. He will have it officially scored after the drying period.
He thanks everyone from the Game Commission to us at Trophy Rack, especially his guide Steve, and his family for coming with him on his awesome adventure. If you have the guts and the guide, with the drive inside yourself, you can do things beyond what you think you can. And he wants anyone who says hunting for elk in PA is easy to give him a call!
