A reward is being offered in relation to a 5x5 bull elk that was shot illegally October 15 and found injured and hiding in a patch of goldenrod soon after daylight near Benezette, Elk County. Residents of Winslow Hill, near Benezette, heard several shots at approximately 3 a.m. and the elk apparently was shot while in the front yard of a nearby residence, and it hobbled about 100 yards before lying down, unable to walk further or get back up.

Due to its injuries, the elk had to be put down by Pennsylvania Game Commission officers. Wildlife Conservation Officer Doty McDowell, who responded to the site where the elk was found, called the illegal shooting a senseless act."Whoever did this has no respect for elk, but also little regard for human life," McDowell said, pointing out the elk was shot within close proximity of several homes. "This illegal shooting has prompted many in the Elk County area to contribute to a reward being offered for information leading to the arrest and successful prosecution of the person or persons responsible."Individuals and groups so far have pledged $3,800 in reward money. Anyone with information about the illegal shooting is asked to contact the PGC at 570-398-4744 or 570-398-4745, and callers may remain anonymous or identify themselves to the PGC dispatcher at the time they call.Illegally killing an elk out of season carries up to $15,000 in fines and up to 36 months in jail, plus hunting-license revocation. In addition to those penalties, those convicted of illegally killing a trophy-class elk must pay a mandatory $5,000 replacement cost.*******Pennsylvania Game Commission Bureau of Wildlife director Cal DuBrock has been recognized by his peers nationwide for his commitment to excellence in wildlife management by being named the recipient of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Special Recognition Award for 2013.DuBrock is recognized for outstanding contributions to the association and to the advancement of professional fish and wildlife management in Pennsylvania. On a national level, he chairs the National Flyway Council and the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies resident game-bird working group and is a member of many committees and working groups within AFWA and in other organizations.In a letter nominating DuBrock for the award, Paul Johansen of the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources wrote that he considers DuBrock a "groundbreaker" in achieving wildlife diversity conservation and funding. Throughout his career, DuBrock has gotten results by reaching out to sportsmen's groups, lawmakers or others who are concerned about wildlife, and many of the practices he employed became the model other agencies would replicate.******Sunday's edition of "Experience The Outdoors," hosted by award-winning Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association member Doyle Dietz, at 7 a.m. on 1410-AM WLSH, at 9:30 a.m. on Magic 105.5-FM and on the Web at

http://www.wmgh.com/ by clicking the link to the program, features gunsmith Dave Keefer.******Hunters have until Monday, Nov. 4, to apply for two limited antlerless archery/flintlock muzzleloader hunts being held at the controlled access areas of the Pennsylvania Game Commission's Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, Wednesday, Dec. 18, and Wednesday, Jan. 15. Only one application per person must be submitted on a standard postcard and contain the hunter's name, complete mailing address, hunting license number and antlerless deer license number for Wildlife Management Unit 5B if applicable and mailed to: Pennsylvania Game Commission MCWMA, Box 110, Kleinfeltersville, Pa. 17039.A public drawing will be held at the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area Visitors Center at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 6, to fill both hunting days.*******Schuylkill Spurs Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will meet, Thursday, Nov. 7, beginning at 7:30 p.m., at 633 Hancock St., McAdoo. For information, call Kevin Titus at 570-668-5903.*******First Frontier Militia, the muzzleloader branch of Bowmanstown Rod and Gun Club, is holding a muzzleloader shoot Sunday, Nov. 10, beginning at 9 a.m., at the club grounds on Gun Club Road, off Route 248.