During their quarterly meeting Friday April 11, the Pennsylvania Game Commission made a number of changes to the state’s elk license application system.

First, all hunters will be required to have a hunting license before applying for an elk tag. Currently, one does not need to have a hunting license to apply for a tag, but must acquire a license if they are awarded a tag in the drawing.

Second, hunters no longer have to include their Social Security numbers or hunter ID numbers on elk license applications, as they will now have to have a hunting license to apply for an elk license.

Third, there will now be a cap of 10% of elk licenses to be given to non-residents of Pennsylvania. Fourth, any hunters drawn for a bull elk tag after Jan. 1, 2026 will not be eligible to receive another one in the future.

The changes will take effect as soon as they are published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, which usually takes about six weeks.