Michael Skvarla and his birthday bull
The two men who guided a Centre County hunter to a big, beautiful and potentially record-breaking archery elk have been cited by the Pennsylvania Game Commission for allegedly trespassing on private property while hunting.
Michael A. Conaway of Port Matilda and Abner J. Druckenmiller of Milroy each face a second-degree summary offense under Section 2314(a)(1) of Pennsylvania’s Game and Wildlife Code. Court records show the alleged violations occurred September 15th in Snow Shoe Township, which just so happens to be the very same day Michael Skvarla of Port Matilda killed an 8x8 bull. That elk ended up being green-scored at 428 inches and is currently being discussed as a possible new state archery record.
Skvarla, a Penn State research professor, drew one of only 15 archery bull tags issued statewide. With his coveted tag in hand, Skvarla enlisted the help of Trophy Rack Lodge and was guided by Conaway, with Druckenmiller working as the caller. According to earlier reporting on the hunt, Skvarla took the bull with a crossbow on his 40th birthday after the group called in multiple bulls over several days. The animal was estimated to weigh between 780 and 900 pounds and produced more than 300 pounds of meat. Conaway, who also guided the hunter who currently holds Pennsylvania’s archery typical record, green-scored the rack and projected a net score in the mid-390s after the required drying period, which would put the rack well above the existing 381.1-inch mark.
Guide Mike Conaway (right) with another hunter and his elk | Trophy Rack Lodge
The trespassing citations were filed October 7th before Magisterial District Judge Allen W. Sinclair, with Pennsylvania Game Commission Officer Cole Shomper listed as the citing officer in both cases. As of yesterday the cases remain open and Trophy Rack Lodge has since told the Centre County Gazette that the guides have pleaded not guilty.
So far, there are no available records that indicate that Skvarla himself has been cited.
Court documents do not identify the private property involved, describe the specific circumstances of the alleged trespass, or explicitly state that the citations arose during Skvarla’s hunt — only that the date and township match. At this time, it is also unclear whether a conviction would have any effect on the legal status of the harvest or its eligibility for official scoring and record recognition.
The cases are expected to move through the local court system in the coming weeks.
