Pennsylvania Mixed Bag: Campfires temporarily banned on game lands

Harrisburg — With much of Pennsylvania abnormally dry, and wildfires impacting many areas, the Game Commission on Nov. 5 temporarily prohibiting the building of fires on state game lands.

While camping on state game lands is prohibited, regulations allow game lands users to build small fires for cooking or warming purposes. However, the regulation authorizes the Game Commission’s executive director to restrict otherwise-permitted activity when the threat of forest fire exists.

The prohibition on building fires on game lands will be left in place indefinitely until conditions improve. The state had experienced 100 reported wildfires the first week of November, with many more unreported.

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Apply for Coldwater Conservation Grants

Bellefonte, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited recently announced that Round 29 of the Coldwater Heritage Partnership’s Coldwater Conservation Grant Program is now open. Non-profit organizations, conservation districts, and municipalities are among those eligible to apply.

Proposals for planning grants up to $10,000 and implementation grants up to $25,000 will be accepted until Dec.18. The grants are made possible with financial assistance from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources through funding from the Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds.

Applicants for Coldwater Heritage Partnership grant should contact TU Executive Director Eric Null, to discuss potential projects prior to applying. He can be reached at 724-640-1022, or by email at executive.director@patrout.org.

Maryland DNR Enacts Statewide Burn Ban

Annapolis — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources implemented a statewide ban on open air burning on Nov. 1 in all Maryland counties.

Extremely dry conditions persist across the state and have led to an above average number of wildfires statewide, and conditions are not expected to change in the near future. The ban will remain in effect until the Maryland Forest Service determines the state has received enough precipitation to reduce the threat of wildfires.

Authorized agents of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and all police officers that enforce state laws may enforce the restrictions. The fine for a first citation for violating the ban is $125.

The state received less than 25% of the average precipitation for October, with much of the state receiving little or no precipitation with the exception of Garrett and Allegany counties.

Boat Motor Cut-off Switch Reg Changed

Harrisburg — Pennsylvania Fish & Boat commissioners, at their recent quarterly meeting, voted to give final approval to changes to regulations pertaining to boating safety and manufacturer installed equipment.

Under the changes, a section will be added to the state’s Fish and Boat Code pertaining to engine cut-off switches. This action will align commission regulations with U.S. Coast Guard rules that require the operator of a boat less than 26 feet in length, equipped with an engine cutoff, to use an engine cut-off switch when the boat is operated at greater than slow no-wake speed.

The use of an engine cut-off switch will not be required when the operator is in a fully enclosed cabin of a boat. These changes will go into effect upon publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

Maryland Hunters Harvest 125 Bears

Annapolis, Md. — Maryland hunters harvested 125 black bears during the state’s 21st annual black bear hunt held Oct. 21-26 in Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, and Washington counties. The 2024 harvest was higher than the previous 5-year average of 104 bears.

The 2024 harvest consisted of 52 male and 73 female bears.

Total harvest from each county was 80 from Garrett County, 24 from Allegany County, 11 from Washington County, and 10 from Frederick County.

The largest bear had a live weight of 650 pounds and was taken in Frederick County. An additional 16 bears (8 male and 8 female) were harvested between August 15 and October 27 by farmers with agricultural damage permits.

Despite warm daytime temperatures early in the week, hunters were able to harvest 22 more bears during the 2024 season than during the 2023 season. The daily harvest stayed relatively consistent throughout the weeklong season and many hunters attributed their success to locating hickory or white oak stands where nuts and acorns were abundant.

PF&BC Changes Regulations for Pecks Pond

Harrisburg — Pennsylvania Fish & Boat commissioners, at their recent quarterly meeting, voted to approve changes in fishing regulations at Pecks Pond located within Delaware State Forest in Pike County.

Under these changes, the 300-acre impoundment will be removed from the Catch and Release Lakes program. Upon removal of this regulation, Pecks Pond will be managed with Commonwealth Inland Waters angling regulations for all species.

Pecks Pond was completely dewatered in 2016 to complete dam and spillway repairs and modifications per Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection dam safety standards. Following completion of these repairs and modifications, refill occurred in 2020, and the commission stocked the lake from 2020 to present with select fish species to establish a high-quality, warm-water and cool-water fishery.