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Jeff Mulhollem

Notes off a soiled cuff: Thoughts on possible merger of Pennsylvania fish and game agencies

6 Comments / Discussions, Featured, Fishing, Hunting, National Fishing, National Hunting, Opinion, Pennsylvania /

When I first heard about the new study of ways the Game and Fish & Boat commissions should work together, immediately I thought of Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman and his comments about a merger of the agencies last year.
At a budget hearing for both commissions in 2024, his first question to then Game Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans was abrupt: “Why do we need you?” he asked. Then, looking at Tim Schaeffer, Fish & Boat commission executive director, he said, “I mean, why do we need both of you?”

Notes off a soiled cuff: Thoughts on possible merger of Pennsylvania fish and game agencies Read More »

Study will suggest how Pennsylvania Game Commission, Fish & Boat Commission can collaborate

Featured, Fishing, Home Page News, Hunting, National Fishing, National Hunting, National News, News, Pennsylvania /

The executive directors of the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat and Game commissions, Tim Schaeffer and Steve Smith, respectively, have jointly and collaboratively arranged for Wildlife Management Institute (WMI) to conduct a study of ways their agencies can work together to achieve more efficiency.
The goal, the leaders of the commissions say, is to find opportunities for cooperation, shared services and possibly combining certain functions such as law enforcement, communications and administration to improve effectiveness and reduce duplication at the agencies.

Study will suggest how Pennsylvania Game Commission, Fish & Boat Commission can collaborate Read More »

Notes off a soiled cuff: Are Pennsylvania gun hunters getting the short end of the stick when it comes to bucks?

4 Comments / Discussions, Featured, Home Page News, Hunting, National Hunting, Opinion, Pennsylvania /

With the archery buck harvest surpassing the firearms buck harvest for the first time in Pennsylvania last year, a note I received recently made a point we hear often in a novel way. I’ll share a bit of it here:
“It’s time we take a serious look at the gross inequity of archery buck season with crossbows being included. For hunters who hunt with a rifle-only (remember us?), it’s grossly unfair that the first day of rifle buck season is actually the 49th day of buck season.”

Notes off a soiled cuff: Are Pennsylvania gun hunters getting the short end of the stick when it comes to bucks? Read More »

Notes off a soiled cuff: Update on story about gold supposedly buried in Elk County, Pa.

Featured, Hunting, Opinion, Pennsylvania /

Got a call from a long-time subscriber recently asking for an update on the story about the gold that supposedly was buried in Elk County during the Civil War. We ran a story provided by the Associated Press back in 2018 when the FBI conducted a dig for the gold near Dents Run and claimed not to have found it.

Notes off a soiled cuff: Update on story about gold supposedly buried in Elk County, Pa. Read More »

New research shows the wide variety of wild mushrooms collected in Pennsylvania

Featured, Home Page News, National News, Nature Page & Night Sky, News, Pennsylvania /

Foragers have been harvesting wild mushrooms in what is now Pennsylvania and the rest of the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region for centuries, but the extent and specifics of the practice in the region has not been formally studied.
New research conducted by ethnobiologists — scientists who study the relationships between people and their environments — at Penn State revealed that harvesters collect a surprisingly wide variety of wild mushroom species in the region, primarily for food and medicinal purposes.

New research shows the wide variety of wild mushrooms collected in Pennsylvania Read More »

Notes off a soiled cuff: Is a change coming to Pennsylvania’s minimum size for keeping trout?

Featured, Fishing, Hunting, Nature Page & Night Sky, Opinion, Pennsylvania /

Have you ever wondered, like I have, where the state’s 7-inch minimum size for keeping trout came from. Seems too small, right? Well, at the Fish & Boat Commission’s Fisheries Committee meeting Sept. 30, staff discussed changing it to 8 or 9 inches.

Notes off a soiled cuff: Is a change coming to Pennsylvania’s minimum size for keeping trout? Read More »

Research shows dangers of operating chainsaws; here are best ways to avoid injuries

Featured, Home Page News, National News, Nature Page & Night Sky, News, Pennsylvania /

Fall is the time of year when many people head to forests and woodlots with chainsaws to cut firewood to heat and enhance their homes over the coming winter months.
It’s a risky endeavor, according to accident statistics and Penn State researchers. Judd Michael, professor of agricultural and biological engineering, who recently published a study in the journal Safety on chainsaw injuries, urges those who use the powerful, dangerous tools to take precautions.

Research shows dangers of operating chainsaws; here are best ways to avoid injuries Read More »

Notes off a soiled cuff: Should Pennsylvania’s youth hunters get a buck season before the regular opener?

2 Comments / Discussions, Featured, Home Page News, Hunting, National Hunting, Opinion, Pennsylvania /

A new youth-hunting opportunity would be created in Pennsylvania by a bill Rep. Charity Grimm Krupa, R-Fayette County, introduced last week. Reader reaction to her proposal will be interesting.
House Bill 1915, titled “Inspiring Young Outdoor Enthusiasts Through Early Youth Antlered Hunting Day,” would direct the Game Commission to establish a Youth Antlered Deer Hunting Day (or days) prior to the regular firearms season each year.

Notes off a soiled cuff: Should Pennsylvania’s youth hunters get a buck season before the regular opener? Read More »

Notes off a soiled cuff: Should kids under age 7 really get tags under Pennsylvania’s Mentored Hunting Program?

1 Comment / Discussions, Featured, Home Page News, Hunting, National Hunting, Opinion, Pennsylvania /

Pennsylvania Game commissioners, at their recent quarterly meeting, voted preliminarily to give all mentored hunters – including those under 7 years old – deer harvest tags. But there was disagreement on the board and the vote was 6-3.
Commissioner Dennis Fredericks, who was in the minority, explained why he voted “no,” sounding a little like our letter writers.
“Our family has very much enjoyed the mentor program, but I’m not convinced that exposing these kids at an early, early age is the right thing to do for them psychologically,” he said.

Notes off a soiled cuff: Should kids under age 7 really get tags under Pennsylvania’s Mentored Hunting Program? Read More »

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