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Jeff Mulhollem

Notes off a soiled cuff: Assessing a huge problem with ‘forever chemicals’ in Pennsylvania waters

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

Just before this issue’s deadline, when the state Department of Environmental Protection, the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Fish & Boat Commission issued a “Do Not Eat” advisory for all species of fish living in two streams because of PFOS (forever chemicals), we thought we knew which streams were tainted.
Because in a recent edition of Outdoor News, you’ll likely recall, we had the headline, “PF&BC is monitoring PFAS at hatchery,” atop a story reporting on concerns about forever chemicals being detected in waters feeding a Fish & Boat Commission hatchery in Centre County. But it turns out we were jumping to conclusions.

Notes off a soiled cuff: Assessing a huge problem with ‘forever chemicals’ in Pennsylvania waters Read More »

Penn State study shows some pesticides slip beneath riparian buffers into streams

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

Pesticides can harm aquatic ecosystems and human health, so scientists need to understand how they move from farm fields into streams.
A management tool commonly implemented is riparian buffers – strips of vegetation, like shrubs or grasses, bordering streams – that the U.S. Department of Agriculture advises can reduce the amount of nutrients, sediment and pesticides getting into waterways. But it’s unclear how effective buffers actually are at stopping pesticides from entering streams, according to a multidisciplinary team at Penn State.

Penn State study shows some pesticides slip beneath riparian buffers into streams Read More »

Notes off a soiled cuff: Plenty of mixed opinions about Pennsylvania’s deer herd

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

In watching the town hall meeting held Feb. 11 at the Great American Outdoor Show focused on crop damage by deer (see this story), I was struck – as I always am – by the contrast in the way deer are viewed by farmers, hunters and politicians here … And how the Pennsylvania Game Commission increasingly is caught in the middle between its hunter clients and the farmers who powerful elected officials insist the agency help.

Notes off a soiled cuff: Plenty of mixed opinions about Pennsylvania’s deer herd Read More »

Notes off a soiled cuff: A few thoughts on antlerless harvest in Pennsylvania

Featured, Fishing, Hunting, Opinion, Pennsylvania /

Got a snarky note from a reader recently commenting on our use of “doe” tags in a headline above a story about antlerless licenses.
The guy proceeded to explain how the antlerless category also includes male fawns, and how the number of “button bucks” in the antlerless harvest is an important factor for biologists to consider when managing the deer herd.

Notes off a soiled cuff: A few thoughts on antlerless harvest in Pennsylvania Read More »

Mentored hunters under age 7 get deer, turkey tags in Pennsylvania

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

Game commissioners resolved an emotional issue at their Jan. 24 meeting when they voted 8-1 to adopt a measure allowing all mentored hunters – including those under 7 years old – to get antlered deer and turkey harvest tags with their permits, beginning in the 2026-27 license year.
The decision, intended to improve access to the mentored hunting program and expand hunting opportunities within it, is controversial among the hunting community. Many hunters are skeptical of very young children taking deer, and the issue has been called “tags for tots.”

Mentored hunters under age 7 get deer, turkey tags in Pennsylvania Read More »

Pennsylvania Game Commission OKs debated land swap

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

Pennsylvania game commissioners approved a major land exchange with Limerick Town Center LLC at their Jan. 24 meeting despite being urged not to take the deal by a group of Montgomery County residents, including a state senator.
The board approved the exchange by a 6-3 vote, with commissioners Stanley Knick Jr., Allen DiMarco and Robert Schwalm dissenting.

Pennsylvania Game Commission OKs debated land swap Read More »

Notes off a soiled cuff: Debate over Pennsylvania’s deer opener date rages on

Featured, Hunting, National Hunting, Opinion, Pennsylvania /

In the two weeks leading up to the Game Commission meeting that was to be held Jan. 23-24, all that Pennsylvania hunters were talking about was the agency’s controversial proposal to move the opening of rifle deer season up to the Saturday before Thanksgiving.
On the heels of the commission changing the opener from Monday to Saturday seven years ago, many were angry.

Notes off a soiled cuff: Debate over Pennsylvania’s deer opener date rages on Read More »

Pennsylvania Game Commission opts for Saturday after Thanksgiving deer opener

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

In giving preliminary approval to hunting seasons and bag limits at their Jan. 24 quarterly meeting, Pennsylvania game commissioners voted down a proposal to start deer season the Saturday before Thanksgiving, instead keeping the opener on the Saturday after the holiday.
New this year, the season will end on Sunday, Dec. 13, adding an extra day. In past years, the season ended on a Saturday.

Pennsylvania Game Commission opts for Saturday after Thanksgiving deer opener Read More »

Notes off a soiled cuff: Mindsets have changed when it comes to keeping wild brook trout

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

When I started fishing for trout as a kid, around 1966, the minimum size for keeping trout was 6 inches. It stayed that way until the Pennsylvania Fish Commission increased the minimum length to 7 inches in 1983, as part of its Operation Future, to protect wild brook trout.

Notes off a soiled cuff: Mindsets have changed when it comes to keeping wild brook trout Read More »

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