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Steve Piatt

Steve Piatt: A great year outdoors ahead – at least on paper

Featured, Features, Fishing, Hunting, National Fishing, National Hunting, Pennsylvania /

On paper, 2026 is shaping up to be a great year.

These days, for a number of reasons, there has to be some serious planning involved to blend the fishing, hunting, camping and event attendance into a cohesive schedule that avoids the kind of conflicts that simply cannot happen. The last thing I need is to buy tickets for a Penn State football game, only to discover it falls on the Saturday of the youth pheasant opener.

Steve Piatt: A great year outdoors ahead – at least on paper Read More »

California Hills State Forest a unique parcel in New York’s Putnam County

Hunting, Lake Profile, Lake Profile, New York /

It’s not your typical state forest, and that’s likely why the California Hills State Forest in Putnam County has a pretty solid following of sportsmen.
There are bigger state parcels; this one is just 982 acres. But in Putnam County, access is critical for any kind of recreational activity – hunting, hiking, trapping, and wildlife watching.

California Hills State Forest a unique parcel in New York’s Putnam County Read More »

Steve Piatt: A broken rod and the not-so-easy search for a replacement

Featured, Features, Fishing, Gear & Gadgets, Home Page News, National Fishing, New York /

I broke a fishing rod last summer during a Quebec fly-in walleye and pike fishing trip with a few friends, and I have no one to blame but myself.

It was a classic example of what happens when a wade fisherman attempts to dock a boat, and that’s exactly what I was doing when my two-piece Lew’s Mach 2 spinning rod became a three-piece. It all happened in slow motion.

Steve Piatt: A broken rod and the not-so-easy search for a replacement Read More »

Steve Piatt: Inclusion of crossbows in archery season means there’s now more than one ‘opener’ in Pennsylvania

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

Pennsylvania’s debate over Opening Day of the firearms deer season isn’t likely to die down anytime soon, and I guess I’m okay with that. At least it shows our continued passion for hunting and, while our numbers are dwindling, a strong legion who pursue whitetails every year.
Admittedly, I don’t have a dog in this fight. I’m retired, don’t have to head off to deer camp right after stuffing myself with turkey and stuffing, and consider Opening Day a grand tradition no matter which day it’s held.

Steve Piatt: Inclusion of crossbows in archery season means there’s now more than one ‘opener’ in Pennsylvania Read More »

Pennsylvania turkey call makers shine in Nashville

Featured, Hunting, National Hunting, National News, News, Pennsylvania /

Pennsylvania hunters not only know how to use turkey calls, they’re pretty good at making them, too.
While Keystone State callers walked away with some of the top honors at the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Grand National Turkey Calling Championships, call makers were doing the same in the annual call making competition categories.

Pennsylvania turkey call makers shine in Nashville Read More »

Goodyear Lake offers good fishing all year in New York’s Otsego County

Lake Profile, Lake Profile, New York /

Goodyear Lake is a spot that attracts a fair amount of angling traffic during the open-water season.
But it’s also worth a look during the hard-water season, and this past winter offered plenty of opportunities to drill holes at the 366-acre Otsego County water known to hold a variety of warmwater species.

Goodyear Lake offers good fishing all year in New York’s Otsego County Read More »

Pennsylvania pair wins calling titles at NWTF event

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

Bo Bartlebaugh was back in the winner’s circle again, this time in a new division.
For Hunter Wallis, it has been a while since he won a National Wild Turkey Federation Grand National turkey calling title. But the Pennsylvania pair last month walked away with victories in the prestigious NWTF championships, considered the Super Bowl of turkey calling competitions.

Pennsylvania pair wins calling titles at NWTF event Read More »

Steve Piatt: In search of ‘the lights’

Featured, Nature Page & Night Sky, New York /

On this Monday night, I’m settled into the recliner, with the wood stove hissing, temperatures outside in the teens and dropping, watching Indiana and Miami battle it out for college football’s national championship.
My wife, Paula, has other plans, and has left the house to drive up the road a mile or so, away from our home and others in the neighborhood, seeking total darkness, or something close to it. “The lights” may be happening tonight.

Steve Piatt: In search of ‘the lights’ Read More »

Mansfield Creek: Two trout waters in one for New York’s Cattaraugus County anglers

Lake Profile, Lake Profile, New York /

Mansfield Creek is probably best known as a tributary to the South Branch of Cattaraugus Creek.
But maybe it shouldn’t be. The fact is Mansfield Creek holds its own as a solid trout-fishing option itself, and is, in some ways, two creeks in one, with stocked trout dominating one stretch and wild trout in good numbers further upstream.

Mansfield Creek: Two trout waters in one for New York’s Cattaraugus County anglers Read More »

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