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Tom Venesky

Tom Venesky: Where’s the whitetail rut in Pennsylvania?

Featured, Hunting, Opinion, Pennsylvania /

Beyond the decreasing length of daylight hours, I don’t believe there are many other factors that significantly influence when rut activity takes place.
But this year seems to be a little different. Several trips into the woods during the first 10 days of November – a period when rutting activity should be just about in full swing – resulted in plenty of deer sightings but little of the expected behavior signifying the rut is taking place.

Tom Venesky: Where’s the whitetail rut in Pennsylvania? Read More »

Pennsylvania Game Commission backs off on private lands proposal

Featured, Hunting, National News, News, Pennsylvania /

The Pennsylvania Game Commission is moving forward with part of its plan to spend some of the $500-plus million derived mainly from gas lease revenue on game lands.
The spending plan dates back to February, when former executive director Bryan Burhans appeared before the Senate Appropriations Committee outlining how the Game Commission planned to spend part of its gas lease windfall.

Pennsylvania Game Commission backs off on private lands proposal Read More »

Tom Venesky: Deer improvise for water source during drought

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

As I scrolled through photos captured by a trail camera, several images showed deer sticking their heads in what appeared to be a hole in the ground.
As the dates of the images progressed, the hole appeared to become deeper as deer continued to poke their heads further down.
A subsequent visit to the location revealed the hole was actually a depression in the ground that the deer continually excavated with their hooves, making it deeper.
Why? They were thirsty.

Tom Venesky: Deer improvise for water source during drought Read More »

American chestnut nurseries offer hope for the future

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

Tom Huff, who describes himself as a citizen scientist, began rearing pure American chestnut trees in grow tubes at his home eight years ago. After they sprout, he transfers them to 74 nursery plots established throughout Pennsylvania, waiting for the day when they can play a role in saving the iconic tree.
It’s been a century since the American chestnuts that once dominated the landscape were eradicated by blight. Although trees do persist, the blight continues to prevent them from reaching maturity.

American chestnut nurseries offer hope for the future Read More »

Pennsylvania House passes bills to hike pay for fish, game officers

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

Law enforcement officers with the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission and state Game Commission could soon realize an increase in compensation after passage of two bills in the state House.
On Oct. 23, the House voted 179-23 for final approval of House Bill 2608, which would place waterways conservation officers on the same pay scale as members of the Pennsylvania State Police. A similar bill for game wardens, House Bill 2583, also passed by the same vote on Oct. 23. Both bills need approval in the state Senate.

Pennsylvania House passes bills to hike pay for fish, game officers Read More »

Tom Venesky: Let Pennsylvania farmers compost the deer they shoot for crop damage

1 Comment / Discussions, Featured, Hunting, National Hunting, Opinion, Pennsylvania /

Crop damage caused by wildlife in Pennsylvania, particularly deer, has been at the forefront for years, yet a solution has yet to be found.
The Sunday hunting bill, which is also known as the “crop damage mitigation” bill in some circles, has language that attempts to fix the problem, but in reality it doesn’t even put a dent in the issue.

Tom Venesky: Let Pennsylvania farmers compost the deer they shoot for crop damage Read More »

No hunting in 2024 on two pheasant recovery areas in Pennsylvania

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

Pennsylvania hunters won’t have a chance to hunt wild pheasants in two recovery areas this season due to habitat loss.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission decided not to hold a pheasant season in the two wild pheasant recovery areas – the Central Susquehanna area in Northumberland, Montour and Columbia counties, and the Franklin area, in Franklin County.

No hunting in 2024 on two pheasant recovery areas in Pennsylvania Read More »

Body cameras for deputies bill mulled by Pennsylvania Senate

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

A measure authorizing the use of body cameras for deputy law enforcement officers with the Pennsylvania Game Commission and state Fish & Boat Commission is headed to the Senate floor for a vote.
Introduced by state Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Luzerne County, in May, Senate Bill 1194 was passed out of the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee on Oct. 8 by a 11-0 vote. The bill is listed on the Senate calendar for Oct. 21.

Body cameras for deputies bill mulled by Pennsylvania Senate Read More »

Pennsylvania’s Sunday hunting bill awaits House vote

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

Although the Game and Fisheries Committee voted along party lines to advance a bill that would lift the prohibition on Sunday hunting in Pennsylvania, members of the House weren’t quite ready to take a vote.
During a lengthy meeting on Oct. 1, the House Game and Fisheries Committee approved Senate Bill 67, which gives the Pennsylvania Game Commission the authority to institute Sunday hunting on any dates it sees fit. Currently, Sunday hunting is allowed for one day in each of the following seasons: archery deer, firearms bear and firearms deer.

Pennsylvania’s Sunday hunting bill awaits House vote Read More »

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