Tuesday, October 27th, 2026

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Tuesday, October 27th, 2026

Breaking News for

Sportsmen Since 1968

Tom Venesky

Tom Venesky: Legislators continue to silence Pennsylvania hunters, anglers

For more than a year, a bill that would give sportsmen and women a voice in selecting who represents them on the Pennsylvania Game and Fish & Boat Commission boards has sat silent in committee.
House Bill 1508 would put the process of selecting commissioners in the hands of hunters and anglers by allowing sportsmen’s groups within a district where a commissioner’s term is soon to expire to nominate candidates for the position. Licensed hunters, trappers and anglers within the district would then vote for the candidates, and the top three vote-getters would be forwarded to the governor, who picks one for the appointment.

Tom Venesky: Legislators continue to silence Pennsylvania hunters, anglers Read More »

Connectivity report details steps for wildlife corridors in Pennsylvania

A recent study on connecting wildlife habitats in Pennsylvania identified several areas in the state as priorities for “conservation corridors” while calling on state agencies, including the Game Commission, to help combat the impacts of fragmented habitats.
The report, “The Current Status of Conservation Connectivity in Pennsylvania,” was authorized by House Resolution 87, which state Reps. Mary Jo Daley, D-Montgomery County, and Jason Ortitay, R-Allegheny and Washington counties, sponsored and passed with bipartisan support last year.

Connectivity report details steps for wildlife corridors in Pennsylvania Read More »

‘Let us help defend you,’ hunting groups plead with Pennsylvania Game Commission

Two representatives of state hunting organizations urged the Pennsylvania Game Commission to acknowledge the heat the agency is receiving from the Legislature, and they pleaded with commissioners to let them help.
During the July 12 quarterly meeting, Mike Kriner, with the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen and Conservationists, and John Bingaman, with Hunter Nation, cautioned commissioners about legislative mentions of a “takeover,” and asked the agency to meet with their organizations and others.

‘Let us help defend you,’ hunting groups plead with Pennsylvania Game Commission Read More »

Tom Venesky: Time to let farmers plant again on Pennsylvania game lands

Crop damage concerns have been at the forefront lately as the Pennsylvania Legislature considers bills aimed at reducing the impact of deer.

So far, not much has worked when it comes to reducing crop damage. Lengthy seasons, increased antlerless license allocations, ag tags, DMAP coupons – those are just a few of the things utilized to lessen the impact of deer on crops. But the formula – kill more deer, lower the population and reduce crop damage – hasn’t been that effective. If it had, then there wouldn’t be bills in the Legislature focused on addressing the issue.

Tom Venesky: Time to let farmers plant again on Pennsylvania game lands Read More »

Tom Venesky: Farming for a solution to CWD in Pennsylvania

The deer farming industry has often taken much of the blame for the spread of chronic wasting disease to wild deer in Pennsylvania.
Whether the blame is accurate or the industry is unjustly being used as a scapegoat remains open for debate. But in the haste to name a culprit for the spread of CWD, maybe all of the finger pointing has caused us to overlook potential solutions. Perhaps the deer farming industry that has been accused of contributing to the spread of CWD may actually have the remedy.

Tom Venesky: Farming for a solution to CWD in Pennsylvania Read More »

Pennsylvania deer farms face a shortage of veterinarians

When it comes to the health of their herds, many Pennsylvania deer farmers have to take matters into their own hands. And it’s not by choice.
A shortage of veterinarians that are either trained, or willing, to take on deer farms as clients is scarce in some parts of the state. The shortage of veterinarians has forced many of Pennsylvania’s 650 deer farms – which supply trophy bucks to hunting preserves and are a source for urine-based deer lure – to focus on prevention in the hopes of limiting their need for a veterinarian that can be difficult to find.

Pennsylvania deer farms face a shortage of veterinarians Read More »

Penn State University is bringing back venison-processing workshop with higher demand from hunters

Years ago when Penn State Extension offered a course on how to process venison, it was mainly attended by hunters who wanted to do a better job preparing their harvest for the table.
Ten years after the course was discontinued, it’s coming back this summer. This time, however, the demand is a bit different.

Penn State University is bringing back venison-processing workshop with higher demand from hunters Read More »

Tom Venesky: Litter from the sky finds its way to wild places

There is no such thing as unspoiled wilderness in Pennsylvania.
Not anymore.
Pristine areas untouched by man no longer exist. There are places that no matter how remote and rugged they are, man’s impact can be seen and felt. And it’s not necessarily the result of the typical forms of encroachment – urban sprawl, natural gas drilling, timbering, etc. This impact originates with harmless intentions yet a high degree of naivety.

Tom Venesky: Litter from the sky finds its way to wild places Read More »

Gary Gronkowski’s drive for cleaner streams make him Pennsylvania Outdoor News’ Person of the Year

As a hunter and angler, Gary Gronkowski cherishes the pristine outdoor landscape that surrounds his home in Luzerne County, Pa.
And he also despises the litter and illegal dumping that ruin those places. That’s why Gronkowski joined the Nanticoke Conservation Club in 1992, and later became its president in 2004 – a position he still holds today.

Gary Gronkowski’s drive for cleaner streams make him Pennsylvania Outdoor News’ Person of the Year Read More »

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