Pickin' wild mushrooms – another way to enjoy the outdoors
Hunting wild mushrooms provides another way to enjoy the outdoors during the dog days of summer.
Pennsylvania – Mark Nale
Man versus nature — you know who wins
Controversy over North Carolina bridge reminds him of Pa.
Lake fishing outing for 4-year-old a success
If you care about the future of fishing, consider using the remaining warm days to expose a youngster in your life to the outdoors
Pheasant 'imprinting' questioned
Pen-raised pheasant “imprinting” study could be a waste of time, effort and money.
Pittman-Robertson funds can be used in many ways
A concerned sportsman’s email prompts a closer look into the way the Game Commission uses funding from federal excise taxes.
White-nose syndrome decimates bats at Canoe Creek State Park
Blair County’s popular Canoe Creek State Park was famous for its large population of bats, however fewer than 100 now remain.
Hunters should be naturalists first
Hunting should be a key to connecting with the natural world, but that isn’t always the case
The comeback of our national symbol in Pennsylvania is a wildlife success story
Eagles always draw a crowd of eager onlookers. Your chances of seeing one in the wild are greater now than any time during the past century.
Can we stop an invasive species or a disease such as CWD?
Millions of dollars will likely be spent attempting to contain or at least slow the spread of chronic wasting disease in our wild deer herd – will it be worth it?
I have my multi-year fishing license – did you get yours?
Will new multi-year fishing licenses be enough to help the plight of the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission?
Reflections on a hunting season without a back tag
To display or not to display, that is the question!”
Chronic Wasting Disease found in wild Pennsylvania deer
Time will tell whether Pennsylvania can contain CWD in its wild deer population – now identified in two of 67 counties.
Mentored Youth Hunting age questioned
Two recent photos in one of the newspapers for which I write certainly grabbed my attention.
Snowcover provides opportunity to study the land
I recently drove north through Philipsburg, Pa., to an area near Frenchville, in Clearfield County, to pick up a custom-made tabletop and oak boards from Quehanna Millwork.
More public relations needed by the Pennsylvania Game Commission
A recent email exchange with Unified Sportsmen of Pennsylvania president Randy Santucci provides food for thought. Santucci and I were discussing the merits of the Pennsylvania Game Commission spending hunting license dollars to expand the agency’s information and education presence in the elk range — including work at the joint Department of Conservation and Natural Resources-Keystone Elk Country Alliance visitor…
Road Hunters – illegal, not sporting and a negative image of hunters
I live along a rural, little-traveled Centre County road. Each year during deer season, I get to witness a parade of vehicles — usually pickups — driving slowly up and down the hollow. I can actually catch glimpses of the “parade” from two of the treestands that I have on my property. The pickup truck occupants are typically dressed in…
Good news on the chronic wasting disease front – finally
With deer farms quarantined in 16 counties, the chronic wasting disease situation seemed to be getting worse by the day. Now, there is finally some good news. The two free-roaming deer with connections to Ronald Rutter’s New Oxford deer farm — where chronic wasting disease was first discovered in Pennsylvania — have been shot and killed by hunters. Even better…
Chronic Wasting Disease — Pa.’s Agriculture Department a disappointment
Chronic wasting disease is now within Pennsylvania’s borders. With CWD already in New York, Maryland and West Virginia, Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl Roe shared his concern with me last Monday.
Fall colors, pleasant temperatures and outdoor opportunities make October a special month
Mother Nature’s curtain is about to drop on the final act of October — my favorite month of the year. Temperatures were cool enough on many days to provide a pleasant environment for archery deer hunting. At the same time, nighttime temperatures were often warm enough to make for very productive trout fishing the following morning. I took advantage of…
Fish & Boat Commission to curtail fall trout stocking — it is about time!
For quite a few years, the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission has been stocking trout in lakes and streams during the autumn. About 150 waters are scheduled to be stocked this fall. Water temperatures and the weather are usually perfect for trout fishing, but angler use has been low — very low. Therefore, I was pleased to read the story…
Mast looks generally promising in my area
I have been out scouting a few times in Centre and Blair counties and I’ll share my observations for readers of this blog. The bad news – I see very few (if any) apples anywhere. If you normally bow-hunt for deer near apple trees, you better check to see if there is any fruit to hunt over. I have seen…
Fish & Boat Commission — take a risk — sell more licenses
To sell more fishing licenses, the Legislature has granted the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission permission to lower the cost of fishing licenses and permits by making attractive packages. The agency needs to think outside the box and be willing to take risks to recruit and retain more license buyers. Ask yourself — what do stores and businesses successfully do…
Fish & Boat Commission not willing to go far enough with licenses
I applaud the Legislature and the governor for passing and signing Act 66 in June. This law gives the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission the flexibility to LOWER the cost of fishing licenses and create new license packages with the hope of attracting and holding more license buyers. For every license purchased, the state receives money from the federal government…
Tailwater Trout in Pennsylvania- What are we waiting for?
The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission is considering establishing dam-release tailwater trout fisheries in our state. Tailwater trout fisheries rely on regular and dependable bottom releases of cold water from reservoirs. In addition to its favorable temperature, bottom-release water usually supports a diverse population of macroinvertebrates (i.e., trout food). Many of the best trout rivers in western states are tailwater…
Thoughts on banning bait on 7 miles of Penns Creek
The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission is considering a ban on bait fishing for 7 miles of Penns Creek, one of Pennsylvania’s best wild-trout streams. The section in question (from Elk Creek downstream to the current catch and release area) is currently under All Tackle Trophy Trout regulations – bait, lure and fly-fishing is allowed. UnderAll Tackle Trophy Trout regulations…
When will hunters end the ridiculous banter about deer harvest reporting?
I have hunted for nearly 50 years and have sent in a harvest report card for every deer, buck or doe that I have ever harvested in Pennsylvania. I wish every hunter would do the same. Our current statewide reporting rate of less than 40 percent is a sad commentary on hunters. With that said, I know that 100 percent…
