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Outdoors

Legislature digs in over hatchery closing threat

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Of all the sources of discord in Harrisburg, trout usually isn’t one of them. But a proposal to increase fishing-license fees has turned into a dispute that has lawmakers hoping to oust the head of the Fish and Boat Commission. Without the long-sought fee increase, Commission Director John Arway said last fall some state hatcheries would have to close — meaning 240,000 fewer fish in state-stocked streams and lakes next year. Some lawmakers perceived the cost-cutting announcement as a threat to leave their hometown waters empty of stocked trout. Now, ...

Landmarks managed for safety to stay open

LANCASTER (AP) — Despite a tricky and manpower-intensive rescue of a teenager, Wind Cave in southern Lancaster County will not be closed to public use. Warning signs, however, will be erected at access points to the popular cave, said Phil Wenger, president and CEO of the Lancaster County Conservancy, which will take over ownership of the land containing the cave this year. “We have no intention of closing that cave at this point,” Wenger said. The Feb. 17 rescue spurred new safety concerns from some local residents. Others expressed indignation at the thought of closing a ...

High-power loads lethal to turkeys and maybe gun

A fairly new ammo was trending and adored by hunters last year, and I didn’t want to seem as if I were attacking it. After hearing more and more stories of similar situations not just by one ammunition company or round, it is no longer time to sit on my words. This past spring, I planned to conduct a study of which shotgun scopes and sights performed the best. As any outdoors enthusiast will know, there are about as many options for various hunting products as their are brands of breakfast cereal on the shelf at the grocery store. The scopes and sights had all been donated from ...

Anglers make trek to Pine Grove for year-long contest

PINE GROVE — Usually, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is — unless that something is the bigger, better-than-ever Family Fun Fishing Event. This year’s seventh annual fishing event kickoff is on Sunday, April 22, with activities scheduled from 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Sweet Arrow Lake County Park. During those hours participants may redeem their breakfast or lunch vouchers at the clubhouse, where volunteers from the Schuylkill County Sportsmen’s Association will do the cooking, and participate in other opening-day activities of the year-long event. Anglers can ...

Outdoors stores quietly continue to sell assault weapons

DUNDEE, Mich. (AP) — Some big retailers have curbed sales of assault weapons after last month’s school shooting in Florida. But others are sticking to their guns. Several outdoor chains, including Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, Gander Outdoors and Academy Sports, continue to sell assault-style rifles online and in stores as part of their mix of hunting equipment. The decision is in stark contrast to Dick’s Sporting Goods, which recently banned sales of assault rifles, and Walmart, which stopped carrying assault rifles in 2015 but says it will no longer sell guns or ammunition to ...

For many, the call of ice fishing is irresistible

JAMESTOWN (AP) — Anyone who likes to go fishing has one of those days from time to time, and a recent Saturday was one of those days. After nearly seven hours on the frozen surface of Pymatuning Reservoir, Jim Diehl of Curtisville didn’t mince his words. “No fish — no fish at all,” he said as he hauled his equipment off the lake. When those days come in April of July, it’s one thing. When they come during ice fishing season, they can be demoralizing. But the lack of fish interested in being hooked and the not-so-gentle breeze whipping through nearly a dozen shanties ...