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Outdoors

Wild pheasant hunt planned for youth

HARRISBURG — After several years of intensive habitat improvement to support wild pheasants, four dozen junior hunters now will have the opportunity to swing on a wild, cackling pheasant rooster as it pounds skyward this fall. A limited-draw youth pheasant hunt will be held in the Central Susquehanna Wild Pheasant Recovery Area. The Pennsylvania Game Commission today is accepting applications for the hunt. The hunt represents the first time since the WPRA program’s startup that wild pheasants will be able to be hunted in the recovery areas. Applications are due by the close of ...

PGC seeks public’s assistance in turkey survey

HARRISBURG — The Game Commission is again seeking help from the public in surveying wild turkeys in August to get a handle on production statewide. The second-annual web-based Pennsylvania Wild Turkey Sighting Survey is underway. The survey for the first time also will include a mobile app to report findings. The public is encouraged to report any turkeys observed throughout the month. Information submitted will help the agency analyze spring-turkey production. Participants will be requested to record the numbers of wild turkeys they see, along with the general location, date and ...

Elusive flounder arrive in time for Hatteras dinner

I have been very fortunate to visit many Atlantic coast beaches over the years. From the time I was a young child with my family until present day with my wife and children, I have made one or two yearly visits to beaches in the Bahamas, New Brunswick and many others in between. In late June ...

Commission holding wild trout summit

HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will host a wild trout summit open to the public at its Centre County regional office at 9:30 a.m. Aug. 26. “This is the first time the agency has hosted a meeting to discuss wild trout,” said Andy Shiels, director of the Bureau of Fisheries. “This will bring agency, academic and Trout Unlimited experts together to present and discuss the past, present and future of Pennsylvania’s wild trout resources.” The event will be held at the Commision’s Centre Region Office Building, located at 595 East Rolling Ridge Drive ...

Derry Township fish tournament winners named

LEWISTOWN — Justin Piffer, Gary Bookwalter, Jim Kitner, Kenneth Carlin and Pat McConaughey all won their respective divisions in the 2017 Derry Township Fire Police fishing tournament. Piffer won in the Rock Bass division with his 10 1/2-inch fish that and weighed .9 ounces. David Gates finished second with his fish, which was nine inches long and weighed .6 ounces. Ethin Nearhoof was third at 8 3/4 inches and .7 ounces. Bookwalter had the top Carp at 34 inches and 27.8 ounces. Cody Symmerman came in second at 32 3/4 inches and 27 ounces while Greg Beeter placed third with a fish ...

New case of Chronic Wasting Disease found in wild

HARRISBURG — Chronic wasting disease has spread to free-ranging deer in an area of the state where it previously had been detected only in captive deer. According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, a free-ranging whitetail buck in Bell Township, Clearfield County, has tested positive for chronic wasting disease. The CWD-positive buck was shot by a wildlife conservation officer June 7 on State Game Lands 87 because it showed signs of being diseased. Preliminary tests indicated the buck was CWD-positive, and the final results confirm the buck was infected with CWD, which always is ...