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Outdoors

Cold weather life jacket requirement in effect

HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) reminds boaters, anglers, and hunters that the annual cold weather life jacket requirement is in effect. Now through April 30, boaters are required to wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket while underway or at anchor on boats less than 16 feet in length or on any kayak, canoe, or paddleboard. The requirement applies to all Pennsylvania waters. “The fall and winter seasons are filled with outdoor opportunities that can be enjoyed on the water, including fishing, waterfowl hunting, and scenic foliage ...

Rare fish species on the rebound

DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (AP) — The annual fall count of an extremely rare fish species that lives in a single Mojave Desert cavern found the highest number in 19 years, the National Park Service said. Scientists counted 263 Devils Hole pupfish last month, the highest autumn count since September 2003, the agency said in a statement. Devils Hole is a deep water-filled cavern in a detached unit of Death Valley National Park located in Nye County, Nevada. The pupfish live in the upper 80 feet (24.4 meters) of the water column and on a shallow, sun-lit shelf at the ...

Game Commission applauds change in law for license sales

HARRISBURG - The way hunters apply for Pennsylvania antlerless deer licenses is about to change for the first time in decades. Senate Bill 431, which would allow hunters to buy antlerless licenses through the HuntFishPA automated licensing service, was signed into law recently. When it takes effect with the 2023-24 license year, antlerless licenses will be available for purchase online or in person at any license issuing agent. The Game Commission, hunting organizations including the National Deer Association, Pennsylvania Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Pennsylvania ...

Outdoors calendar

Atkinson Mills Sportsmen’s Club • Meetings — held on the first Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. The club is located at 55 Sportsmen Club Lane, McVeytown; email atkinsonmillssportsmensclub@gmail.com; online at http://atkinsonmills-sportsmensclub.weebly.com. Blue Rock Sportsman Club • Club meetings — 2 p.m. on the fourth Sunday of each month on the gun range, and at 7 p.m. in January and February in the barn. To east end Blue Rock: From Milroy, follow signs to Reeds Gap State Park. Free camping available and kitchen is open during all events except trap ...

Worries over wind farms cloud condor repopulation program

SIERRA PAILEMAN, Argentina — It was a sunny morning when about 200 people trudged up a hill in Argentina’s southern Patagonia region with a singular mission: free two Andean condors that had been born in captivity. While members of the Mapuche, the largest Indigenous group in the area, ...

Woods heat up heading into fall rifle season

Hunters encouraged to visit focus areas The Pennsylvania Game Commission is encouraging hunters heading afield to visit deer hunter focus areas on state game lands where habitat projects are creating new forest growth and hunter access has increased. Forest habitat management efforts in these areas have been known to attract deer. Share extra venison and help the community The Pennsylvania Game Commission is a proud partner and supporter of Hunters Sharing the Harvest. Through HSH, hunters can simply donate venison by taking their deer to a participating processor. Thanks to the ...