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OUTDOORS NOTEBOOK

OUTDOORS HAPPENINGS

Outdoors-related clubs and organizations can submit items to be considered for publication in “Outdoors Happenings” by emailing to outdoors@republicanherald.com.

OUTDOORS BRIEFS

772-pound bear heaviest of two-day total of 2,044

A male bear with an estimated live weight of 772 pounds is the heaviest of the 2,044 bears taken by Pennsylvania hunters after the first two days of the four-day statewide firearms season. Pennsylvania Game Commission officials will release the final totals for the season later, as well as the number taken during the five-day archery and other early seasons.

Over the first two days of the season, bears were taken in 51 counties. Tioga County produced the most bears with 154.

Dan Beavers of Covington Township, Lackawanna County, took the big boar while hunting near home. It is one of 10 bears with an estimated or confirmed live weight of 556 pounds or more.

Other large bears include are a 632-pound male taken by Mike Truax, Everett, in Bedford County; a 627-pound male taken by Wayne Gehers, Mohnton, in Tioga County; a 616-pounder taken by Brad Rohrer, Lancaster, in Tioga County; a 597-pound male taken by Jenna Schoenagel, Greentown, in Pike County; a 595-pound male taken by Maurice Younker, Mercersburg, in Fulton County; a 586-pound male taken by Jalynn Macnelley, Laceyville, in Bradford County; a 560-pound male taken by Ernest Lucrezi, Beachlake, in Wayne County; a 557-pound male taken by Ron Fitzgerald, Forksville, in Sullivan County; and a 556-pound male by Randy Klem, Mountaintop, in Luzerne County.

This year’s two-day preliminary total compares with 2,086 in 2012, when hunters took 3,632 bears. That ranks No. 3 all time, with the record total of 4,350 bears being taken in 2011, when preliminary two-day totals numbered 2,709.

Preliminary two-day bear totals by Wildlife Management Unit are: WMU 1A,13; WMU 1B, 59; WMU 2C, 198; WMU 2D,120; WMU 2E,68; WMU 2F, 237; WMU 2G, 459; WMU 2H, 62; WMU 3A, 138; WMU 3B, 132; WMU 3C, 49; WMU 3D, 169; WMU 4A, 64; WMU 4B, 43; WMU 4C, 47; WMU 4D, 167; and WMU 4E, 19.

Two-day totals by PGC region and counties are:

Northwest: Warren, 111; Jefferson, 60; Venango, 53; Forest, 39; Clarion, 36; Crawford, 21; Butler, 17; and Erie, 3.

Southwest: Somerset, 85; Fayette, 56; Indiana, 35; Armstrong, 32; Westmoreland, 30; and Cambria, 20.

Northcentral: Tioga, 154; Lycoming, 138; Potter, 98; Clearfield, 97; Clinton, 96; Cameron, 92; Elk, 79; Centre, 69; McKean, 53; and Union, 23.

Southcentral: Bedford, 43; Huntingdon, 39; Juniata, 22; Blair, 21; Mifflin, 21; Fulton, 15; Snyder, 11; Franklin, 8; and Perry, 7.

Northeast: Pike, 71; Wayne, 46; Luzerne, 39; Sullivan, 35; Carbon, 29; Monroe, 27; Wyoming, 22; Lackawanna, 21; Bradford, 15; Susquehanna, 12; and Columbia, 9.

Southeast: Schuylkill, 16; Dauphin, 8; Lebanon, 4; and Northampton, 1.

Hunters with an unfilled bear license may participate in extended bear seasons in specific WMUs that run concurrent with all or portions of the first week of the firearms deer season. For those without a bear license, they may be purchased today and Sunday.

Details about WMUs open to extended bear hunting and the dates are printed on pages 36 and 37 of the “2013-14 Pennsylvania Hunting & Trapping Digest.” Bear check stations opened during the extended bear seasons are listed on Page 38 of the digest.

Schuylkill Visitors Bureau honors SCSAB, SCSA

This year’s Tourism Volunteer of the Year Award presented by the Schuylkill County Visitors Bureau will be shared by the Schuylkill County Sportsmen’s Advisory Board and the Schuylkill County Sportsmen’s Association.

In announcing the co-recipients of the award, Schuylkill County Visitors Bureau executive director Gina Gargano said the organizations were selected for their efforts to promote conservation and enjoyment of our outdoors recreational resources such as Norm Thornburg Youth Conservation Camp, Youth Field Day, Women’s Day, Outdoor Recreation Map and representing Schuylkill County by participation in the Great American Outdoor Show to be held February 1-9 at the Pennsylvania State Farm Show Complex, Harrisburg.

“I am honored to congratulate the Sportsmen’s Advisory Board and the Sportsmen’s Association for being recognized by the Schuylkill County Visitors Bureau as the 14th Annual Tourism Volunteer of the Year for 2013,” Gargano said. “It takes the energy and enthusiasm of people like you to make good things happen.”

Craig Morgan will represent the Sportsmen’s’ Advisory Board and president Gary Slutter will represent the Sportsmen’s Association when the awards are presented Monday, Dec. 9, beginning at 6 p.m., at Vito’s Coal-Fired Pizza in the Coal Creek Plaza, Saint Clair. Tickets are available by calling the visitors bureau at (570) 622-7700.

Holiday program at Hawk Mountain

Holiday on the Mountain will be presented Saturday, Dec. 7, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary visitor center, Kempton. This annual holiday open house features live raptor programs, winter activities, crafts for kids and bookstore discounts.

Scheduled activities are: 11 a.m., Live raptor program; Noon-2 p.m., Children's Activities; 12:30 p.m., Wonders of the Winter Woods Guided Walk; 2 p.m., Live Raptor Program; 3 p.m., Mountain Raffle Drawing.

For information access the website at www.hawkmountain.org or call 610-756-6961.

YES applications being accepted

Applications are being accepted from current high school sophomores and juniors for participation in the Youth Education Summit sponsored by the National Rifle Association, which will be held Monday-Sunday, June 23-29, in Washington, D.C.

Each year 45 qualifying students from across the United States are chosen to travel to the nation’s capital, where they participate in the weeklong educational opportunity. YES encourages young adults to become active and knowledgeable U.S. citizens by learning about the Constitution and Bill of Rights, the federal government and the importance of being active in civic affairs.

Activities on the schedule include guest speakers at NRA Headquarters and the National   Firearms Museum, competitive debates with other high school students from across the nation, informative tours at historic sites and monuments in and around Washington , D.C. , and meeting national leaders from Capitol Hill and around Washington , D.C.  In addition to the week in Washington D.C. , YES participants compete for $30,000 in college scholarships.

Information on the NRA Youth Education Summit is available by calling 1-800-672-3888, ext. 1351, or by email at yes@nrahq.org.

PGC deer biologist is outdoors radio program guest

Pennsylvania Game Commission deer biologist Chris Rosenberry is the Sunday, Dec. 1, guest on “Experience The Outdoors” with Republican Herald/News-Item outdoors editor Doyle Dietz, 7-7:30 a.m. on WLSH 1410-AM, 9:30-10 a.m. on WMGH, Magic 105.5-FM, and on the Web at http://www.wmgh.com/ by clicking the “Experience The Outdoors” link.

Sunday, Dec. 1 events

Sporting clays, 9 a.m., Friedensburg Fish and Game; for information call (570) 617-8416.

This week’s events

Monday: Friedensburg Fish and Game meeting, 8 p.m., 169 Stone Mountain Road, Pine Grove; for information call Lamar Hummel at (570) 617-8416, or e-mail clhummel@epix.net.

Thursday: Tulpehocken Rifle and Pistol Club meeting, 7 p.m., Berger Road , Pine Grove; for information access the website at http://www.tulrpc.com/. Schuylkill Spurs Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meeting, 7:30 p.m., 633 Hancock St. , McAdoo; for information, call Kevin Titus at (570) 668-5903.

Saturday: “Wings Over Water,” 9-11 a.m., Goose Cover overlook, PPL Montour Preserve, Washingtonville.

Sunday, Dec. 8: Sporting clays, 9 a.m., Roedersville Game and Fish, 1357 Mountain Road, Pine Grove; for information call (570) 640-8773. Muzzleloader shoot, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., First Frontier Militia, Bowmanstown Rod and Gun Club, Gun Club Road, off Route 248. Port Clinton Fish and Game meeting, 2 p.m.; for information call Ted Knoblauch at (610) 562-4310 or e-mail pcfg1j@yahoo.com.

 

 Compiled by: Doyle Dietz