Outdoors category, Page 16
Historic bear season in Pennsylvania sparks research effort
Pennsylvania’s 2019 black bear season — or seasons, more appropriately, as we’ll see — set a lot of records. It’s what was most normal about them that’s generating new research, however. Hunters killed 4,653 black bears across the state last fall. That was the most ever for a single year,...
Outdoors notices for March 8, 2020
Outdoors Notices RIFLE LEAGUES • In the Allegheny Valley Rifle League on Feb. 28, Murrysville (10-7) defeated Butler (9-8), 1,166-1,154, and Fort Hand (9-8) beat Clymer (6-11), 1,166-1,155, in the A-team standings. In the B-team division, Murrysville (10.5-6.5) defeated Butler (6-11), 1,145-1,091, and Clymer (14-6) defeated Fort Hand (3.5-13.5), 1,145-1,112....
Outdoor extras: Life span of hiking boots, more outdoor news
Tip of week What size line is the right one for your spinning reel? You can find the answer on the reel itself. It identifies the size line it can handle, say 4- to 8-pound test, as well as how much line it accommodates. Abide by those numbers. Spinning reels...
Outdoors notices for March 1, 2020
Outdoors Notices RIFLE LEAGUES • In the Allegheny Valley Rifle League on Feb. 21, Murrysville (9-7) defeated Clymer (6-9), 1,169-1,157, and Fort Hand (7-8) beat Butler (9-7), 1,169-1,162, in the A-team standings. In the B-team division, Murrysville (9.5-6.5) defeated Clymer (12-3), 1,149-1,133, and Fort Hand (3.5-11.5) beat Butler (6-10), 1,134-1,093....
Pennsylvania’s mentored hunting program might change
Mentoring programs are supposed to make it easy for people to try hunting. This one is sometimes doing just the opposite, and that might lead to changes. The Pennsylvania Game Commission offers mentored youth and adult hunting programs. They work, to a point. “We know, based on the surveys we’ve...
Keys to catching Great Lakes yellow perch
This isn’t necessarily what you would call run and gun fishing. But it is increasingly a game built on mobility. Catching yellow perch on Lake Erie — or on any of the Great Lakes, really — used to mean going out, finding a school, anchoring over it and having at...
Trout stocking season is here again
The numbers vary from state to state. The high levels of enthusiasm they generate among at least some anglers do not. Spring is fast approaching, and that means it’s trout stocking season. State fisheries agencies all around the country are trucking trout to rivers, streams and lakes to provide recreation...
Outdoors notices for Feb. 23, 2020
Outdoors Notices RIFLE LEAGUES • In the Allegheny Valley Rifle League on Feb. 14, Murrysville (8-7) defeated Fort Hand (6-8), 1,172-1,168, and Butler (9-6) beat Clymer (6-8), 1,164-1,163, in the A-team standings. In the B-team division, Murrysville (8.5-6.5) defeated Fort Hand (2.5-11.5), 1,150-1,109, and Clymer (12-2) beat Butler (6-9), 1,147-1,107....
Having trouble catching crappies throughout the year? Try these tips
Sasquatches. The Loch Ness Monster. Chupacabras. And crappies outside of the spawn. What do they all have in common? They’re often sought, much talked about, but rarely seen. But that’s not how things have to be, at least when it comes to crappies. It’s possible to catch them — consistently,...
6 important tips to make that pet camping trip a success
The legend of the Lone Ranger is the stuff of “those thrilling days of yesteryear.” So, too, is the notion of camping without your pet. More and more public campgrounds around the country are open to camping with dogs and sometimes other animal friends. Take Pennsylvania, for example. That state’s...
Fly Fishing Museum inducting Chauncy Lively into hall of fame
It’s a celebration of one man’s life. But it’s more than that, too. The Pennsylvania Fly Fishing Museum Association is inducting Chauncy Lively into its hall of fame in a special ceremony Feb. 29 in Mars. That recognition is really just the centerpiece for a celebration of all things Western...
Determining backpack weight and more outdoor news
Take a quick look around the outdoors world with a tip, a new piece of gear and more: Tip of the week Pack light. That’s the mantra of the backpacker. But what does that mean? Do you really have to cut off the last three inches off your toothbrush’s handle,...
Number of Pennsylvania chronic wasting disease cases grows again
This isn’t good news by any means. The Pennsylvania Game Commission found more deer with chronic wasting disease in 2019 than the year before. And that’s with some counting still left to do. Hunters will know soon how the agency plans to deal with that. The commission unveiled a draft...
Outdoors notices for Feb. 16, 2020
Outdoors Notices RIFLE LEAGUES • In the Allegheny Valley Rifle League on Feb. 7, Murrysville (7-7) defeated Butler (8-6), 1,169-1,160, in the A-team standings. In the B-team division, Murrysville (7.5-6.5) defeated Butler (6-8), 1,148-1,095. Butler’s Kevin Dufford shot 296 to earn high individual honors. Butler’s Bob Doverspike was the high...
Fishing’s leaky bucket and more outdoor news
Take a quick look around the outdoors world with a tip, a fishing lure and more: Tip of the week Interest in recreational shooting is on the increase across America, with many of the newcomers, younger ones in particular, focused on handguns. But which one to buy? Walk into any...
Test and Review: BioLite HeadLamp 200 provides lightweight option
If you enjoy channeling your inner coal miner when roaming woods and trails in the dark, move along. This isn’t the headlamp for you. But if seeing well enough to cook dinner, set up your tent or walk to your treestand without tripping over rocks and roots are priorities, well,...
How to use pup distress calls to target coyotes
It’s not exactly going out on a limb to say Al Morris is a passionate predator hunter. Make that visibly passionate. The three-time world coyote calling champion is one of the hosts of FOXPRO Furtakers on the Outdoor Channel. He travels all over the country for the show. Watch the...
Whitetail Report shows America’s hunters taking more, older bucks
Get two hunters together anywhere, anytime, and one question is more likely to come up than any other. Did you get your buck? In South Carolina, the answer is likely yes, at least lately. In 2018, the most recent year for which data is available, 79% of licensed Palmetto State...
Out-of-sight: Pa. anglers don’t have to wear fishing licenses
Fishing licenses no longer need to be visible on anglers’ clothing as the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is soon ending the longtime regulation. “With this change, we’re making things more convenient for our anglers,” Tim Schaeffer, commission executive director, said in a press release. Apparently, there have been some...
Outdoors notices for Feb. 9, 2020
Outdoors Notices RIFLE LEAGUES • In the Allegheny Valley Rifle League on Jan. 31, Murrysville (6-7) defeated Clymer (6-7), 1,170-1,163, and Butler (8-5) beat Fort Hand (6-7), 1,163-1,159, in the A-team standings. In the B-team division, Murrysville (6.5-6.5) defeated Clymer (11-2), 1,151-1,149, and Fort Hand (2.5-10.5) beat Butler (6-7), 1,109-1,099....
Bobcats a beautiful species making a big comeback
The clock is ticking for bobcats in North America. Not in the sense that they’re in trouble. Far from it. Bobcats were scarce as recently as the 1970s. Deforestation, development, changes in agricultural practices and even bounties hammered the population. But things are dramatically different. A decade ago, researchers with...
Voluntary fishing permits sell better than hoped; plans for funds revealed
This worked out about as well as could have been expected. And maybe better. Late in 2018, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission officials created four voluntary permits meant to raise funds for fish habitat work, research, angler surveys and more. They started marketing them earnestly early in 2019. One permit,...
Backyard bird count and more outdoor news
Take a quick look around the outdoors world with a tip, a new piece of gear and more: Tip of the week Compared to the cost of a rifle and optics you mount on it, scope rings are fairly inexpensive. But to get the most from your firearm, you still...
A canoe camping checklist for every paddler
Imagine the movie “Wild Hogs,” but with four kayaks and a single canoe replacing the motorcycles. That’s what our trip was like. Well, sort of. We’re a half-dozen middle-aged guys — trending hard and fast toward old — and last summer’s float was an attempt to add a little adventure...
Pennsylvania hunters killed record 4,653 black bears in 2019
HARRISBURG — Wildlife authorities say Pennsylvania hunters killed 4,653 black bears last year, setting a new record. The Pennsylvania Game Commission said Monday the total is far above last year’s total of 3,153, which was the 11th highest total recorded but was also the lowest in almost a dozen years....
