Target Shooting

I was able to get to the range in Washington County yesterday and do a little target shooting. I was at the Pennsylvania Game Commission shooting range near Claysville Pa. It's a 100 yard range and is wheelchair accessible.

The range has several shooting benches but is not covered by any pavilion or cover. The road into the shooting range is a little rough but my mini van was able to get there without any issues.

Hopefully I can get back out before the weather turns cold but if not, at least the 308 is sighted in. As you can see my 5th shot was a flyer.

I would also like to say I really enjoy using the Splatter Burst Peel and Stick 8 inch targets.  They are very easy to put up and you can clearly see your point of impact from 100 yards out through your scope. This eliminates the need for a spotting scope or walking back-and-forth to check the target.

2016 Pa Elk Lottery

Just a quick reminder, the last day to apply for the Pennsylvania elk lottery is July 31st 2016. You can purchase your hunting license as well as the elk lottery online here good luck everyone.

Archery season starts September 19, 2015

Archery season starts September 19, 2015 in 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D.  It starts statewide on October 3rd. I plan on going out for a few hours tomorrow and starting my season.  Good luck to all the Pennsylvania archers who are going hunting tomorrow.  Be safe and shoot straight!

27,592 Pa Elk Applications

This year 27,592 hunters applied for a Pa elk license.  That raised $275,920 Just from applications alone. Another $157,150 was raised through a raffle for the Keystone Elk Country Alliance. Add to that another $52,500 from a license raffled off from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and you have a total of $485,570 for Pa wildlife!

Good luck to all the hunters who were awarded a license this year.

Pa Elk License

Today, July 31st is the last day to apply for a Pennsylvania elk license. The drawing will be held on Saturday August 15. You can apply for a chance to obtain an elk license online by clicking here

Pa Doe License 2015 Availability

I received my Pennsylvania Doe license in the mail this week for management area 2B. I am not sure I will harvested a Doe this year, but at least I have the option if a mature Doe gives me a great shot opportunity.

If you are interested in purchasing a Doe license you can check the availability of all management areas by clicking HERE.  As of Thursday July 30th, here is a list of the following management areas and their availability.

Pa Elk License Application 2015

The application for the 2015 Pa elk license opened on June 8th and will close on July 31. The cost to apply is 10.70 for Pa residents. The annual drawing for elk license will take place on Saturday August 15th during the elk expo at Elk Country Visitor Center in Benezette. You can apply Here

I have been applying for an elk license for the past several years. Hopefully this is the year my tag is drawn. I can't imagine how fantastic it would be to harvest a Pennsylvania elk. I would be thrilled with a Cow or Bull.

Pa Doe License 2015

If you have not already purchased your hunting license, you may want to buy them this weekend. Pennsylvania state treasurers are accepting applications from Pa residents for doe license starting Monday morning.

In the past I have waited and purchased my Doe license over the counter at a later date. But I think I will get ahead of the curve this year and get them into the mail this Saturday.

Pa Hunting License On Sale Now

Hunting and furtaker licenses for Pennsylvania’s 2015-16 seasons are on sale now.

New licenses are effective July 1, and are valid through June 30, 2016. All license fees remain unchanged. Licenses can be purchased online through the Pennsylvania Automated License System (PALS) website https://www.pa.wildlifelicense.com. 

Licenses also can be purchased over the counter at all Game Commission region offices and the Harrisburg headquarters, as well as through more than 600 in-state and out-of-state issuing agents. A list of issuing agents is available at the Game Commission’s website, www.pgc.state.pa.us.

The beginning of license sales for the upcoming seasons also serves as a reminder for Pennsylvania hunters who hold senior lifetime hunting or furtaker licenses, or combinations of those licenses. While those hunters need not pay a license or transaction fee, they must pick up new licenses and harvest tags.

Additionally, those who hold range permits that allow them to use shooting ranges at state game lands are reminded that now-valid permits expire on June 30, and that new permits will need to be purchased for range use on and after July 1.

The permits, which are required for range users not possessing a valid hunting or furtaker license, are $30 and must be purchased by credit card through The Outdoor Shop on the Game Commission’s website, or at any of the Game Commission’s region offices or the Harrisburg headquarters.

Licenses purchased through PALS are subject to a 70-cent transaction fee for each license or permit, and that fee is paid directly to the Nashville-based company that runs PALS.

Through PALS, hunters can purchase not only their general hunting and furtaker licenses, but add-on licenses needed for archery or muzzleloader hunting, specialty licenses to hunt bears or set out after a second spring gobbler, permits to trap fishers and otters, and more. In short, what can be purchased from an issuing agent, can be purchased online.

Hunters also can use PALS to apply for the elk-license drawing or purchase Deer Management Assistance Program permits. 

Elk licenses are awarded by lottery and the deadline to submit an application is July 31. It costs $10.70 to apply and application fees are nonrefundable. 

Antlerless deer permits issued through the Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) also are available to purchase online for $10.70, and DMA 2 Antlerless Deer Permits are available for $6.70.

County treasurers statewide on July 13 will begin accepting applications for antlerless licenses. Pennsylvania residents can apply beginning July 13.Nonresidents can apply starting July 27. Beginning Aug. 3, treasurers will begin selling the remaining unsold licenses for any wildlife-management unit for which licenses remain available. A second round of unsold license sales will begin Aug. 17.

Go Hunt Pa

GoHuntPa.org is a really good website to quickly find out some great information about hunting in Pennsylvania. The game commission also set up a nice application for smart phone users.

Information like, what is in season, Topographical Maps, Sunrise and Sunset times and more can all be easily found at this site.

Use this interactive map to find out what hunting area you are in. I posted about Go Hunt Pa in April but you can use it now to Plan ahead for purchasing your Doe license.  You can easily see if your new hunting area is 2B, 2A or 2D.

Second PA Spring Gobbler Tag

I realize this is probably a huge mistake, but I bought a second Spring Gobbler tag from the game commission today. Hunters have the opportunity to purchase a second Spring gobbler tag before the season opens on May 2.

I enjoy hunting turkeys as much as I enjoy deer hunting. I would love to have the chance to take a spring gobbler with my shotgun and crossbow this year. I plan on starting off with my shotgun and if I am successful, then I can use my Tenpoint crossbow for an opportunity at a second gobbler.

How many of you are buying a second tag this year?

2015 Pa Spring Turkey Tags

Statewide Spring Gobbler Season: May 2-30, 2015

A second turkey license can be purchased BEFORE the start of the regular spring turkey season (by May 1, 2015) from any issuing agent or online: https://www.pa.wildlifelicense.com/start.php

See page 32 of the Hunting & Trapping Digest for details:
http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pa_huntingdigest1415/#/32

GO HUNT PA APP

The Pennsylvania Game Commission has launched its new GoHuntPA Toolkit, a features-loaded, free app available through the GoHuntPA.org website.

The app is designed to be handy for hunters, whether they’re viewing it at home in preparation for a hunt, or putting it to the test in the field.

The GoHuntPA Toolkit is the simplest way yet to find huntable tracts of state game lands, learn more about the habitat and wildlife there, and even view maps showing where the parking lots are located. Using augmented reality, the app allows users simply to hold their mobile devices in front of them to see the locations of nearby game lands. And by clicking on the flags that pop up to mark these sites, users can learn more about the tracts. Selecting the “route” option will activate your device’s GPS function and give you turn-by-turn directions to the parking lot of your choice.

Maps available through the app provide a more-detailed look at terrain and access points at game lands statewide. The app also allows users to check weather and daylight conditions, view hunting regulations, seasons and bag limits, and post pictures through Instagram of their days afield. There’s also a tracking feature that allows members of the same hunting party see the locations of others, and mark the sites where they parked or set up camp, to make sure they make it back. Meanwhile, an SOS safety feature allows users to notify friends and family of their exact GPS coordinates in the event of an emergency.

To download the GoHuntPA Toolkit, visit GoHuntPA.org, or simply visit your device’s app store and search for the toolkit by name. The app might not be compatible with older devices or software.Game Commission Executive Director R. Matthew Hough said the GoHuntPA Toolkit aims to make hunting in Pennsylvania even more enjoyable, and more importantly, safer. And he urged hunters to download the free app before their next trip afield.

“The GoHuntPA Toolkit places useful and easy-to-access information directly into the palms of hunters’ hands, and makes it available to them wherever they go,” Hough said. “Aside from your license and other essential gear, about the only thing else you’ll need to bring along is a pair of fingerless gloves.”

Hunting 101 Class

My friend Katelyn conducted a Hunting 101 class this past weekend for her senior project in high school. The class took place at the West Allegheny high school. It was a very informative class and was well attended by the community. Katelyn also donated the money generated from the event to the Western Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors. I think it's great that a young lady is so enthusiastic about advocating for hunting, sportsmanship and conservation.

2014 PA Deer Harvest

GAME COMMISSION RELEASES DEER HARVEST ESTIMATES
Harvests decreased statewide in 2014-15, report shows.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission today reported that, in the state’s 2014-15 seasons, hunters harvested an estimated 303,973 deer – a decrease of about 14 percent compared to the 2013-14 harvest of 352,920. Hunters took 119,260 antlered deer in the 2014-15 seasons – a decrease of about 11 percent compared to the previous license year, when an estimated 134,280 bucks were taken. Also, hunters harvested an estimated 184,713 antlerless deer in 2014-15, which represents an about 16 percent decrease compared to the 218,640 antlerless deer taken in 2013-14.
         

 “We put these numbers out each year and, whether there’s an increase or decrease in the harvest, people want to know why,” said Game Commission Executive Director R. Matthew Hough. “While it’s impossible to provide explanations with certainty, there were a couple of factors over the 2014-15 deer seasons that seem to have contributed to a decreased harvest.”
          

Some of the decrease is by design, Hough said. The Game Commission last year reduced the number of antlerless licenses available for sale. Fewer licenses were allocated in nearly every Wildlife Management Unit, and statewide, 59,500 fewer antlerless licenses were issued.
         

 Reducing the allocation within a Wildlife Management Unit allows deer numbers to grow there.  Records show it takes an allocation of about four antlerless licenses to harvest one antlerless deer, so a reduced antlerless harvest was anticipated due to a reduced allocation.
          

Additionally, the weather during the two-week firearms deer season was less than ideal in much of the state. Some parts of the state saw unusually high temperatures on the season’s opening day. And depending on where you hunted, conditions on the first Saturday might have included steady rain, snow or dense fog.

Pa Hunter Safety Course online

Now you can take your Pennsylvania state Hunter safety course online by clicking here . This is the first time the course is available to Pennsylvania residents online.

As we all know safety is the most important aspect of our sport. It's up to every hunter to hunt safely and set an example when mentoring our youth hunters.

Pa Elk License Raises $52,000

The quality of Pennsylvania’s elk, and the unique opportunity to hunt them continues to garner national attention, and there are numbers to prove it.

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation on Jan. 31 held its Hunters Rendezvous Auction, at which several special elk licenses were auctioned off to raise money for conservation.

Pennsylvania, with its Special Elk Conservation Tag, was among eight states for which licenses were auctioned off. 

The tag sold for $52,500 – a new record for Pennsylvania. Only Arizona’s and Nevada’s licenses raised more for conservation.

Dave Ragantesi, senior regional director for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, said the money raised through the auction will stay in Pennsylvania, where it can continue to work to benefit the state’s elk. 

“We are pleased to have a strong partnership with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, and look forward to utilizing these funds for continued improvement of our public lands in Pennsylvania’s elk country,” Ragantesi said.

PROPOSED PA 2015-16 HUNTING SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS

PROPOSED 2015-16 HUNTING SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS 

SQUIRRELS, Red, Gray, Black and Fox (Combined): Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license, and mentored youth – Oct. 10-16 (6 daily, 18 in possession limit after first day). 

SQUIRRELS, Red, Gray, Black and Fox (Combined): Oct. 17-Nov. 28; Dec. 14-24 and Dec. 26-Feb. 20 (6 daily, 18 possession). 

RUFFED GROUSE: Oct. 17–Nov. 28, Dec. 14-24 and Dec. 26-Jan. 23 (2 daily, 6 possession). 

RABBIT (Cottontail) Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license: Oct. 10-17 (4 daily, 12 possession). 

RABBIT (Cottontail): Oct. 24-Nov. 28, Dec. 14-24 and Dec. 26-Feb. 20 (4 daily, 12 possession). 

PHEASANT: Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license – Oct. 10-17 (2 daily, 6 in possession). Male pheasants only in WMUs 2A, 2C, 4C, 4E, 5A and 5B. Male and female pheasants may be taken in all other WMUs. There is no open season for the taking of pheasants in any Wild Pheasant Recovery Areas in any WMU. 

PHEASANT: Male only in WMUs 2A, 2C, 4C, 4E, 5A and 5B. Male and female may be taken in all other WMUs – Oct. 24-Nov. 28, Dec. 14-24 and Dec. 26-Feb. 20 (2 daily, 6 in possession). There is no open season for the taking of pheasants in any Wild Pheasant Recovery Areas in any WMU. 

BOBWHITE QUAIL: Oct. 24-Nov. 28 (4 daily, 12 possession). (Closed in 5A, Open in all other WMUs.) 

HARES (SNOWSHOE RABBITS) OR VARYING HARES: Dec. 26–Jan.1, in all WMUs except WMUs 3B, 3C and 3D, where season will run from Dec. 26-29 (1 daily, 3 possession). 

WOODCHUCKS (GROUNDHOGS): No closed season, except on Sundays and during the regular firearms deer seasons. No limit. 

PORCUPINES: Sept. 1-March 31, except during overlap with the regular firearms deer season. (3 daily, season limit of 10).

CROWS: July 3-April 10, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday only. No limit. 

STARLINGS AND ENGLISH SPARROWS: No closed season, except during the antlered and antlerless deer season. No limit. 

WILD TURKEY (Male or Female): WMU 1B – Oct. 31-Nov. 7 and Nov. 26-28; WMU 2B (Shotgun and bow and arrow) – Oct. 31-Nov. 20 and Nov. 26-28; WMUs 1A, 2A, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B and 4D– Oct. 31-Nov. 14 and Nov. 26-28; WMUs 2C, 4C and 4E– Oct. 31-Nov. 20  and Nov. 26-28; WMU 5A – Nov. 5-7; WMUs 5B, 5C and 5D – CLOSED TO FALL TURKEY HUNTING. 

SPRING GOBBLER (Bearded bird only): Special season for eligible junior hunters, with required license, and mentored youth – April 23, 2016. Only 1 spring gobbler may be taken during this hunt. 

SPRING GOBBLER (Bearded bird only): April 30-May 31, 2016. Daily limit 1, season limit 2. (Second spring gobbler may be only taken by persons who possess a valid special wild turkey license.) From April 30-May 14, legal hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until noon; from May 16-31, legal hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset. 

BLACK BEAR (Statewide) Archery: Nov. 16-20. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year. 

BLACK BEAR (Statewide): Nov. 21-25. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year. 

BLACK BEAR (WMUs 2C, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E): Dec. 2-5. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year. 

BLACK BEAR (WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D): Nov. 30-Dec. 12. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year. 

BLACK BEAR (WMUs 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D): Nov. 30-Dec. 5. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year. 

BLACK BEAR (WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D) archery: Sept. 19-Nov. 14. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year. 

BLACK BEAR (WMU 5B) archery: Oct. 3-Nov. 14. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year. 

BLACK BEAR (WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D) muzzleloader: Oct. 17-24. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year. 

BLACK BEAR (WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D) special firearms: Oct. 22-24, for junior and senior license holders, disabled hunters with a permit to use a vehicle as a blind and resident active duty military. 

ELK (Antlered or Antlerless): Nov. 2-7. Only one elk may be taken during the license year. 

ELK, EXTENDED (Antlered and Antlerless): Nov. 9-14. Only one elk may be taken during the license year. Eligible elk license recipients who haven’t harvested an elk by Nov. 8, in designated areas. 

DEER, ARCHERY (Antlered and Antlerless) WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D: Sept. 19- Nov. 28 and Dec. 26-Jan. 23, 2016. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license. One antlered deer per hunting license year.

DEER, ARCHERY (Antlered and Antlerless) Statewide: Oct. 3-Nov. 14 and Dec. 26-Jan. 9. One antlered deer per hunting license year. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license. 

DEER (Antlered and Antlerless) WMUs 2B, 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D: Nov. 30-Dec. 12. One antlered deer per hunting license year. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license. 

DEER (Antlered Only) WMUs 1A, 1B, 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3A 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E: Nov. 30-Dec. 4. One antlered deer per hunting license year. (Holders of valid DMAP antlerless deer permits may harvest antlerless deer on DMAP properties during this period.) 

DEER (Antlered and Antlerless) WMUs 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3C, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E:  Dec. 5-12. One antlered deer per hunting license year. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license. 

DEER, ANTLERLESS (Statewide): Oct. 22-24. Junior and Senior License Holders, Disabled Person Permit (to use a vehicle) Holders, and Pennsylvania residents serving on active duty in 

U.S. Armed Services or in the U.S. Coast Guard only, with required antlerless license. Also included are persons who have reached or will reach their 65th birthday in the year of the application for a license and hold a valid adult license, or qualify for license and fee exemptions under section 2706. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license. 

DEER, ANTLERLESS MUZZLELOADER (Statewide): Oct. 17-24. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license. 

DEER, ANTLERED OR ANTLERLESS FLINTLOCK (Statewide): Dec. 26-Jan. 9. One antlered deer per hunting license year, or one antlerless deer and an additional antlerless deer with each required antlerless license. 

DEER, ANTLERED OR ANTLERLESS FLINTLOCK (WMUs 2B, 5C, 5D): Dec. 26-Jan. 23. One antlered deer per hunting license year, or one antlerless deer and an additional antlerless deer with each required antlerless license. 

DEER, ANTLERLESS EXTENDED REGULAR FIREARMS: (Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties): Dec. 26-Jan. 23. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license. 

DEER, ANTLERLESS (Military Bases): Hunting permitted on days established by the U.S. Department of the Army at Letterkenny Army Depot, Franklin County; New Cumberland Army Depot, York County; and Fort Detrick, Raven Rock Site, Adams County. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license. 

PRELIMINARY BEAR HARVEST RESULTS 2014

The first day of Pennsylvania’s statewide bear season resulted in a harvest of  1,623 black bears, according to preliminary totals released Monday by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

Archery and other early bear season harvest data still is being entered into the GameCommission’s database, and is not available at this time.Bears have been harvested in 52 counties during the statewide season so far.

The top 10 bears processed at check stations by Monday were either estimated or confirmed to have live weights of 540 pounds or more.

The largest of those bears – a male estimated at 677 pounds – was taken in Pittsfield Township, Warren County, by James M. Hultberg, of  Pittsfield, Pa.

Other large bears include: a 623-pound male taken in West Buffalo Township, Union County, by Fred F. Stoltzfus, of Lewisburg, Pa.; a 598-pound male taken in Muddy Creek Township, Butler County, by Jeffrey L. McClymonds, of Slippery Rock, Pa.; a 574-pound male taken in Tyrone Township, Blair County, by Ray E. Golden, of Tyrone, Pa.; a 560-pound male taken in Black Township, Somerset County, by Derek J. Wheeler, of Uniontown; a 559-pound male taken in Delmar Township, Tioga County, by K.L. Sarangoulis, of Reading, Pa.; a 558-pound male taken in West Branch Township, Potter County, by Colton P. Group, of Landisburg, Pa.; a 557-pound male taken in Portage Township, Cambria County, by Brett A. Robine, of Irwin, Pa.; a 552-pound male taken in Bradys Bend Township, Armstrong County, by Travis J. Crawford, of  Kittanning, Pa.; and a 540-pound male taken in Leidy Township, Clinton County, by Thomas E. Fahringer, of Landisburg, Pa.

PRELIMINARY Day-Two BEAR HARVEST RESULTS

Hunters harvested 417 bears during the second day of Pennsylvania’s statewide bear season, increasing the total harvest to 2,040 over the season’s first two days, according to preliminary totals released Tuesday by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

Archery and other early bear season harvest data still is being entered into the Game Commission’s database, and is not available at this time.  Bears have been harvested in 53 counties during the statewide season so far.

The top 10 bears processed at check stations by Tuesday were either estimated or confirmed to have live weights of 552 pounds or more.

The largest of those bears – a male estimated at 677 pounds – was taken in Pittsfield Township, Warren County by James M. Hultberg, of  Pittsfield, Pa.

Reporting Your Harvest in Pa

Reporting your deer harvest in Pa is really easy.  It can be done by snail mail (US post office) no postage necessary,  The game commission also has an APP for $9.99 as well as a free online program that allows users to complete the process in a matter of minutes. 

I reported my two doe kills online at the game commission site for free.  Use the quick link on the right side of the home page (Report a Harvest)

Remember to tag your deer before moving it and always report your harvest to the Game Commission.  It's up to us to manage our states wildlife resources.