Plans moving forward on Pennsylvania’s three new state parks
Plans are moving forward on Pennsylvania’s three newly created state parks. The first new infrastructure is expected to be built in 2025.
“All of this takes time,” said Wesley Robinson, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources press secretary. “New state parks just don’t pop up out of nowhere. We need time to plan for the comfort of the people who will be using the parks, as well as protecting the flora and fauna and the natural habitats that make our state parks special.”
Plans moving forward on Pennsylvania’s three new state parks Read More »
Commentary: Do Pennsylvania trout fishing regulations need to be this complicated?
A friend recently emailed me, asking what the trout fishing regulations were on a stream that flows through his property. The stream was a popular trout fishing destination – Fishing Creek. The title of his email was “State of Confusion.”
I am a lifelong trout fisherman, and I have fished the stream in question, so I thought that this would be an easy question to answer. My friend even helped by providing screen shots of the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission interactive stream map, and shots from the regulation booklet.
Commentary: Do Pennsylvania trout fishing regulations need to be this complicated? Read More »
Sandhill cranes may be moving into Pennsylvania
Bird populations are often changing – some populations contract their range, while others expand. One bird species that appears to be extending its range into the Keystone State is the sandhill crane.
In early July, Kateri McGaw sighted a strange long-legged bird near her home in Martinsburg, Blair County. Upon looking it up, she discovered that it was a sandhill crane. She shared her find with a few friends and relatives.
Sandhill cranes may be moving into Pennsylvania Read More »
Reservoir upgrade in Blair County, Pa., to boost trout streams
Work is nearly completed on a $25 million reservoir remake on Bells Gap Run in Blair County. Pa.
The improvements will bring the dam up to safety standards required by the state Department of Environmental Protection. The upgrades also will allow for a cold-water discharge into Bells Gap Run.
“I am thrilled that the dam will now have a bottom release of cold water into Bells Gap Run,” Little Juniata River Association President Bill Anderson said.
Reservoir upgrade in Blair County, Pa., to boost trout streams Read More »
Some of the biggest coyotes ever taken in Pennsylvania’s Mosquito Creek contest shot this year
The Mosquito Creek Sportsmen Club, in Clearfield County, Pa., recently finished its 33rd annual coyote hunt. For the first time in hunt history, the top three entries all weighed over 50 pounds.
With thousands of coyotes entered over the 32 previous hunts, only 10 topped 50 pounds. Mosquito Creek holds the largest and longest-running coyote contest in Pennsylvania.
Cooperative trout nurseries in Pennsylvania getting extra attention
The Fish & Boat Commission is reaffirming the importance of Pennsylvania’s cooperative trout nursery program.
Twenty-five cooperative trout nursery managers and volunteers gathered at the Moshannon Community Center Feb. 24 in a luncheon meeting sponsored by the agency. The session was held to teach better ways for the co-ops to manage their trout, as well as how to fill out the Fish & Boat Commission’s new “Notice of Stocking” form.
Cooperative trout nurseries in Pennsylvania getting extra attention Read More »
Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission plans $93 project to improve state fish hatcheries
New wild trout streams and Class A Wild Trout Waters seem to be identified and approved at almost every quarterly meeting of the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. This causes some anglers to wonder if the agency is abandoning or at least de-emphasizing stocked trout.
According to Tim Schaeffer, agency executive director, that is just not the case. He addressed a group of cooperative trout nursery operators at a Feb. 24 meeting in Moshannon.
“Stocked trout are still very important to the commission,” Schaeffer said. “In fact, we have just started on a $93 million hatchery capital improvement project, with completion likely in 2028.”
Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission plans $93 project to improve state fish hatcheries Read More »
Mark Nale: Pennsylvania’s wealth of public land questioned
I was troubled by a recent article in Pennsylvania Outdoor News, headlined “Senators: PGC owns enough game lands.”
The story reported on comments made by Pennsylvania senators after Game Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans gave his annual report to the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee. Sen. Scott Hutchinson (R–Butler, Clarion, Erie, Forest, Venango and Warren counties) wanted to know if there was an upper limit to the acres of game lands that the Pennsylvania Game Commission should own.
Mark Nale: Pennsylvania’s wealth of public land questioned Read More »
Increasing number of unusual birds spotted in Pennsylvania lately
Earlier this month I traveled to Cumberland County, Pa., hopefully to see and photograph an unusual bird – a limpkin. If you have never heard of a limpkin, you aren’t alone. Limpkins are native to Florida, Central and South America.
With the help of a local photographer and Facebook friend, I was able to locate the limpkin feeding along Conodoquinet Creek in suburban Mechanicsburg.
Increasing number of unusual birds spotted in Pennsylvania lately Read More »
