Outdoors calendar
RAP SHOOTS
Nixon Gun Club will begin its weekly Trap Shoots on Monday, July 15 at 6 p.m. The shoots will be held every Monday until further notice.
SPORTING CLAY SHOOTS
The Fairbank Rod & Gun Club will hold sporting clay shoots every Tuesday beginning June 11 at 5:30 p.m.
YOUTH PHEASANT HUNT
The Fairbank Gun Club will hold a youth pheasant hunt open to ages 12-16 on Saturday, Oct. 12. All participants must preregister, first-come, first-served (limited to 50). Shells must be provided. Activities include sporting clays, black powder shooting, and pheasant hunting over pointing dogs. For more information, call Rich Kovacic at (724) 984-9641.
SUCCESSFUL BOWHUNTER-ED CLASSES
Note: All the online Pennsylvania Bowhunter Education Course must be completed before registering for Successful Bowhunting. The online bowhunter education course (Pennsylvania Bowhunter Education Course) and Successful Bowhunting field day to complete the requirements for Pennsylvania bowhunter education. Online registration only.
HUNTER-TRAPPER INDEPENDENT STUDY COURSE
Note: Must be 11 years old to register. Students must attend the 2-3 hour class to be tested and certified. Students must study entire course content on own online, taking about 8-10 hours to complete.
FAYETTE COUNTY
Connellsville Sportsmen’s Association — Wednesday, Oct. 23, 6-8 p.m.; class limit 40; For more information, contact Jason Farabaugh at (724) 238-9523.
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Central Assembly of God Church — Tuesday, Nov. 5, 6:30-8:30 p.m.; class limit 50; For more information, contact Dan Sitler at (724) 238-9523.
Gander Mountain — Wednesday, Nov. 13, 6-9 p.m.; class limit 45; For more information, contact Rich Joyce at (724) 238-9523.
HUNTER-TRAPPER ED CLASSES
NOTE: All hunter-trapper education students must now register online. To register go to the Game Commission’s website at http://www.pgc.state.pa.us and look for Hunter-Trapper Education. Click on the photo and it will open the link to the registration page. The instructions on how to register are easy to follow. Must be 11 years old to attend class.
FAYETTE COUNTY
Fairbank Rod & Gun Club — Sunday, Oct. 13, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; class limit 80; For more information, contact Doug Bergman at (724) 238-9523
Critchfield Alliance Church — Saturday, Oct. 19, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; class limit 25; For more information, contact Ron Hull at (724) 455-7524.
North Union Twp. Recreational Center — Sunday, Oct. 20, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; class limit 40; For more information, contact Doug Bergman at (724) 9523.
Masontown Fire Hall — Sunday, Nov. 3, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; class limit 100; For more information, contact Brandon Bonin at (724) 238-9523.
WESTMORELAND COUNTY
Irwin Sportsmen’s Association — Sunday, Oct. 6, 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; class limit 40; For more information, contact Joseph Kelly at (724) 238-9523.
Mount Pleasant Armory — Saturday, Oct. 12, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; class limit 50; For more information, contact Matt Thomas at (724) 244-0127.
Pa. Game Commission Southwest Region Office — Monday, Nov. 4, 6-9:30 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 6, 6-9:30 p.m.; class limit 50; For more information, contact Brian Singer at (724) 238-9523.
Champion Christian School — Saturday, Nov. 9, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.; class limit 50; For more information, contact Jason Farabaugh at (724) 238-9523.
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Canonsburg Sportsmen Club — Wednesday, Oct. 9, 6-9 p.m.; Thursday, Oct. 10, 6-9 p.m.; class limit 80; For more information, contact Walt Sarafin at (724) 926-3640 or Richard McNemar at (724) 304-1907.
Gander Mountain — Saturday, Oct. 12, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; class limit 50; For more information, contact Rich Joyce at (724) 238-9523.
Paris Sportsmen’s Club — Saturday, Nov. 9, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.; class limit 75; For more information, contact John Sinnett at (304) 723-3182.
GREENE COUNTY
Bobtown Rod & Gun Club — Sunday, Oct. 13, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; class limit 50; For more information, contact Marvin Cumberledge at (724) 451-8481.
Jefferson Fire Hall — Saturday, Nov. 16, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; class limit 75; For more information, contact Mike Greiner at (724) 238-9523.
A listing of most 2013-2014 seasons and daily bag limits:
SQUIRRELS, Red, Gray, Black and Fox (Combined): Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license, and mentored youth — Oct. 12-18 (6 daily).
SQUIRRELS, Red, Gray, Black and Fox (Combined): Oct. 19-Nov. 30; Dec. 16-24 and Dec. 26-Feb. 22 (6 daily).
RUFFED GROUSE: Oct. 19-Nov. 30, Dec. 16-24 and Dec. 26-Jan. 25 (2 daily).
RABBIT (Cottontail): Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license: Oct. 12-19 (4 daily).
RABBIT (Cottontail): Oct. 26-Nov. 30, Dec. 16-24 and Dec. 26-Feb. 22 (4 daily).
PHEASANT: Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license – Oct. 12-19 (2 daily). 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 – Oct. 26-Nov. 30, Dec 16-24 and Dec. 26-Feb 22. Male and female may be taken in all other WMUs – Oct. 26-Nov. 30, Dec. 16-24 and Dec. 26-Feb. 22 (2 daily). No open season for pheasants in any Wild Pheasant Recovery Areas.
BOBWHITE QUAIL: Oct. 26-Nov. 30 (4 daily). (Closed in WMUs 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D.)
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. 26-28 (1 daily).
WOODCHUCKS (GROUNDHOGS): No closed season, except on Sundays and during the regular firearms deer seasons. No limit.
PORCUPINES: Sept. 1-Mar. 31 (3 daily with a season limit of 10). Closed during the overlap with the regular firearms deer seasons.
CROWS: July 5-April 6, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday only. No limit.
WILD TURKEY (Male or Female): WMU 1B – Nov. 2-9 and Nov. 28-30; WMU 2B (Shotgun and bow and arrow) – Nov. 2-22 and Nov. 28-30; WMUs 1A, 2A and 2D – Nov. 2-16 and Nov. 28-30; WMUs 2C, 2E, 4A, 4B and 4D – Nov. 2-22 and Nov. 28-30; WMUs 2F, 2G and 2H – Nov. 2-16 and Nov. 28-30; WMUs 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4C and 4E – Nov. 2-22 and Nov. 28-30; 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 26, 2014. Only 1 spring gobbler may be taken during this hunt.
SPRING GOBBLER (Bearded bird only): May 3-31, 2014. Daily/season limit is 1; season limit may be expanded to 2 by persons who possess a valid special wild turkey license. From May 3-17, legal hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until noon; from May 19-31, legal hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset.
BLACK BEAR (Statewide) Archery: Nov. 18-22. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.
BLACK BEAR (Statewide): Nov. 23-27. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.
BLACK BEAR (WMUs 4C, 4D and 4E): Dec. 4-7. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.
BLACK BEAR (WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D): Dec. 2-14. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.
BLACK BEAR (WMUs 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D): Dec. 2-7. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.
BLACK BEAR (WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D) Archery: Sept. 21-Nov. 16. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.
BLACK BEAR (WMUs 5B) Archery: Oct. 5-Nov. 16. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.
BLACK BEAR (WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D) Muzzleloader: Oct. 19-26. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.
BLACK BEAR (WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D) Special Firearms: Oct. 24-26, 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. 4-9. Only one elk may be taken during the license year.
ELK, EXTENDED (Antlered and Antlerless): Nov. 11-16. Only one elk may be taken during the license year. Eligible elk license recipients who haven’t harvested an elk by Nov. 9, in designated areas.
Elk, Special Conservation Tag (Antlered or Antlerless): Sept. 2-Nov. 9. One elk tag for one antlered or antlerless elk that was auctioned at the annual Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Banquet.
DEER, ARCHERY (Antlerless Only) WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D: Sept. 21-Oct. 4, and Nov. 18-30. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
DEER, ARCHERY (Antlered and Antlerless) WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D: Jan. 13-25. One antlered deer per hunting license year. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
DEER, ARCHERY (Antlered and Antlerless) Statewide: Oct. 5-Nov. 16 and Dec. 26-Jan. 11. One antlered deer per hunting license year. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
DEER (Antlered and Antlerless) WMUs 1A, 1B, 2B, 3A, 3D, 4A, 4C, 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D: Dec. 2-14. One antlered deer per hunting license year. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
DEER (Antlered Only) WMUs 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3B, 3C, 4B, 4D and 4E: Dec. 2-6. 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, 3B, 3C, 4B, 4D and 4E: Dec. 7-14. One antlered deer per hunting license year. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
DEER, ANTLERLESS (Statewide): Oct. 24-26. 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.
DEER, ANTLERLESS MUZZLELOADER (Statewide): Oct. 19-26. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
DEER, ANTLERED OR ANTLERLESS FLINTLOCK (Statewide): Dec. 26-Jan. 11. 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 and 5D): Dec. 26-Jan. 25. 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. 25. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
COYOTES: No closed season. Unlimited. Outside of any big game season (deer, bear, elk and turkey), coyotes may be taken with a hunting license or a furtaker license, and without wearing orange. During any big game season, coyotes may be taken while lawfully hunting big game or with a furtakers license.
RACCOON and FOXES: Oct. 26-Feb. 22, unlimited.
OPOSSUM, SKUNKS and WEASELS: No closed season, except Sundays. No limits.
BOBCAT (WMUs 2A, 2C, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4C, 4D and 4E): Jan. 21-Feb. 11. One bobcat per license year, but all licensed furtakers may obtain one permit.
2013-14 TRAPPING SEASONS
MINK and MUSKRAT: Nov. 23-Jan. 5. Unlimited.
COYOTE, FOXES, OPOSSUM, RACCOON, SKUNKS and WEASELS: Oct. 27-Feb. 23. No limit.
COYOTE and FOXES (Statewide) Cable Restraints: Dec. 26-Feb. 23. No limit. Participants must pass cable restraint certification course.
BEAVER (Statewide): Dec. 26-March 31 (Limits vary depending on WMU).
BOBCAT (WMUs 2A, 2C, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4C, 4D and 4E): Dec. 21-Jan. 12. One bobcat per license year, and all licensed furtakers may obtain one permit.
FISHER (WMUs 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3A, 3D, 4D and 4E): Dec. 21-26. One fisher per license year, and all licensed furtakers may obtain one permit.
TROUT STOCKINGS
The Fish and Boat Commission no longer lists the number of trout to be stocked.