Outdoors calendar
Youth Mentor Trout Fishing Day
Citing ice remaining on many lakes in northern Pennsylvania, the Fish and Boat Commission has announced it has rescheduled its two Youth Mentor trout fishing days for May 10. The original dates for Youth Mentor Day were March 22 in southeastern Pennsylvania and April 5 in the rest of the state, including Fayette County. Dunlap Creek Lake is the only Fayette County water where the Youth Mentor Day will be in force.
HAM AND TURKEY SHOOTS
Nixon Gun Club will hold ham and turkey shoots at 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 6.
SPORTING CLAY SHOOTS
The Fairbank Rod & Gun Club will hold sporting clay shoots every Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.
SUCCESSFUL TURKEY
HUNTING
NOTE: Online registration only; must be at least 11 years old to register.
Prior to attending, you should complete the independent study part of this program online. If you don’t want to study online, please telephone the PGC Hunter-Trapper Education Division at 717-787-7015 (M-F from 8:00am to 4:00pm) to request a printed version of our Successful Turkey Hunting! Student Manual. The independent-study part of the training will take about 6 to 8 hours to complete.
GREENE COUNTY
State Gamelands 223 Headquarters Building, Sunday, April 13, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; class limit 20; For more information contact Brandon Bonin at (724) 238-9523.
CABLE RESTRAINT CERTIFICATION
NOTE: Online registration only; must be at least 11 years old to register.
Register for these classes at www.pgc.state.pa.us.
WESTMORELAND COUNTY
Mount Pleasant Fur Buyers & Trappling Supplies, Sunday, May 18, 8 a.m.-noon; class limit 30; For more information contact Jason Farabaugh at (724) 238-9523.
Mount Pleasant Fur Buyers & Trappling Supplies, Sunday, May 18, 1-5 p.m.; class limit 30; For more information contact Jason Farabaugh at (724) 238-9523.
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 Sportsman’s Association, Saturday, June 28, 8:30-10:30 a.m.; class limit 40; For more information, contact Jason Farabaugh at (724) 238-9523.
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Gander Mountain, Tuesday, May 20, 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
Fairhope Rod & Gun Club, Saturday, April 19, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.; class limit 50; For more information contact William Curcio at (724) 989-4678.
Indian Creek Valley Community Center, Saturday, April 26, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.; class limit 50; For more information contact Jason Farabaugh at (724) 238-9523.
GREENE COUNTY
Ryerson Station State Park, Saturday, April 12, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; class limit 40; For more information contact Marvin Cumberledge at (724-451-8481.
WASHINGTON COUNTY
McDonald Sportsmen’s Club, Saturday, April 26, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; class limit 80; For more information contact Curtis Reese at (412) 431-8916.
Gander Mountain, Saturday, June 7, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; class limit 50; For more information contact Rich Joyce at (724) 238-9523.
WESTMORELAND COUNTY
Irwin Sportsmen’s Association, Sunday, April 6, 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; class limit 40; For more information contact Joseph Kelly.
Wilderness Wildlife Museum, Sunday, May 4, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; class limit 15; For more information contact Dennis Marcelli at (724) 523-5552.
Kingston Veterans & Sportsmen, Saturday, June 28, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; class limit 55; For more information contact Jeff Uschak at (724) 694-2591.
A listing of most 2013-2014 seasons and daily bag limits:
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.
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.
OPOSSUM, SKUNKS and WEASELS: No closed season, except Sundays. No limits.
2013-14 TRAPPING SEASONS
BEAVER (Statewide): Dec. 26-March 31 (Limits vary depending on WMU).
TROUT STOCKINGS
The Fish and Boat Commission no longer lists the number of trout to be stocked.