Outdoors calendar
LAUREL HIGHLANDS HIKING TRAIL QUEST — Hike #1
Saturday, April 18 at 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Laurel Ridge State Park 1117 Jim Mountain Road, Rockwood, PA 15557-5454
This event is sponsored by Venture Outdoors. Please contact VO directly for more information and to register using the link below or call 412-255-0564.
Completing all 70 miles of the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail is one of the ultimate outdoor challenges that Western Pennsylvania has to offer. Bruce Cridlebaugh leads the series of seven separate day-hikes to complete the entire LHHT starting at mile marker 70 near Johnstown and heading south to Ohiopyle. The shortest hike will be 6.8 miles and the longest will be 13.1 miles. You will traverse state parks, forests, game lands, and other public and private lands. This is an advanced hiking series. You should expect to maintain a pace of 2.5-3 mph (24-20 minutes per mile) with an average of over 10 miles per hike.
This is the first hike of the Quest series. At 13.1 miles, it is the longest hike of the bunch and will offer fantastic views after a sustained uphill at the beginning.
Dates for the remaining hikes:
Saturday, May 2, Saturday, May 30, Saturday, June 13, Saturday, June 27, Saturday, July 11 and Saturday, July 25
To register, please visit https://www.ventureoutdoors.org/activities-calendar/?wppb=program&month=4&calyear=2015&=&tmpl=register&id=587
CANINE SEARCH AND RESCUE HIKE
Saturday, April 25 at 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Laurel Hill State Park 1454 Laurel Hill Park Road, Somerset, PA 15501-5629
This event is sponsored by Venture Outdoors. Please contact VO directly for more information and to register using the link below or call 412-255-0564.
Learn scent theory, tracking, and other techniques used by a local canine search and rescue team on this hike in Laurel Hill State Park. We will hike 2-3 miles around the area and engage in some “hide and seek” exercises in which we will have a live demonstration of how these amazing canine-human teams work.
We will wind up with a debrief in a park shelter with warm beverages, and a chance to hear from the team members. This outing may be especially attractive to dog lovers, but participants should NOT bring their own dogs on this hike.
To register, please visit https://www.ventureoutdoors.org/activities-calendar/?wppb=program&month=4&calyear=2015&=&tmpl=register&id=535
UNIONTOWN BEAGLE CLUB
The Uniontown Beagle Club’s trials first trial begins at 7 a.m. with the bench show at 10:30 a.m. and the second trial at 11 a.m. Trial dates are: Sunday, May 24; Sunday, Sept. 27; Sunday, Oct. 25; and Sunday, Nov. 22. The Pennsylvania State Championship in on Sunday, April 26.
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 a.m. to 4 p.m.) 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.
SUCCESSFUL FURTAKING
Prior to attending the one-day class, all students must complete the independent study part of the training by clicking on the link “Successful Furtaking! Student Manual” on the website at www.pgc.state.pa.us. If not online, please telephone the PGC Hunter-Trapper Education Division at (717) 787-7015 (M-F, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.) to request a printed version of the manual. The independent study portion of the course takes approximately 6-8 hours to complete.
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.
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 and Gun Club, Saturday, April 4, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.; class limit 50; For more information, contact William Curcio at (724) 989-4678.
WASHINGTON COUNTY
McDonald’s Sportsmens Association, Saturday, April 25, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; class limit 80; For more information, contact Curtis Reese at (412) 431-8916.
WESTMORELAND COUNTY
Rostraver Sportsmen’s Belle Vernon, PA 15012 Saturday, March 28, 2015 8:30am – 4:00pm
SUCCESSFUL FURTAKING
Prior to attending the one-day class, all students must complete the independent study part of the training by clicking on the link “Successful Furtaking! Student Manual” on the website at www.pgc.state.pa.us.
If not online, please telephone the PGC Hunter-Trapper Education Division at (717) 787-7015 (M-F, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.) to request a printed version of the manual. The independent study portion of the course takes approximately 6-8 hours to complete.
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.
HUNTING SEASONS
A partial listing of 2014-2015 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-March 31, except during overlap with the regular firearms deer season. Daily limit of three, season limit of 10.
CROWS: July 4-April 5, 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.
EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE: Season dates shall run concurrently with mourning dove season. Shall be counted as part of the aggregate daily limits for mourning dove season.
SPRING GOBBLER (Bearded bird only): Special season for eligible junior hunters, with required license, and mentored youth – April 25, 2015. Only 1 spring gobbler may be taken during this hunt.
SPRING GOBBLER (Bearded bird only): May 2-30, 2015. Daily limit 1, season limit 2. (Second spring gobbler may be only taken by persons who possess a valid special wild turkey license.) From May 2-16, legal hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until noon; from May 18-30, legal hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset.
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.
WOODCHUCKS (GROUNDHOGS): No closed season, except on Sundays and during the regular firearms deer seasons. No limit.
2014-15 FURBEARER HUNTING SEASONS
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 furtaker license.
OPOSSUM, STRIPED SKUNKS and WEASELS: No closed season, except Sundays. No limits.
2014-15 TRAPPING SEASONS
BEAVERS (Statewide): Dec. 26-March 31 (Limits vary depending on WMU).
2014-15 FALCONRY SEASONS
SQUIRRELS (combined), BOBWHITE QUAIL, RUFFED GROUSE, COTTONTAIL RABBITS, SNOWSHOE OR VARYING HARES, RINGNECK PHEASANTS (Male or Female combined): Sept. 1-March 31.
Daily and Field Possession limits vary. (Migratory game bird seasons and bag limits for falconers will be set in accordance with federal regulations in August.)
No open season on other wild birds or mammals.
Waterfowl and Migratory Game Bird seasons to be established in accordance with federal regulations this summer.
TROUT STOCKINGS
The Fish and Boat Commission no longer lists the number of trout to be stocked.