Outdoors calendar
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.
FAYETTE COUNTY
Star Junction Fish and Game, Saturday, May 23, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; class limit 40; For more information, contact Helen Bittorf at (724) 497-3079.
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
Fairbank Rod & Gun Club, Saturday, May 9, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.; class limit 60; For more information, contact John Hustosky at (724) 438-3249.
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Gander Mountain, Saturday, May 23, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; class limit 50; For more information, contact Rich Joyce at (724) 238-9523.
WESTMORELAND COUNTY
Murrysville District Sportsmen’s Club, Sunday, April 26, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; class limit 55; For more information, contact Dale Emerick at (412) 580-1642.
Kingston Veterans and Sportsmen, Saturday, June 27, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; class limit 50; For more information, contact Jeff Uschak at (724) 694-2591.
Murrysville District Sportsmen’s Club, Saturday, June 27, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; class limit 55; For more information, contact Dale Emerick at (724) 580-1642.
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.
CABLE RESTRAINT CERTIFICATION
This is a one-day certification class for any person desiring to complete the Mandatory Cable Restraint Program. Being certified allows for the use of cable restraint devices to trap certain furbearing animals. Certification is required by regulation for any trapper using cable restraint devices to capture foxes and coyotes in Pennsylvania.
Register for these classes at www.pgc.state.pa.us.
FAYETTE COUNTY
Indian Creek Sportsmen’s Association, Sunday, May 31, 8 a.m.-noon; class limit 30; For more information, contact Greg Grimm at (724) 455-2452.
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.
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): 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.
TROUT STOCKINGS
The Fish and Boat Commission no longer lists the number of trout to be stocked.
Back Creek, April 14 (brook, brown), May 5 (brook, brown)
Big Sandy Creek, April 17 (brook, brown), April 21 (brook, brown)
Chaney Run, April 17 (brook)
Dunbar Creek (confluence with Glade), May 6 (brook, brown), Oct. 2 (brook, brown)
Dunbar Creek (at SR1055), May 6 (brook, brown)
Dunlap Creek, May 15 (brown, rainbow)
Dunlap Creek Lake, April 25 (rainbow), May 13 (rainbow), Oct. 1 (rainbow)
Georges Creek, May 15 (brook, brown)
Indian Creek, May 5 (brown, rainbow)
Meadow Run (Beaver Creek), May 14 (brown, rainbow)
Meadow Run (bridge on Dinner Bell Road), May 14 (brown, rainbow), Oct. 1 (rainbow)
Mountain Creek, May 15 (brook, brown)
Virgin Run Creek, April 29 (rainbow), May 8 (rainbow), Oct. 2 (rainbow)
Youghiogheny River, April 22 (brown, rainbow), May 7 (brown, brook), May 19 (brown, rainbow), July 2 (brown, rainbow), Sept. 4 (rainbow)