Outdoors Calendar
CHESTNUT RIDGE CHAPTER, TROUT UNLIMITED ANNUAL BANQUET
Saturday, March 22
Hugo’s Restaurant, Rte. 40 west, Brownsville. Doors open 5 p.m., Buffet Dinner served 7 p.m. Auctions, games. Fishing tackle, sporting goods, wildlife art and more. Deadline for tickets March 12.
For tickets and information contact Eugene Gordon: 724-277-8688.
FRIENDSHIP HILL SPURS CHAPTER, NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION BANQUET
Saturday, March 29
Fayette County Fairgrounds, Rte. 119 and Pechin Rd., Dunbar, Pa. Doors open 4:30 p.m. Auctions, games. Hunting gear, sporting goods, adventure trips.
Purchase tickets online at: https://events.nwtf.org/380440-2025
For information contact Mark Lambie: 724-550-5193
NEW TRAIL AT LAUREL HILL STATE PARK
The Scenic View Trail at Laurel Hill State Park begins where the Lake Trail ends, just across Copper Kettle Highway. The trail starts in a large pine plantation and extends to a series of meandering switch back terrain to climb the hillside. Near the top of the hill, you can follow signs through the extensive wildflower meadow to traverse along a gravel path to the end of the Scenic View Overlook tower. At the overlook you can see a view of the horizon in all directions. This linear trail is approximately 1.3 miles in length and considered more difficult hiking.
TRAP, SKEET AND WOBBLE SHOOTING AT FAYETTE GUN CLUB
The Fayette Gun Club is having trap, skeet and wobble shooting at its facility at 1435 Gun Club Road, Uniontown every Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. and every Wednesday from 3 to 6 p.m. or last shooter.
Cost is $5 per round for members and $6 for non-members. For more information contact Terry at 724-366-1831.
HUNTER-TRAPPER INDEPENDENT STUDY COURSE
NOTE: Must be 11 years old to register. Students must attend the two- to three-hour class to be tested and certified. Students must study entire course content on own online, taking about 8-10 hours to complete.
SUCCESSFUL TURKEY HUNTING
Online registration only; must be at least age 11 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 (8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday) to request a copy of our “Successful Turkey Hunting Student Manual.”
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 (8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday) to request a printed version of the manual.
FAIRBANK ROD AND GUN CLUB SPORTING CLAYS
Every Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.
Find us on Facebook.
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 bowhunter education.
FINAL 2024-25 HUNTING SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS
SQUIRRELS, Red, Gray, Black and Fox (Combined): Dec. 26-Feb. 28, 2025 (6 daily, 18 possession).
RABBIT (Cottontail): Dec. 26-Feb. 28, 2025 (4 daily, 12 possession).
PHEASANT: Dec. 26-Feb. 28, 2025 (2 daily, 6 in possession). Male and female pheasants may be taken in all WMUs. There is no open season for taking pheasants in Wild Pheasant Recovery Areas, except as authorized by executive order.
BOBWHITE QUAIL: Dec. 26-March 31, 2025. No limit. There is no open season for the taking of bobwhite quail in the Letterkenny Army Depot Bobwhite Quail Recovery Area.
WOODCHUCK (GROUNDHOG): Dec. 16-June 30, 2025. No limit.
CROW: Aug. 22-March 23, 2025, on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday only. No limit.
STARLING AND ENGLISH SPARROW: No closed season, except during the regular firearms deer season. No limit.
SPRING GOBBLER (Bearded bird only): Special season for eligible junior hunters, with required license, and mentored hunters 16 and under – April 26, 2025. Only 1 spring gobbler may be taken during this hunt. Hunting hours end at noon.
SPRING GOBBLER (Bearded bird only): May 3-31, 2025. 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 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.
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 or permit.
FINAL 2024-25 FURBEARER HUNTING SEASONS
COYOTE: No closed season. No limit. 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.
FOX: Oct. 26-Feb. 22, 2025. No limit. Sunday hunting permitted.
RACCOON: Dec. 2-Feb. 22, 2025. No limit.
OPOSSUM, STRIPED SKUNK and WEASEL: No closed season, except during the firearms deer season. No Sunday hunting. No limits.
FINAL 2024-25 TRAPPING SEASONS
COYOTE, FOX, OPOSSUM, RACCOON, STRIPED SKUNK and WEASEL: Oct. 26-Feb. 23, 2025. No limits.
COYOTE and FOX, CABLE RESTRAINTS (Statewide): Dec. 26-Feb. 23, 2025. No limits. Participants must pass cable restraint certification course.
BEAVER (Statewide): Dec. 21-March 31, 2025 (Limits vary depending on WMU).
RIVER OTTER (WMUs 1A, 1B, 2F, 3B, 3C, 3D and 4E): Feb. 15-22, 2025. One river otter per license year. Licensed furtakers may obtain one permit each.
FINAL 2024-25 FALCONRY SEASONS
SQUIRRELS (combined): Dec. 2-March 31, 2025 (6 daily, 18 possession).
BOBWHITE QUAIL Dec. 2-March 31, 2025 (No limit).
RUFFED GROUSE Dec. 2-March 31, 2025 (2 daily, 6 possession).
COTTONTAIL RABBIT Dec. 2-March 31, 2025 (4 daily, 12 possession).
SNOWSHOE OR VARYING HARES Dec. 2-March 31, 2025 (1 daily, 3 possession).
PHEASANT (Male or Female combined): Dec. 2-March 31, 2025 (2 daily, 6 possession).
MINK, MUSKRAT, FOX, OPOSSUM, RACCOON, STRIPED SKUNK and WEASEL Dec. 2-March 31, 2025 (No limits).
No hunting on Sundays.
No open season on other wild birds or mammals.
2024-25 MIGRATORY GAME BIRD SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS
CANADA GEESE (includes WHITE-FRONTED GEESE):
Resident Population Goose Zone (RP)
All of Pennsylvania except for the Atlantic Population zone. Dec. 16-Jan. 18, and Jan. 31-Feb. 22 (5-goose daily bag limit in latter 3 segments).
Exception: See hunting digest
Atlantic Population Zone (AP)
The area east of SR 97 from Maryland State Line to the intersection of SR 194, east of SR 194 to intersection of US Route 30, south of US Route 30 to SR 441, east of SR 441 to SR 743, east of SR 743 to intersection of I-81, east of I-81 to intersection of I-80, south of I-80 to New Jersey state line. Dec. 23-Jan. 18 (3-goose daily bag limit in latter two segments).
Exception: See hunting digest
LIGHT GEESE (Snow Geese and Ross’ Geese):
Atlantic Population Zone:
Regular: Oct. 1-Jan. 25, 25 daily, no possession limit.
Conservation Order: Jan. 27 – April 25; 25 daily, no possession limit.
Resident Population Zone:
Regular: Oct. 22-Feb. 22; 25 daily, no possession limit.
Conservation Order: Feb. 24 – April 25; 25 daily, no possession limit.
HARLEQUIN DUCKS, and TUNDRA and TRUMPETER SWANS: No open season.
CLAPPER AND KING RAILS: No open season.
To request to have an item added to the Outdoors Calendar or to send a digital image of your harvested bear, deer or turkey photo for possible publication please email hssports@heraldstandard.com.