Outdoors-related clubs and organizations can submit items to be considered for publication in “Outdoors Briefs” by emailing to outdoors@republicanherald.com.
Reports indicate
successful bear hunt
Although the final total for the Pennsylvania bear seasons will be released at a later date, results of the first two days of the statewide firearms season indicate another successful season.
Pennsylvania Game Commission officials inspected 2,040 bears at check stations following the Saturday, Nov. 22, opening day and Monday, Nov. 24, second day of the four-day season. That preliminary total is just four less than the 2,044 taken the first two days of the 2013 season, when the final total of 3,510 was the fifth-largest in history.
Not included in the preliminary total were bears taken during early concurrent archery deer/bear seasons in select wildlife management units and the five-day statewide archery bear season. Varying concurrent deer/bear seasons also were held during the first week of the statewide firearms deer season, which ended Saturday.
Bears were taken in 53 counties, with the Northcentral Region leading the way with 910. Totals by county included Lycoming, 183; Tioga, 158; Clinton, 124; and Potter, 92. In second place was the Northeast Region with 345, and hunters took bears in the area counties of Luzerne, 40; Carbon, 24; Columbia, 7; and Northumberland, 2.
Schuylkill County leads the Southeast Region with 22 of the 41 bears taken. Other counties producing bears were Dauphin, 13; Berks, 3; Lebanon, 1; Lehigh, 1; and Northampton, 1.
Trout Unlimited offers
teen memberships
Schuylkill County Trout Unlimited has announced a new membership category has been created designed for teenagers to bridge the gap between the TU Stream Explorer and regular memberships. TU Teen members will receive a calendar, four issues of “TROUT” magazine and a decal indicating membership.
TU Stream Explorer memberships, which are $12, are designed to introduce youngsters to conservation and fishing skills. TU Teen memberships, which are $14, are designed to build on the youth memberships and develop leadership skills.
Both memberships are available by following the link on the Schuylkill County Trout Unlimited page on Facebook.
Jacket designer
radio show guest
Ben Reynolds, the designer and president of My Core Control Heated Camo Hunting Jackets, is today’s guest of Republican-Herald/News-Item outdoors editor Doyle Dietz on “Experience The Outdoors,” from 7-7:30 a.m. on WLSH 1410-AM, 9:30-10 a.m. on WMGH, Magic 105.5-FM and on the Web at www.wmgh.com by clicking the “Experience The Outdoors” link.
Today’s events
Sporting clays, 9 a.m., Friedensburg Fish and Game, 169 Stone Mountain Road, Pine Grove; for information, call (610) 763-4925. “Island Park Ramble,” 2-3:30 p.m., meets at trail sign at the Broadway Street bridge, Schuylkill Haven; for information, call “Porcupine Pat” McKinney at (570) 622-4124, ext. 113. Port Clinton Fish and Game meeting, 2 p.m.; for information, call Ted Knoblauch at (610) 562-4310 or email pcfg1j@yahoo.com.
This week’s events
• Friday: “The Garden Island of Kauai,” 7-8:30 p.m., Environmental Education Center, PPL Montour Preserve, Washingtonville.
• Sunday, Dec. 14: “Christmas Bird Count,” 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., meets at Environmental Education Center, PPL Montour Preserve, Washingtonville.
— Compiled by Doyle Dietz