Outdoors-related clubs and organizations can submit items to be considered for publication in “Outdoors Briefs” by emailing to outdoors@republicanherald.com.
Dietz earns 2 awards
for outdoors writing
BEDFORD — Republican-Herald/News-Item outdoors editor Doyle Dietz earned second- and third-place writing awards at the recent Mason-Dixon Outdoor Writers Association Spring Conference and Banquet for work published in the newspapers during 2014.
Dietz earned second place in The Bass Pro Shops Pass It On Award for his feature “Targeting the Youth,” which dealt with getting youngsters involved in traditional muzzleloader shooting. He earned third place in The Wheeler Johnson Memorial Award for Best Newspaper Article for his column “Boy’s 1st Fishing Trip Will Be Remembered,” which dealt with his then 5-year-old great-nephew’s first time fishing.
Unique shoot benefits
Team Pine Grove YHEC
A 100-shot shoot comprised of skeet, wobble trap and sporting clays is today at Roedersville Game and Fish, 1357 Mountain Road, Pine Grove, to benefit Team Pine Grove Youth Hunter Education Challenge to defray the cost of this year’s competition.
Competition begins at 8 a.m. and registration ends at 1 p.m. Participants will shoot 50 sporting clays, 25 skeet and 25 wobble trap. Refreshments are available at the club.
Canoeing/kayaking
at Sweet Arrow Lake
A basic canoeing and kayaking course is being held Monday, May 25, beginning at 2 p.m., at Sweet Arrow Lake County Park, Pine Grove. This program is free for teens and adults, but preregistration is required by calling (570) 345-8952.
Whitewater rafting
radio show topic
Steve Bretzik of Whitewater Adventures, Nesquehoning, is today’s guest of Republican-Herald/News-Item outdoors editor Doyle Dietz on “Experience The Outdoors,” winner of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association award for best outdoors radio program, 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.
Banquets
Pine Grove Chapter of Ducks Unlimited, ticket deadline Monday, May 18, for Saturday, May 30 event, 5 p.m., HH&L Fire Hall, Pine Grove; for information, email shawn.m.kimmel.mil@mail.mil or contact Jason Krause at (570) 691-7632.
Daily events
• 3D simulated hunting course, dawn to dusk through Saturday, Oct. 17, Bear’s Head Archery, 148 Lofty Road, Delano, off Exit 134 of I-81; Closed for trap second and fourth Sundays, 1-5 p.m.; for information, call the club at (570) 467-0331.
Today’s events
3D, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Seltzer Gun Club, 532 Seltzer Road; for information, contact Matt Balulis at (570) 640-1938. Keystone Open Trap Shoot, 8 a.m., Pennsylvania State Sportsmen’s Association Home Grounds, Valley Gun and Country Club, Elysburg. Sporting clays, 9 a.m., Friedensburg Fish and Game, 169 Stone Mountain Road, Pine Grove; for information, call (484) 520-5904. Spring Rendezvous and Muzzleloader shoot, 9 a.m., Susquehanna Sportsmen Association, Sportsmen Club Road, off Cherokee Road, Route 642 East, Danville. Bear Creek Festival, noon to 4 p.m., Schuylkill County Fairgrounds, Summit Station.
This week’s events
• Thursday: Trap, 6-9 p.m., Orwigsburg Gun Club, Gun Club Road, off Route 443 East, Orwigsburg; for information, email grammyminch@gmail.com.
• Saturday: All-Ages Trout Derby, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., Whippoorwill Dam, South End Field and Stream, Frackville; for required preregistration, call (570) 205-5527 or in person at the clubhouse. Children’s Workshop: The Caterpillar and the Polliwog, ages 4-8, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Hawk Mountain Sanctuary visitor center, Kempton; for required preregistration, call (610) 756-6961.
• Sunday, May 24: Fish-for-Free Day, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission requires no license for anglers age 16 and older to fish state waters. Archaeological dig, 2-3 p.m., Sweet Arrow Lake County Park, Pine Grove.
— Compiled by Doyle Dietz