Outdoors-related clubs and organizations can submit items to be considered for publication in “Outdoors Briefs” by emailing to outdoors@republicanherald.com.
NRA joins in fight
for Sunday hunting
State Rep. Frank Farina, D-Lackawanna, and Rep. Robert Godshall, R-Montgomery, gained the support of the National Rifle Association at a rally and press conference in Harrisburg for their joint legislation that would expand Sunday hunting opportunities in Pennsylvania.
“Expanding Sunday hunting allows those who spend the week working, attending school, caring for their family or volunteering in the community to enjoy more time in the great outdoors,” NRA-ILA executive director Chris Cox said. “America has an important hunting heritage and Pennsylvania’s sportsmen and women deserve to have the same opportunities as hunters in other states.”
Only two groups of hunters in Pennsylvania are currently allowed to hunt Sundays: those who hunt varmints and those who own large tracts of land. This new legislation would give the authority to the Pennsylvania Game Commission to extend those rights to every hunter in Pennsylvania.
In addition to the NRA, Farina and Godshall were joined by fellow legislators, representatives of the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs and Unified Sportsmen of Pennsylvania, independent sportsmen’s clubs and individual sportsmen in support of expanded Sunday hunting. Farina is the Democratic chairman of the Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus.
Lodge owner guest on radio show
Tom Banditelli of Tamaqua and an owner of Caiger’s Resort on the St. Lawrence River is today’s guest of Republican-Herald/News-Item outdoors editor Doyle Dietz on “Experience The Outdoors,” 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.
Education
Norm Thornburg Youth Conservation Camp, Thursday-Saturday, July 9-11, Schuylkill County Fairgrounds and Bear Creek Environmental Area, Summit Station, ages 13-15; for information and scholarship requests, contact “Porcupine Pat” McKinney at (570) 622-4124, ext. 113, or porcupinepat@yahoo.com.
Fishing
Deer Lake Catfish Derby, Saturday, July 11, to Saturday, Aug. 8, separate divisions for adults and 12 and younger; for applications and information, visit the Deer Lake and West Brunswick Township Fire Company or call (570) 366-2562.
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, contact the club at (570) 467-0331.
Today’s events
Fish for Free Day, license fees are waived by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission for anglers 16 and older on all state waters open to public fishing, but all creel limits and regulations apply. 3D, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Seltzer Gun Club, 532 Seltzer Road; for information, contact Matt Balulis at (570) 640-1938.
This week’s events
• Monday and Tuesday: Pennsylvania Game Commission board of directors quarterly meeting, agency headquarters, 2001 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg; Monday, doors open 7:45 a.m. to register for public comment at 8:30 a.m. meeting; Tuesday, doors open 7:45 a.m. for 8:30 a.m. meeting.
• Thursday: Breast Cancer Awareness Trap Shoot, 10 a.m., Valley Gun and Country Club, 405 Monastery Road, Elysburg; for information, call (618) 604-3136. Trap, 6-9 p.m., Orwigsburg Gun Club, Gun Club Road, off Route 443 East, Orwigsburg; for information, email grammyminch@gmail.com. Schuylkill Spurs Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meeting, 7 p.m., West Penn Rod and Gun Club, 1047 Clamtown Road, Tamaqua; for information, contact Jeff Thomas at (570) 622-6179, Jeff Post at (570) 366-7783 or Mike Corbin at (570) 929-1622.
• Friday-Sunday: Pennsylvania Grand, Valley Gun and Country Club, 405 Monastery Road, Elysburg; for information, call (610) 216-4412.
• Sunday, July 5: 3D, 8 a.m., Friedensburg Fish and Game, 169 Stone Mountain Road, Pine Grove; for information, call (610) 763-4925. Port Clinton Fish and Game meeting, noon; for information, call Ted Knoblauch at (610) 562-4310 or email pcfg1j@yahoo.com.
— Compiled by Doyle Dietz