Outdoors-related clubs and organizations can submit items to be considered for publication in “Outdoors Briefs” by emailing to outdoors@republicanherald.com.
Support grows
for Sunday hunting
Two Pennsylvania lawmakers have introduced legislation to allow Sunday hunting. Reps. Frank Farina (D-Lackawanna) and Bob Godshall (R-Montgomery) said their proposal would remove a ban that has been in place since 1873. The measure would allow the Pennsylvania Game Commission to decide what game could be hunted and which seasons would be open on Sundays.
Giving hunters an extra day in fields and forests each week, they said, would add 7,000 jobs and pump $800 million into the state’s economy. Similar proposals have failed to pass in previous legislative sessions, but Farina says he’s optimistic this time around.
Leadership of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau opposes any expansion of the current Sunday hunting laws, but that view is not supported by all the members. A spokesperson said farmers typically work every day of the week and tend to seek peace and quiet on their farm or use their property for recreation purposes, but failed to address that land can be posted — as it is now — or those who want to use their land for hunting.
Life jackets required on all Pa. waters
Beginning today through April 30, boaters are required by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission to wear a life jacket while underway or at anchor on boats less than 16 feet in length or on any canoe or kayak on all Pennsylvania waters.
“Life jackets are the most important piece of safety equipment on a boat,” PFBC Boating and Watercraft Division safety manager Ryan Walt said. “According to Pennsylvania’s boating accident reports, almost 80 percent of all boating fatalities happen to boaters not wearing a life jacket.”
Charter captain
radio show guest
Maryland Charter Boat Captains Association president Capt. Phil Langley of “Fish The Bay Charters” is today’s guest of Republican-Herald 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.
Today’s events
Port Clinton Fish and Game meeting, noon; for information, contact Ted Knoblauch at (610) 562-4310 or email pcfg1j@yahoo.com.
This week’s events
• Monday: Orwigsburg Gun Club meeting, 6:30 p.m., Gun Club Road, off Route 443 East, Orwigsburg; for information, email grammyminch@gmail.com. Friedensburg Fish and Game meeting, 8 p.m., 169 Stone Mountain Road, Pine Grove; for information, contact Lamar Hummel at (570) 617-8416, or email clhummel@epix.net.
• Thursday: Trap, 6-9 p.m., Orwigsburg Gun Club, Gun Club Road, off Route 443 East, Orwigsburg; for information, email grammyminch@gmail.com.
• Saturday: Block shoot, noon, South Schuylkill Farmer’s Safety Club, Route 895 West, between Deer Lake and Auburn. “Moving on Up: Climate Change and Hybridizing Chickadees,” seminar, 5:30 p.m., Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, visitor center, Drehersville.
• Sunday, Nov. 8: Sporting clays, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Roedersville Game and Fish, 1357 Mountain Road, Pine Grove. Muzzleloader shoot, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., First Frontier Militia, Bowmanstown Rod and Gun Club, Gun Club Road, off Route 248; for information, contact Ken Milburn at (610) 767-6222 or Dave Algard at (610) 760-8333.
— Compiled by Doyle Dietz