By Tyler Frantz With one subtle flip of a calendar page, the 2019-2020 hunting seasons are born. The long awaited September migratory bird openers mark the official commencement of Pennsylvania’s fall hunting opportunities. As camo-clad hunters flock to farm fields in pursuit of resident Canada Geese and Mourning Doves, a long summer lull is rapidly […]
By Derek Stoner, Hunter Outreach Coordinator The heady scent of fresh-cut field corn competed with the odor of cow manure to keep my sense of smell occupied while awaiting the arrival of geese. Scouting efforts revealed that this small flock of Canadas should arrive in the pasture around 7:00am. Patience wavered as I perched on […]
By Jeannine Fleegle, Pennsylvania Game Commission Deer Biologist Photo by Jacob Dingel. Antlers captivate the masses whether you’re a hunter or not. I don’t think anyone can put a finger on exactly why people are so fascinated with them. Perhaps on some subconscious level we recognize and marvel at the complex process driven by hormones […]
By Pennsylvania Game Commission Elk Biologist Jeremy Banfield For most hunters, we started off chasing small game, trailing our dads, grandpas, or maybe an uncle, through the forests and fields looking for squirrels or grouse. That’s basically my story, and it was those early experiences afield that jump started my affinity for wildlife and hunting. […]
By Tagge Forrest, Youth Field Day Coordinator Taking aim with archery equipment at the Youth Field Day in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Photo by Derek Stoner. During the course of conducting a Youth Field Day, in the midst of hurry, it can be easy to get caught up in the hassle of details and miss the […]
By Steve Sorensen Peak spring gobbler action arrives when gobblers get lonely. Be there and you’re halfway to success. But more often, gobblers are “henned-up.” They won’t gobble much, they’ll go only where the hens go, and they’ll frustrate turkey hunters from novices to experts. No hunter has a foolproof solution to dealing with competition […]
By Todd Holmes, Shooting Sports Outreach Coordinator I was born into a Pennsylvania hunting family. My great grandparents, grandparents and parents all were avid outdoorsmen and women in Penn’s Woods. So when I was old enough to take hunter education (age 11) it was like a rite of passage for me. My first success was […]
By Jenn Danella, Pennsylvania Hunter and Outdoorswoman The Hunt On opening day of the 2018 Pennsylvania spring gobbler season, I was able to get my first turkey with a compound bow. As an avid bow hunter, this was something I have always wanted to accomplish. And to this day, it is still one of my […]
By Pennsylvania Game Commission Hunter Education Staff The excitement of hearing a thundering gobble and watching the approach of a fired-up gobbler is enough to rattle hunters with even the steadiest of nerves. For turkey hunters, we thrill to the challenge of calling in a Wild Turkey and harvesting it at close range. What is […]
By Joe Kosack (excerpted from Pennsylvania Game News May 2019 issue) At a time when spring turkey hunting is drawing less of a crowd, Pennsylvania offers an almost unimaginable gobbler carryover for its 2019 spring season. Crafty old toms, strutting 2-year-olds and even ambitious jakes are available in above-average numbers to turkey hunters willing to […]
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