Lehigh Valley Wild

N.J. Stocking Big Trout Nov. 23

Hey, New Jersey trout anglers - Get ready for another round of super-sized trout stocking! Beginning Monday, November 23, more than 5,000 large trout will be stocked in 23 lakes throughout the state.

These 14 inch to 18 inch rainbow trout come on the heels of the 21,000 two-year old beauties, which were stocked in October. If you thought the trout stocked in October were nice, the winter trout had an extra 6 weeks to grow and the average size will be even bigger!

Cooler temperatures and the approach of winter used to signal the end of trout fishing in New Jersey. Not anymore! Trout fishing in New Jersey is now a year round reality. It's a reality thanks to nearly 650,000 trout raised at the Pequest State Trout Hatchery in Warren County, stocked in the spring, fall and winter.

For details about the program, including the complete list of waters stocked, visit http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/trtinfo_winter.htm on the division's website.

PFBC Offers Grant Opportunites To Improve Boat Access Facilities

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) is encouraging local governments and nonprofit groups which are interested in providing or improving public boating facilities to apply for funding through the agency’s Boating Facilities Grant Program.

“The program is designed to help local governments and eligible nonprofit groups, including land trusts, conservancies and watershed associations, to provide or improve public recreational boat access facilities in

their communities,” said Dr. Douglas Austen, PFBC executive director. “Private businesses are not eligible for direct funding but are encouraged to partner with their local government for funding.”

The deadline for submitting applications is Dec.18, 2009.

Eligible activities include the rehabilitation, expansion or construction of new boat ramps, bulkheads, courtesy floats, access roads, parking areas, restrooms, signs and localized landscaping. Activities must benefit and directly support public recreational boating. Eligible projects must occur on public lands owned by the project sponsor, or where the sponsor has a long-term lease or agreement on the site.

The grant program will reimburse recipients for up to 75 percent of the costs for land acquisition, project design and engineering, development, expansion, and major rehabilitation. Funds are to be used only for major site improvements and not for routine maintenance or operation activities. Successful applicants must agree to provide a 25 percent grant match and be willing to enter into a long-term agreement to keep the facility open to free public use for its useful life. The PFBC will give priority-funding consideration to applicants that provide more than the required 25 percent match, thereby reducing the total amount of grant funds required to complete the project.

The program is a reimbursable grant program. Grant funds will be disbursed to the recipient only after the project is completed and agency staff has verified that the work has been completed. Grant funds are derived from boat registration fees, state fuel taxes collected on fuel used in motorboats, and taxes on fishing equipment and motorboat fuel from the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Program. General state funds are not used for the program.

For more information about the Boating Facilities Grant Program and an application, visit the Boating Facilities Grant Program section of the PFBC’s web site.

Pa. Fish & Boat Commission Seeks Grant Applicants

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) is requesting applications from interested parties seeking funding under the Clean Vessel Act (CVA) Program, a federal grant program administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) that funds the construction, renovation, operation and maintenance of pump-out stations and waste reception facilities for recreational boats.

Applications must be submitted to the PFBC by Dec. 1, 2009.

The PFBC is the only entity within Pennsylvania eligible to apply to the FWS for funding under the CVA program, and is looking for interested partners to utilize these funds. CVA funds are available to both public and private entities that meet program requirements. Reimbursements will occur only after final inspection and approval of the project by PFBC staff.

For more information about the CVA grant program, please visit the following websites or contact the CVA coordinator at 717-346-8196.

PFBC grant application forms and instructions: http://www.fish.state.pa.us/promo/grants/cleanvessel/00clean_vessel.htm.

Detailed information on the federal CVA grant program: http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/GrantPrograms/CVA/CVA.htm

Friday's Outdoor Report Today!

Fishing turned on everywhere this week thanks to clear, unseasonable warm weather, but the rains of Wednesday night may end up playing some tricks on anglers for Thursday.

The weather has never been better to get out hunting, small game or archery deer. Crisp mornings and comfortable dusk hours have made the past week a hunter’s delight. The full moon also came this week, and that’s an indication that the deer rut is on full bore, as several of our shops are reporting.

Check out these fishing and hunting reports:

Wallenpaupack Sports Shop, Hawley (570-226-4797): Mark says the Lackawaxen River is fishable now that the waters have receded from the rain. Trout are going after Rapalas and small spinners. Walleye and keeper smallmouth bass have been biting on Rapalas and X-Raps near Honesdale and the Prompton spillway. The Upper Delaware has been good for rainbow trout and walleye after dark, using X-Raps. Lake Wallenpaupack has been giving up 4- to 5-pound pickerel and big minnows. Fishing using crawdad-colored crankbaits has been phenomenal. Lake Shohola has been giving up nice bass on shiners, and smaller ponds like White Oak are reporting a calico bite.

Peck’s Pond Store, Dingmans Ferry, (570-775-7237):
peckspondrentals@yahoo.com
www.peckspond.com
The shop is closed for the winter.

Four Seasons Sporting Goods, Jim Thorpe (570-325-4364): Brian says the trout action hitting small minnows and mealie worms in the local streams was fantastic this past week. There haven’t been many reports from the lakes, but Mauch Chunk yielded a 26-inch pickerel and some decent bass. Beltzville was giving up small mouth bass on vertical jigs.

Willie’s Bait & Tackle, Cementon (610-261-2767): Willie says trout action at the Falls is still good for trout; one angler caught and released three brownies. The Little Lehigh has been pretty good along the fly stretch, and striper action is picking up at Beltzville, but Mauch Chunk has slowed down.

Backwoods Angler Guide Service, Bethlehem, (610-868-9349)
www.backwoodsangler.com
Blaine says the Delaware River is around 6-feet at Belvidere with a slight stain and water temperatures in the mid- to upper-40s.The smallmouth bass are in a pretty good pattern and trips are averaging 25-30 good quality fish full of shad fry for the past few days. Blaine is targeting eddies and pockets relatively tight to the shoreline and is using spinner baits and Mizmo tubes as the primary baits. Fish are moving off rocky points and washout banks and will be heading toward deeper pools of water for the winter. The main stem of the Susquehanna is also fishing well using Mizmo tubes or large ribbed grubs on current seams around structure. Suspending jerk baits are also working. Smallies will always eat crayfish, but there seems to be an overabundance of shad-type bait for them to eat right now.

Little Lehigh Fly Shop, Allentown, (610-797-5599)
www.littlelehighflyshop.com
The Little Lehigh is again gin clear, and there is little angler pressure/competition in the 50 degree water. Recommended patterns are Al's rats, beetles, Griffiths gnats, terrestrials, sucker spawn, San Juan worms, Glo bugs, Honeybug inchworms, terrestrials, flying Ants, cressbugs, scuds, craneflies and blue-winged olives in 18 & 24. The stream is at 2.39 feet, down four inches from last week, and flowing at a calm 94 cfs.

Archery @ The Glenn, Allentown, (610-791-7665): Anglers are catching trout in the Little Lehigh by the Iron Bridge where the water is high. Lake Nockamixon is good for a variety of fish using live bait like shiners and baby nightcrawlers. Brett Faryniak of Northampton brought in an 8-point buck with a 19-inch inside spread. Most of the business is moving toward the hunting end now that the full moon is past and the rut is full on.

Mike’s Bait & Sports Shop, Nazareth, (610-759-2905): The trout are hitting real well on the Bushkill, which has a nice flow and is off-color. Perch are hitting at Lake Minsi. For deer, the rut is in full swing and bucks are being seen in the early afternoon.

Klotz’s Bait Shop, Hellertown (610-838-7970): Caroline says there are some big trout in the Monocacy, and the Saucon is still good for fly-fishing. Anglers are still fishing the rivers.

Rick’s Bait & Tackle, Maiden Creek (610-926-8888): Jim says Lake Ontelaunee has been pretty good for bass, crappies and yellow perch. Antietam Lake and Kaercher’s Creek Lake are still giving up trout and panfish.

Nockamixon Sports Shop, 808 Doylestown Pike, Quakertown (215-538-9553): Matt says the fishing has slowed down with the transition to hunting. The lake has some catfish going after live bait as the fish try to fatten up for the winter. Largemouth bass are hitting large and medium shiners in 5-20 feet of water, so you have to try different depths. The smallmouth action is down, but they are biting on shiners. Catfish are eating chicken livers, nightcrawlers and medium shiners near the piers. Foot-long crappies are hitting on fathead minnows near the pilings and trees. The deer rut is going full bore and the bucks have their noses to the ground to trail scent

SALTWATER REPORT
POINT PLEASANT

Capt. John Brackett of the Queen Mary
(732-899-3766)
www.njqueenmary.com/FishingRpt.htm

Capt Dave Riback's Purple Jet
(1-888-780-TUNA)
www.purplejet.com
Capt. Dave is trying to get together open boat trips for Nov. 9 and 16 at $150 per person with a limit of six passengers. Call him at 732-996-2579 to reserve a spot.

Capt. Chris Gatley of the Ardent Angler Guide Service, Milford, N.J. (267-253-5290)
www.ardentangler.org
Videos on www.catchthebite.com

NORTH JERSEY
The Tackle Box in Hazlet (732-264-7711)
www.striperspecial.com/home.html
Phil says they weighed in a 40-pound striper caught on clams at Union Beach. Sandy Hook gave up an 11.5-pounder. The boats are having success using eels for bait. He says the fishing is getting better.

BARNEGAT BAY
Brielle Tackle (732-528-5720):
www.brielletackle.com
There have been some decent surf stripers at 28-31 inches long in the 12-pound range, and they’ve been hitting on teaser rigs and skinny metals, along with clams. The surf action is better than the boat action right now, especially in the bay. Some blues are mixed in with the striper bite. Bottom fishing for ling and porgies is still pretty good. Tuna fishing has quieted down, but the last few trips have been good with 20-50-pound tuna, and good numbers of them. There’s a rod-building class scheduled for Jan. 25, 27, 29 a three-night class (7-9 p.m.) for $65.

Little Egg Inlet: Scott’s Bait & Tackle (609-296-1300)
www.scottsbt.com
Scott says there’s a triple treat for anglers going on: fish, weather and bait. He was weighing in monster stripers this past week, with a 41-pounder plus 34 and 35-pounders. Most of the action is on clams around the Little Egg inlet, anchored up and fishing the breakers. Sometimes it’s tricky, sometimes it’s easy. Surf anglers are finding fish only at night. There should be a rush of 30-pounders off Graveling Point in the next week or two. He says it’s been a lot of fun owning a tackle shop this week.

Seaside Park: Betty & Nicks Bait & Tackle (732-793-2708)
www.bettyandnicks.com, place your cursor on the red tab that reads “B&NINFO” and click on “Fishing Report.”

Ship Bottom: Fishermen’s Headquarters (609-494-5739)
http://fishing_report.home.comcast.net/~fishing_report/1.html

Beach Haven: Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association
(www.fishbeachhaven.com)

SOUTH JERSEY
Capt. Brian DiLeo
Iowa Fortune Guide Service (609-432-6618).
www.iowafortune.com
Daily reports can be found at www.iowafortune.com
Capt. Brian says that the fall striper run thus far has been very good and looks like it will stay full steam ahead throughout the final month of his 2009 season. His final tgrips run Nov.12, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25 and 27. Sick days were invented by fisherman.

DELAWARE BAY FROM N.J.
Capt. Tim Smith
Bodacious Sport Fishing
856-785-1205 (day), 856-447-5000 (evening), 609-820-2019 (boat)
www.bodaciousnj.com
Fishing reports on the website.

DELAWARE
Rehoboth Beach, Del.:
Old Inlet Bait & Tackle (302-227-7974)
www.oldinlet.com
The stripers are biting on live spot and eels at the inlet, where there are also some nice tautog hitting green crabs. The surf fishing is still messed up because there’s
not much beach right now and there are extra high tides.

OUTDOOR CALENDAR
POINT PHILLIPS TRAP SHOOT, NOV. 7, 14 — 10 a.m.at 1035 Smith Gap Road … Open to public … For info,call610-837-0310.
CLOVER HOLLOW PRESERVE ARCHERY SHOOT, NOV. 8 — 7 a.m. at 6951 Limekiln Road, Slatington … $10, 30 targets, brand new course, compound and traditional shooters, no crossbows … For info, call 610-767-3319.
CLOVER LEAF ARCHERY SHOOT, NOV. 8 — 7 a.m. at club, 2080 Umbreit Rd., Milford Square … 30 targets, $10 … kitchen Cen … directions online at www.cloverleafarcheryclub.com … For info, call Randy Freed at 215-257-1095.
SLATINGTON BLOCK SHOOT, NOV. 8 — 12 noon - 5 p.m. at Slatington Archery Club, 8112 Skeet Club Lane, Slatington … 12 gauge only … For info, call 610-767-0800 or 610-767-3511
STOCKERTOWN ROD & GUN CLUB BLOCK SHOOT, NOV. 8 — 12 noon at at club, 206 Lefevre Road, Stockertown … Free … Refreshments available. … Other activities for nonshooters. … Info, call Paul Finken Jr. 610-759-9255 or stockertownrgc@aol.com.
POINT PHILLIPS EGG SHOOT, NOV. 8 — at 1035 Smith Gap Road, Bath … 100-yard off-hand egg shoot, scoped rifles work best … For info, call 610-837-0310.
CABELA’S 2009 DEER CLASSIC, NOV. 14, 15 — 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sat., 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. Sun. at Cabela’s off Route 78 in Hamburg … free …Clinicis on aging and scoring whitetails on the hoof, winter food plots, scent-free hunting, DIY butchering, staying comfortable all day long, shooting tips and tactics, talking to whitetails … . Plus Real Guns of Reel Heroes, see the guns used by John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, Chuck Connors, Charlton Heston and others.
SPRINGTOWN ROD & GUN CLUB 3D SHOOT, NOV. 15 — 8 a.m. at Springtown Rod And Gun Club,off Route 412 in Springtown … 30 target course … kitchen open … For info, callJim Segletes 610-258-0165 or 610-346-8806.
POINT PHILLIPS BLOCK SHOOT, NOV. 15 — 1 p.m. at 1035 Smith Gap Road, Bath … 12 gauge only; refreshments available … For info,call 610-837-0310.
CLOVER LEAF ARCHERY SHOOT, NOV. 22 — 7 a.m. at club, 2080 Umbreit Rd., Milford Square … traditional 3-D shoot … long and recurve bows only … setting …30 targets … kitchen open … directions online at www.cloverleafarcheryclub.com … For info, call Randy Freed at 215-257-1095.
How to submit items: Local outdoor organizations must submit items online at www.themorningcall.com/outdoorcalendar. All events must be open to the public. Include name of event, date(s), time(s), location, details and phone numbr (including area code) for additional information. No raffle announcements. Submit items at least three weeks in advance for maximum exposure.

N.J. Secures Funds To Combat WNS in Bats

Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) has announced that funding to protect bat populations in New Jersey and throughout the region has been increased from $500,000 to $1.9 million for FY 2010. The senator successfully fought to

increase the funding for research into a mysterious and deadly illness called White Nose Syndrome (WNS) that is destroying bat populations in New Jersey and the Northeast Region. The legislation will now head to the White House where it is expected to be signed into law.

WNS is named for white fungal growth around the noses and on the bodies of affected animals. It first appeared in caves near Albany, New York in February 2006 and was confirmed in New Jersey in 2009. Over the last two winters, more than one million hibernating bats have died.

On July 8 Lautenberg, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Water and Wildlife Subcommittee, highlighted the threat of WNS on bat populations during a Senate hearing that he called for to examine threats to native wildlife species.

For more information, including a link to a map showing the disease's spread, see the news release on Senator Lautenberg's website at http://lautenberg.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=319502 .

Hawk Mountain eUpdate

From Hawk Mountain:

Weather this Week:
A cold front is forecast to move through the area tomorrow (Tues) bringing westerly winds and cooler temperatures for Wednesday and Thursday. Another cold front is forecast to move through on Friday bringing favorable migration conditions for the weekend. Don't forget this weekend also brings Golden Eagle Saturday, so we will have a live Golden Eagle program at 10 am, Noon and 2 pm (see below or click here).

What to Expect:
Red-tailed Hawks will dominate the flights through the

remainder of the count and several hundred are possible on windy days. Golden Eagles and possibly Bald Eagles should be seen on windy days. Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks also should continue to pass in small numbers. The first Rough-legged Hawk could be seen any day, so watch for these tundra nesting migrants on cold, windy days.

Last Week's Flight:
Rain and southerly winds slowed flights last week. The best day was Sunday (yesterday) when 111 raptors passed including seven Golden Eagles, three Northern Goshawks and 14 Red-shouldered Hawks. Six “shoulders” were seen last Monday as well as two Golden Eagles and one Bald Eagle. Other highlights this week include two Golden Eagles on Friday and three Bald Eagles on Saturday.

Other Migrants Last Week:
Blackbirds were on the move last week, and numbers peaked on Sunday when 159 Red-winged Blackbirds, 172 Common Grackles and more than 1,500 blackbirds passed in mixed flocks. Other highlights from Sunday included 38 Snow Geese, 16 Common Loons, 400 American Crows, and 38 Eastern Bluebirds. Hundreds of American Robins were counted streaming past the lookout last Monday and Saturday in the morning. Other highlights included Hermit Thrushes on Wednesday and Friday eating the mountain ash berries along the edges of the lookout, and 14 Eastern Bluebirds on Thursday.

REMINDER on Trail Closings
For visitor safety, Hawk Mountain will close all trails and lookouts on the first two days of Pennsylvania Deer Hunting season, Monday, November 30 and Tuesday, December 1. The Visitor Center will be open, and we apologize for any inconvenience.

Last Week's Count
Species Weekly Total Total-to-Date thru Oct. 30

Black Vulture 6 26
Turkey Vulture 55 335
Northern Goshawk 4 13
Sharp-shinned Hawk 38 4,252
Cooper's Hawk 11 583
Unidentified Accipiter 0 21
Red-tailed Hawk 116 821
Red-shouldered Hawk 21 72
Broad-winged Hawk 0 6,440
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0
Unidentified Buteo 3 18
Golden Eagle 12 37
Bald Eagle 5 179
Unidentified Eagle 0 0
Northern Harrier 7 111
Osprey 2 455
Peregrine Falcon 1 67
Merlin 4 159
American Kestrel 0 459
Unidentified Falcon 0 13
Unidentified Hawk 1 33
Mississippi Kite 0 1
TOTAL 286 14,094

________________________________________
Golden Eagle Saturday is THIS weekend: Saturday, Nov 7
The one day you're 100% guarnateed to see a Golden Eagle! Our friends from Shaver's Creek Environmental Center will present a live Golden Eagle--along with other raptors--at 10 am, Noon and 2 pm. Note there will be no 4 pm Raptors Up Close program on this day.
Holiday Open House: Friday, Nov 27
Skip the mall on Black Friday, and visit Hawk Mountain instead for a day-long, family-friendly alternative to the typical holiday shopping madness. Enjoy a variety of programs, free trail admission for children ages 6-12, art displays, and warm cider and hot pretzels. Our schedule is now posted on the website, on our "Calendar" page.
Join the Raptorthon!
Can you guess how many Golden Eagles and Northern Goshawks will pass Hawk Mountain between Nov 1 and 30? Take a guess and you just might win a Fred Wetzel print while helping to support the Raptor Population Index Project!

Fall Birdwatching Tips

Fall birdwatching tips from The Two Fisted Bird Watcher, Mike Lubow. You can get more information from his website www.twofistedbirdwatcher.com .

Fall Migration in Pennsylvania – Five bird watching tips

Wear something orange

Pennsylvania is full of colorful things in fall. Changing leaves, migrating birds, hunters’ orange caps. The fall hunting season can make the woods a

little more dangerous, but we’re birdwatchers, not hunters and these folks in orange are none of our business. Still, let’s not forget they’re out there. Might be a good idea to wear orange, too. But wait a second. Something doesn’t ring true. We said we’re not hunters. Hold on. Birdwatching is a kind of hunting. A benign kind, hunting without hurting, as it’s been called. We use binoculars and scopes instead of rifles and scopes. But to be a straight shooter about it, we’ve got to say the sport of birding taps into the inborn hunting instinct we all have. We don’t need to nail what we stalk. But we do need to add it to a list, whether by making a mental note or scrawling it on a scrap of paper.

Check the internet

Birdwatchers have an advantage when they know where to look. The place to start is your computer. You could Google bird information until spring and miss the whole fall migration. Sometimes a lot of material is too much. Two tips to help simplify things. First, try this site. www.birdnature.com/fallpa. It covers migratory birds coming and going through Pennsylvania, giving arrival dates, departure dates and locations. And for a slightly more muscular take on birding, check www.twofistedbirdwatcher.com. This quirky site paints a word picture that says it all: “A man holds a pair of binoculars, one hand wrapped around each side… curled like fists. You’re looking at a two-fisted birdwatcher, buddy.” This site, with its stories, photos, mysteries and book reviews puts a new spin on an old sport. But there’s serious ornithology in their “Tips & Links” section so you’ll get specifics about what to see, where and when.

Look everywhere

During migration birds are not just in the wilds. Sure, they’re in woods and along rivers and shorelines. But they’re also in your backyard. They’re on gas pumps in the filling station. They’re in downtown Allentown. They’re banging into skyscrapers at night in Philadelphia and some can be seen, sadly, on the ground at the feet of these tall buildings, casualties of a massive air campaign that started near the Arctic. Great numbers are flying over Pennsylvania, a blanket of birds, and they’re everywhere. During migration, the bird in the tree outside your kitchen window might not be a familiar sparrow. It might be a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Who could blame you for not spotting this? The two species are pretty similar if you’re not paying attention. But it’s fall. Don’t take any bird for granted. Look a little closer and you’ll see something unexpected.

Try it alone

You don’t really need to be in a club. Sometimes a club is nice, a way to meet people. But according to the website Two-fisted Birdwatcher (see “Check the internet” above) the two-fisted trail is often a one-person trail. Going solo can pay off. Prove it to yourself. Hike into a secluded spot. You won’t hear or see much birdlife. Just wait. (Hunters know this. Those guys again…). After a while, birds will show up. Actually, they were there but you scared them off and now they’re returning. You might not hear a lot of song because in the fall, singing’s not the priority that it is in spring when birds use it to claim territories. Still, you’ll hear something. And you’ll see movement. Take a slim bird book from your pocket and check it out. It’s fun to match the bird on the page to the bird in the tree. Now, to prove the value of solo birding, wait until the local bird club comes up the trail. You’ll hear them before you see them. They’re trying to be quiet but no gaggle of humans can pull that off. By the time they come into view, notice what happened to the birds you were seeing. Gone. Your spot is quiet again. Except for the bird club.

Have a goal bird

Pick a bird you’ve got to spot. Some bird you want above all others. Could be a Crossbill, a Goshawk, a Pileated Woodpecker. Could be a bird of the day, of the month, of your life; your call. But having this goal puts spice into the experience. You’re on a mission, a quest, and it’s fun. You might not see the bird you’ve put at the head of your wish list, but it’ll keep you focused. The harder you look the more likely it is you’ll see other interesting things. A bear or coyote, a porcupine or rattlesnake. You might see an old high school friend who suddenly took up birding. Who knows? But you’ll see something, because you’re actively looking. And when you connect with your goal bird it’s like bowling a 300 game or dunking a basketball. Bam, did it! Okay, enough talk. Get out and start; the migration is here.

PA. Hunting Licenses Must Be Displayed Anywhere on Your Person

There should be no confusion about whether or not hunters in Pennsylvania must visibly display their hunting licenses as in previous years.

The Pa. hunting license must be visibly displayed somewhere on the body, but is no longer limited to being displayed on the center of your back.

“With the new license sale system and new look and feel of the licenses, there have been a lot of questions about whether these licenses still need to be displayed in the middle of the back, as has been required in the past,” Carl G. Roe, Pennsylvania Game Commission executive director,said. “The short answer is, yes, state law still requires that hunting and furtaker licenses be displayed, but it can be pinned in the middle of your back, on your chest or on your hat.

“We are supporting legislation – House Bill 460 – that would

remove the requirement from law and allow hunters and trappers to carry their licenses in their pockets or wallets, with the other form of identification hunters and trappers are required to have while afield.”

Roe also cautioned hunters and trappers to not mistakenly place their new licenses in the dryer or near any source of heat, as it will cause the material to shrivel and turn black.

“Hunters and trappers who venture out in the rain should be extra careful to take their licenses off of their jackets if they put them in the dryer or near any other source of heat,” Roe said. “The new material is made of thermal paper, and will become illegible if placed in the dryer or left near a heat source for any length of time. Similarly, don’t leave licenses lay on the dashboard of your car, as this will cause them to turn black as well.

“If the new licenses get wet, simply wipe them off with a towel and let them air dry.”

Hunters who go out hunting for deer, turkey or bear should also add a ball-point pen to their list of equipment they plan to take out with them.

“Only ball-point pens will work when filling in the harvest field tags that must be attached to harvested big game,” Roe said. “Felt tip pens will smear, and pencils and other sharp implements used in the past, such as the pin tip of most back-tag holders, will not work on the new license material.”

Roe also noted that any properly licensed hunter participating in the statewide archery deer and archery bear seasons may now use crossbows. In the past, a hunter needed a disabled person permit to use a crossbow during these seasons. However, in approving this change, the Board also prohibited the use of crossbows in the early muzzleloader and late flintlock seasons.

Another recent change is the change in law made by the General Assembly that allows archery hunters to carry a handgun if they have a permit to carry, issued by a county sheriff. This change, however, does not allow archery hunters to use the handgun to hunt other species while participating in archery seasons.

Lastly, as part of the Mentored Youth Hunting Program, Roe noted that those hunters who already have harvested an antlered deer still may serve as an adult mentor for a youth hunting antlered deer.

Wildlands Conservancy's Green Gala

Join the Wildlands Conservancy community on Friday, November 20 at Brookside Country Club when more than 250 supporters celebrate conservation in the Lehigh Valley region at the organization’s Green Gala. The event, which consists of

both silent and live auctions, raises funds for land preservation, river restoration, trail development and environmental education programs for the community.
The evening will start at 6 p.m. with a silent auction while guests enjoy cocktails and hors d’oevures. The silent auction features holiday items, gift certificates and passes to local eateries and entertainment spots and outdoor gear and equipment. The auction will also feature the special “Go Green” section highlighting eco-friendly and sustainable items. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m. followed by a live auction.
Christian F. Martin IV, from C.F. Martin Guitar & Co., will be the master of ceremonies and Ralph Zettlemoyer will be the night’s auctioneer.

Tickets for the Green Gala are $135.00 per person. RSVP deadline is Friday, November 6, 2009. Sponsorship opportunities are available.

Current leadership sponsors are: East Penn Bank, Gross McGinley, LP; RidgeCrest Landscaping & Lawncare; S.G. Rogers Properties; Amaranth Foundation; Allied Building Corporation – a Scarcia Company; Campbell, Rappold & Yurasits, LLP; Just Born, Inc.; Keystone Consulting Engineers; LandStudies; Valley Preferred; Robert C. Dorney; and Michael and Meda Henry.

For more information on Wildlands Conservancy’s Green Gala, please contact Elizabeth McKinney, development manager, at 610-965-4397, ext. 126 or email emckinney@wildlandspa.org.

Game Commission Seeks Tips on Illegal Bear Kill in Monroe County

Pennsylvania Game Commission Northeast Region Director Stephen Schweitzer today urged the public to help the agency acquire information that will lead to the arrest and prosecution of the individual(s) responsible for the illegal killing of a black bear found in Chestnut Hill Township, Monroe County. Information can be provided to Wildlife Conservation Officer Cory Bentzoni, who is investigating the incident, by calling the Northeast Region Office at 570-675-1143 or the agency’s TIP line at 1-888-PGC-8001.

The large male black bear was found Wednesday, Oct. 21, along the Hypsie Gap Road, about one mile from the intersection with Route 715. Estimated to be in excess of 300 pounds, the bear was killed by a single gun shot to the head. It is believed to have been killed a day or two prior to being found.

“According to our preliminary investigation, the bear was definitely killed in one place, field dressed and transported to the area where it was dumped,” said Dan Figured, Game Commission Northeast Region Law Enforcement Supervisor. “This is the second bear within three weeks that has been unlawfully killed and dumped in remote locations.”

Figured noted that the first bear was a large 600-pound male, found on Sept. 29, in the State Game Land parking lot on Route 507, just outside of Gouldsboro, Wayne County.

“We don’t believe the two are related, but we aren’t ruling anything out,” Figured said. “We need help in solving these killings and are asking the public for help in finding those responsible.

“We urge anyone with information concerning this case to contact the Northeast Region Office or our TIP line. Any and all information received will be held in the strictest confidence.”