Outdoors category, Page 19
Study examines the mindset of the American hunterVideo
You are not alone. Not if you’ve got hunting on the brain pretty much all the time. At work, at school, at the dinner table, in the truck, everywhere. Plenty of other folks are dreaming the same dreams and doing so just as often. According to some new research, 51.5...
Glamping a camping trend here to stayVideo
Nessmuk didn’t camp because he liked an occasional bout with misery and woe. Far from it. But he’d probably find this level of comfort shocking. Nessmuk, the pen name for George Washington Sears, was a Massachusetts-born, Pennsylvania-bred outdoorsman. He rose to fame in the mid- to late 1800s, writing for...
Outdoors notices for Dec. 22, 2019
Outdoors RIFLE LEAGUES • In the Allegheny Valley Rifle League on Dec. 13, Clymer (5-3) defeated Fort Hand (4-4), 1,170-1,161, and Butler (6-2) beat Murrysville (1-7), 1,165-1,161, in the A-team standings. In the B-team division, Clymer (8-0) defeated Fort Hand (1.5-6.5), 1,155-1,080, and Murrysville (1.5-6.5) defeated Butler (5-3), 1,119-1,117. Butler’s...
12 possible changes for Pennsylvania hunting seasons in 2020-21
This is neither the time to celebrate nor to panic. Not yet. Pennsylvania Game Commissioners won’t give preliminary approval to hunting seasons, or trapping ones, along with bag limits for 2020-21 until their January board meeting. Final approval won’t come until April. That’s five months off. But during a working...
The case for snowflake baskets and more outdoor news
Take a quick look around the outdoors world with a tip, a new piece of gear and more: Tip of the week There’s a reason winter tires exist. They’re specially designed to provide extra grip and traction in seasonal conditions, especially snow. Well, snowflake baskets for trekking poles do the...
First Day Hikes a great way to start the year outdoorsVideo
Chances are, last New Year’s, you resolved to lose weight or exercise more. Or both. How’s that working out? Not too well, if you’re like most people. Resolutions centered on health are, annually, among the top goals people across America set for themselves as they head into the New Year....
Pennsylvania hunters take in record number of bears in 2019
The Pennsylvania Game Commission reported the state’s highest bear harvest ever this year as the agency tries to slow a growing bear population. Locally, hunters took the most bears in Armstrong and Butler counties, with numbers in Westmoreland and Allegheny counties holding steady. Expanded hunting opportunities doubled the number of...
Game commission: Reducing deer population not likely to stem spread of Lyme disease
For Ryan Johnson, Pennsylvania’s white-tailed deer are more than just a potentially dangerous nuisance. “Deer in Pennsylvania are playing a huge part in ruining lives and costing people major money through accidents and disease,” said Johnson, of Norvelt. “Lyme disease is a big deal and doesn’t get the attention it...
Outdoors notices for Dec. 15, 2019
Outdoors SHOOTS ON TAP • California Hill Gun Club holds sporting clays and five-stand shoots Sundays from 9 a.m.-noon. All are open to the public. Call 724-938-3480. • Sporting clays is closed for the winter at West Penn Sportsmen’s Club, but five stand is open Thursdays from 5-8 p.m. and...
A peek inside our annual fishing gift guide
In some houses Christmas sounds like carols or laughter or wrapping paper tearing. Then there are fishing households. In those places, you’re as apt to hear phrases like “be careful casting that in here,” “please don’t hook yourself” and “now I know why they call it stinkbait” as anything else....
Five reasons winter hiking is healthy and fun
The conversation was the same one we have every Thanksgiving. And Christmas. And New Year’s. I looked at my brother across the table. “So,” I said, “what time should I pick you up?” “Pick me up? For what?” he asked. “For hiking. It gets dark sooner now than before, but...
Outrage grows over Pennsylvania deer-torture video as investigation continues
A video showing two teens torturing an injured deer has rocked a small Western Pennsylvania community while generating outrage far and wide, including online where nearly 600,000 people have signed a petition calling for criminal charges. As of midday Wednesday, authorities had not charged the teens, who can be seen...
Mentored youth trout program to continue despite complainers
It’s Pennsylvania’s biggest youth fishing outreach program, one that appears popular with its target audience. And yet a small but vocal minority would kill it. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission makes available two mentored youth trout fishing days annually. One is the Saturday before the regional opening day of...
Looking at how leasing might impact hunter access long term
Truly scientific polls are conducted at random. This does not appear to be that, so the results have to be considered in that context. But it’s interesting nonetheless. The survey The American Hunting Lease Association is an organization that connects hunters and landowners, sells lease insurance and generally serves as...
Winter driving advice and more outdoor news
Take a quick look around the outdoors world with a tip, a new piece of gear and more: Tip of the week Enjoying a winter outdoor adventure starts with being able to get where you’re going and, just as importantly, get back home again. That can be difficult when snow...
Outdoors notices for Dec. 8, 2019
Outdoors SHOOTS ON TAP • California Hill Gun Club holds sporting clays and five-stand shoots Sundays from 9 a.m.-noon. All are open to the public. Call 724-938-3480. • Sporting clays is closed for the winter at West Penn Sportsmen’s Club, but five stand is open Thursdays from 5-8 p.m. and...
Late-season squirrel hunting tips for the winter sportsman
This is not the game you might think it is. Mention squirrels to the average hunter, and he or she probably recalls early October days afield, likely as a young hunter, spent sitting under an oak with dad’s old hand-me-down shotgun. Memories of warm sun, bright leaves and almost foolishly...
West Nile Virus not impacting turkeys like other birds
Seeking answers through science is often a process of eliminating variables. Consider this one checked off. Unlike with ruffed grouse and many species of song birds, West Nile Virus is not hurting wild turkey populations. Some first-of-its-kind work begun in Pennsylvania recently revealed that. Biologists with the state’s Game Commission...
KOA project envisions fantastic possibilities for camping of future
It’s undoubtedly true many campers enjoy setting up near the water. But how about under it? In an aquarium-like cabin, where they’re the ones on the inside looking out? Accessible by an underwater hiking trail? That’s one possible future for camping outlined in the “KOA Campground of the Future Project.”...
A look inside our annual adventure gift guide
There’s nothing better than getting outdoors. But, as second choices go, getting to unwrap a new toy that you’ll use outside later isn’t all that bad. So, here’s a chance to treat yourself or be a hero to someone else. We take a look at some new tools sure to...
A look at ancient canoes and kayaks and more outdoor news
Take a quick look around the outdoors world with a tip, a new piece of gear and more: Tip of the week Walking quietly in the woods is a skill that can be learned. How to do it? Take smaller steps and, most importantly, move using what’s known as the...
Monday still popular with hunters, even with early start to deer rifle season
Even with the new Saturday start to deer rifle season, Monday still felt like opening day to a lot of area hunters. Old traditions die hard. Glen Stott of Latrobe went out Saturday, but he also went out Monday because he had previously asked for the day off. By 9...
Game Commission reviewing video of men kicking, mocking injured deer
The Pennsylvania Game Commission is investigating a viral Facebook video that shows two men assaulting an injured deer. Chip Brunst, Information & Education supervisor for the commission’s Northwest Region, said the commission was made aware of the video over the weekend and immediately began investigating it. “(There are) not a...
Blaze pink for hunters spreading, but oh so slowly
If this is ultimately to be a tidal wave, it’s still far from cresting. But maybe that’s how things work. Head into the woods during a big-game hunting season these days and, in more places than not, you’ll see men and women sporting orange clothing. At least 40 states require...
5 fun winter outdoor activities for children
It’s almost inevitable. Chances are this Christmas season someone — maybe even you — will give your children or grandchildren an electronic gift of some kind. And they most likely will love it. But it most likely will keep them inside. That’s OK, to a point. However, if you love...
