27th annual Wildlife Art Show ends today
KLEINFELTERSVILLE - Today is the last day to see hundreds of original paintings and fine-art prints from some of the best-known wildlife artists in the state at the annual Wildlife Art Show at the state Game Commission's Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area visitor center.
The free show is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tickets for an artwork raffle will be sold for $2 each or three for $5. The drawing will be held at 4 p.m. today. Proceeds benefit The Wildlands Preservation Fund land acquisition program.
The Game Commission's Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area Visitor Center is along Hopeland Road, two miles south of Kleinfeltersville, Lebanon County.
Game Commission to hold waterfowl briefing
KLEINFELTERSVILLE - Representatives of waterfowl organizations, interested hunters and the public may attend a briefing on Friday on the status of Atlantic Flyway waterfowl populations and proposed preliminary federal frameworks for the 2012-13 waterfowl hunting seasons. It will begin at 1 p.m. at the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area Visitor's Center, along Hopeland Road, two miles south of Kleinfeltersville, on the Lebanon/Lancaster county line.
In addition to reviewing frameworks established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for upcoming waterfowl and migratory bird seasons, Game Commission staff will provide updates on research and management programs, as well as past hunting results.
Public comments will be accepted at the meeting or by sending a letter to: Pennsylvania Game Commission, Bureau of Wildlife Management, 2001 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797, or via email at WaterfowlComments@pa.gov.
Based on public comments, Game Commission staff will prepare and present recommended waterfowl and migratory bird seasons, bag limits and related criteria to the USFWS for final approval.
All migratory bird hunting seasons and bag limits must conform to frameworks set by the USFWS. States select their hunting seasons within these established frameworks.
Historic walking tours continue in Lock Haven
LOCK HAVEN - Lou Bernard, of Ross Library, will continue his historic walking tours of Lock Haven on Friday and Aug. 17.
The "Walk the Past" program will begin at 9 a.m. at the library, 232 W. Main St.
Because of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, the walks will feature a strong Civil War influence, sharing many of the stories and events of the area's participation in the war. Topics such as Abraham Lincoln, the Underground Railroad and lost military gold will be featured.
The goal this year is to have the group walk 318 miles, the distance to Gettysburg and back.
For more information, call the Ross Library at 748-3321.
Families can learn how to kayak together
WELLSBORO - Looking for a great way to enjoy Pennsylvania waterways with your family? Discover the fun kayaking can provide for the entire family during a two-hour Family Paddling program offered by the state Fish and Boat Commission at 3 p.m. Aug. 12 at Hills Creek State Park.
Designed for participants ages 12 and older, the rain-or-shine program begins with on-land instruction and ends with on-water paddling experience.
All equipment is provided. Topics discussed include water safety, equipment and basic paddling techniques.
For more information, call Allan Schreffler at 814-359-5127. Space is limited and registration is required by visiting www.fishandboat.com/calendar.htm or calling Schreffler.
Take a hike with regional group
The Otzinachson Regional Group of the Sierra Club and the Edward Abbey Hiking Society will hold a number of hikes throughout the region in the spring and summer.
They are open to the public, but hikers should contact the hike leader prior to the event. Participants are advised to bring lunch and water on every hike.
Hikes will be held:
Aug. 11 - Loyalsock Trail, Sullivan County, 6.5 miles, easy to moderate. Hike from Sones Pond to the trail end on Route 220 via the Haystacks. Meet 8:30 a.m. at the McDonald's in Hughesville. Leader: Roy Fontaine, 220-4707.
Aug. 19 - Golden Eagle Trail, Lycoming County, 9 miles, moderate to strenuous. One of the best hikes in Pennsylvania with excellent views. Meet at 8 a.m. at the Sovereign Bank parking lot, Southern Avenue between Market and Hastings streets (Route 15) in South Williamsport or at the trail parking lot along Route 414 at 8:50 a.m. Leader: Roy Fontaine, 220-4707.
Sullivan County hunter-trapper education set
MUNCY VALLEY - A hunter-trapper education program for youth ages 11 and older will be held this summer. Participants must attend all three sessions of the class to complete course. Classes will be held:
Aug. 17-19 (6-9:30 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday)
Classes will be held at the North Mountain Sportsman's Club on Shipman Hill Road in Sullivan County. Registration is limited to 45 per class. Upon successful course completion, an HTE card will be issued.
To enroll, register online at www.pgc.state.pa.us (click on Education & Hunter Trapper Education). If there are problems, call Rick Smith at 928-8941. For a map to the club, visit www.northmt.com.
Register now for Tioga County Youth Field Day
TIOGA - Children ages 8 to 14 may register for the 18th annual Tioga County Youth Field Day, which will be held Aug. 18 at Ives Run Recreation Area, Hammond Lake.
The event offers boys and girls from any county in the state a chance to try their hand at a variety of outdoor activities. At least 10 educational stations will be set up, covering topics such as orienteering, rifle, shotgun, fly and spin fishing, turkey calling and wildlife identification.
The event is free, but parents must register children in advance. Also, a parent or guardian must accompany children during the day.
The day begins at 8 a.m. Lunch will be served later to everyone in attendance, and children will receive a hat, T-shirt and goodie bag.
To register, call Dina Henninger, park ranger for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, at 835-0113, or send children's names, ages, addresses, genders, home phone numbers, shirt sizes and parent signatures to: Youth Field Day Registration, P.O. Box 51, Middlebury Center, PA 16935.
Bradford County Youth Field Day planned
TROY - The 18th annual Bradford County Youth Field Day will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 25 at Mt. Pisgah State Park.
The event is for children ages 5 to 18. A free lunch, T-shirt and commemorative embroidered patch will be available to all participants.
The event will include activities in tracks, insects, birds, mammals, trapping, .22 shoot, building bird boxes, scavenger hunt, survival, archery, black powder, sporting clays, canoeing, GPS, fishing and camp cooking.
Registration now by calling the park office at 297-2734 or emailing mtpisgahsp@pa.gov.
Outdoor events sought
Do you have a meeting or outdoor event you'd like to publicize in the Sun-Gazette?
Announcements must be submitted at least three weeks prior to the date of the event, preferably earlier.
Information and news releases may be:
Mailed to Outdoor editor, Williamsport Sun-Gazette, 252 W. Fourth St., Williamsport PA 17701
Emailed to outdoors@sungazette.com
Dropped off at the Sun-Gazette office, 252 W. Fourth St., Williamsport
Submitted through the Outdoor section of the Virtual Newsroom on the paper's website, www.sungazette.com.
All submissions must contain the name, telephone number and, if available, email address of a contact person.
Photographs by area residents of trophy fish or game animals or other interesting outdoor occurrences also will be considered. Digital photos may be sent by email.
Hard-copy glossy prints, negatives or slides may be dropped off or mailed. Polaroid prints typically cannot be reprinted in the newspaper.
Only photos sent with a stamped, self-addressed envelope will be returned.
Announcements published in the "Outdoor Briefs" section will print in chronological order as space permits.
The Outdoors section is published weekly on Sundays, but it goes to print early on Wednesday mornings.
Therefore, all information for publication on any given Sunday must be submitted by noon on the Monday prior.
For more help, call 326-1551, ext. 3116.
