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Outdoor community calendar for week of Sept. 24

FALL BIRDING WHERE: Hyner Run State Park and Little Pine State Park WHEN: Friday, Sept. 20 at 2 p.m. (Little Pine) and 6 p.m. (Hyner Run). NOTES: Join the naturalist for some fall birding at Hyner Run and/or Little Pine State Park. Topics will include the different birds that live at Hyner Run and also how to identify them. Please bring your own binoculars and other birding gear. All children must be accompanied by an adult in order to participate. The program may be modified or canceled in the event of severe weather or new state or community guidelines. Those interested in the ...

Local experts all agree hellbenders need better protections

There is a huge amount of therapy for me, at least, on super stressful days – when it feels like the whole world is falling apart and the sky is falling with work projects and other major situations – to lay down in bed at night and zero in my thoughts and prayers of thankfulness on a ...

A look at five hikes that are perfect in the fall for families

Hiking with kids is a beautiful way to experience the fall season and promote life-long ecological awareness. With a little bit of prep and a lot of enthusiasm, kids from preschool through teenhood can enjoy these long walks. Choose hikes that match your emerging rambler. A half-mile hike with limited elevation is ideal for preschool age and those uncomfortable in nature. A mile with some elevation would match elementary-aged abilities. Trails should be clearly marked with blazes and well-mapped. Always check weather and the site’s visitor use policies before hiking. No need to ...

Deer season is almost here in PA

HARRISBURG — It’s probably safe to say that most people, given the chance to trade their cellphone for a landline, swap out their vehicle for a horse and buggy or replace their washing machine with a bucket, a bar of rough homemade soap and a 100-yard walk to the nearest river, would opt to keep their modern conveniences. Tools offering efficiency, ease and comfort are hard to forgo. There are exceptions, though. Bowhunters — who represent one of every two deer hunters in Pennsylvania overall — each year willingly go afield with stick and string, albeit often modernized, ...

Shore’s Dave Rothrock gave fly fishing lessons at Trout Run Park

Dave Rothrock can toss line from a fly rod some 100 feet or even longer by employing a double-haul cast. Used to reach farther distances on a stream to waiting fish, the double haul is not a cast that Rothrock teaches to novice fly-fishers. The Jersey Shore resident who has taught fly-casting and guided anglers and has more than fifty years of experience stalking trout, would rather teach them the very basics of getting a fly on the water first. Recently, he gave a quick lesson to Mike Hill, of Farragut, where they were set up on a grassy area of Trout Run Park. Within 10 minutes, ...

Fall is perfect time to catch some crappies

Leaves are showing a peek of color, temperatures are cooling and fall is approaching. This means that deer, turkey and waterfowl are on my mind, but some fishing still needs to be done. While it may surprise you, crappie is one of my favorite fall species. Crappies are usually associated with spring fishing and with good reason. The spawn draws them to shallow waters. After thinning during a long winter, feeding is one of the top things on their mind. The bite is heavy, and the action is hot. But many of these same traits can make the fall a perfect time for a second bite at the ...