Outdoors Calendar
ANNUAL BANQUET
Chestnut Ridge Chapter, Trout Unlimited will hold its 26th annual banquet Saturday, March 23 at Hugo’s Restaurant, Rte. 40 west of Brownsville. Doors open 5 p.m., Dinner served at 7 p.m.
Limited seating. Tickets available until March 11.
Quality fishing tackle, wildlife art, outdoor gear featured in support of a quarter-century of coldwater conservation in the Laurel Highlands. For tickets call Eugene Gordon at 724-277-8688 or visit www.chestnutridgetu.org.
ANNUAL BANQUET
Friendship Hill Spurs Chapter, National Wild Turkey Federation will hold its annual banquet Saturday, March 16 at the Fayette County Fairgrounds. Doors open 4 p.m., barbecue dinner served at 5:30 p.m.
There will be sporting goods and wildlife art prizes. Tickets include NWTF membership.
For tickets or information call Tammy Escalera at 724-812-6354 or email jose.tammy49@gmail.com.
TRAP, SKEET AND WOBBLE SHOOTING AT FAYETTE GUN CLUB
The Fayette Gun Club is having trap, skeet and wobble shooting at its facility at 1435 Gun Club Road, Uniontown every Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. and every Wednesday from 3 to 6 p.m. or last shooter.
Cost is $5 per round for members and $6 for non-members. For more information contact Terry at 724-366-1831.
HUNTER-TRAPPER INDEPENDENT STUDY COURSE
NOTE: Must be 11 years old to register. Students must attend the two- to three-hour class to be tested and certified. Students must study entire course content on own online, taking about 8-10 hours to complete.
SUCCESSFUL TURKEY HUNTING
Online registration only; must be at least age 11 to register.
Prior to attending, you should complete the independent study part of this program online. If you don’t want to study online, please telephone the PGC Hunter-Trapper Education Division at 717-787-7015 (8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday) to request a copy of our “Successful Turkey Hunting Student Manual.”
SUCCESSFUL FURTAKING
Prior to attending the one-day class, all students must complete the independent study part of the training by clicking on the link “Successful Furtaking Student Manual” on the website at www.pgc.state.pa.us.
If not online, please telephone the PGC Hunter-Trapper Education Division at 717-787-7015 (8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday) to request a printed version of the manual.
FAIRBANK ROD AND GUN CLUB SPORTING CLAYS
Every Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.
Find us on Facebook.
SUCCESSFUL BOWHUNTER-ED CLASSES
NOTE: All the online Pennsylvania Bowhunter Education Course must be completed before registering for Successful Bowhunting.
The online bowhunter education course (Pennsylvania Bowhunter Education Course) and Successful Bowhunting field day to complete the requirements for bowhunter education.
FINAL 2023-24 HUNTING SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS
SQUIRRELS, Red, Gray, Black and Fox (Combined):Dec. 26-Feb. 29, 2024 (6 daily, 18 possession).
RABBIT (Cottontail): Dec. 26-Feb. 29, 2024 (4 daily, 12 possession).
PHEASANT: Male and female pheasants may be taken in all WMUs. There is no open season for taking pheasants in Wild Pheasant Recovery Areas, except within the Central Susquehanna Wild Pheasant Recovery Area, as authorized by executive order.
PHEASANT: Dec. 26-Feb. 29, 2024 (2 daily, 6 in possession). Male and female pheasants may be taken in all WMUs. There is no open season for taking pheasants in Wild Pheasant Recovery Areas, except within the Central Susquehanna Wild Pheasant Recovery Area, as authorized by executive order.
BOBWHITE QUAIL: Dec. 26-March 30, 2024. No limit. There is no open season for the taking of bobwhite quail in the Letterkenny Army Depot Bobwhite Quail Recovery Area.
WOODCHUCK (GROUNDHOG): Dec. 11-June 29, 2024. No limit.
CROW: Aug. 24-March 24, 2024, on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday only. No limit.
STARLING AND ENGLISH SPARROW: No closed season, except during the regular firearms deer season. No limit.
SPRING GOBBLER (Bearded bird only): Special season for eligible junior hunters, with required license, and mentored hunters 16 and under – April 27, 2024. Only 1 spring gobbler may be taken during this hunt. Hunting hours end at noon.
SPRING GOBBLER (Bearded bird only): May 4-31, 2024. Daily limit 1, season limit 2. (Second spring gobbler may be only taken by persons who possess a valid special wild turkey license.) From May 4-18, legal hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until noon; from May 20-31, legal hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset.
DEER, ANTLERLESS (Military Bases): Hunting permitted on days established by the U.S. Department of the Army at Letterkenny Army Depot, Franklin County; New Cumberland Army Depot, York County; and Fort Detrick, Raven Rock Site, Adams County. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
FINAL 2023-24 FURBEARER HUNTING SEASONS
COYOTE: No closed season. No limit. Outside of any big game season (deer, bear, elk and turkey), coyotes may be taken with a hunting license or a furtaker license, and without wearing orange. During any big game season, coyotes may be taken while lawfully hunting big game or with a furtaker license.
OPOSSUM, STRIPED SKUNK and WEASEL: No closed season. During the firearms deer season, may only be hunted from 陆 hour after sunset to 陆 hour before sunrise. No Sunday hunting with the exceptions of Nov. 12, Sunday Nov. 19 and Nov. 26. No limits.
FINAL 2023-24 TRAPPING SEASONS
BEAVER (Statewide): Dec. 16-March 31, 2024 (Limits vary depending on WMU).
FINAL 2023-24 FALCONRY SEASONS
SQUIRRELS (combined):Nov. 27-March 30, 2024 (6 daily, 18 possession).
BOBWHITE QUAIL Nov. 27-March 30, 2024 (No limit).
RUFFED GROUSE Nov. 27-March 30, 2024 (2 daily, 6 possession).
COTTONTAIL RABBIT Nov. 27-March 30, 2024 (4 daily, 12 possession).
SNOWSHOE OR VARYING HARES Nov. 27-March 30, 2024 (1 daily, 3 possession).
PHEASANT (Male or Female combined): Nov. 27-March 30, 2024 (2 daily, 6 possession).
MINK, MUSKRAT, FOX, OPOSSUM, RACCOON, STRIPED SKUNK and WEASEL Nov. 27-March 30, 2024 (No limits).
2023-24 MIGRATORY GAME BIRD SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS
DUCKS:
Total Duck Bag Limits: 6 daily, 18 in possession of any species, except for the following restrictions: daily limit may not include more than 4 mallards including no more than 2 hen mallards, 2 black ducks, 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 1 pintail, 4 sea ducks; including no more than 3 eiders and no more than 1 female eider, 3 long-tailed ducks, and 3 scoters. Daily limit for scaup varies; see below. Possession limits are three times the daily limits.
Scaup Bag Limits:
Mergansers: 5 daily, 15 in possession
Coots: 15 daily, 45 in possession.
CANADA GEESE (includes WHITE-FRONTED GEESE):
Resident Population Goose Zone (RP)
All of Pennsylvania except for the Atlantic Population zone. Feb. 2-Feb. 24 (5-goose daily bag limit in latter 3 segments).
LIGHT GEESE (Snow Geese and Ross’ Geese):
Atlantic Population Zone:
Conservation Order: Jan. 29 – April 26; 25 daily, no possession limit.
Resident Population Zone:
Regular: Oct. 24-Feb. 24; 25 daily, no possession limit.
Conservation Order: Feb. 26 – April 26; 25 daily, no possession limit.
HARLEQUIN DUCKS, and TUNDRA and TRUMPETER SWANS: No open season.
Veteran and Active Duty Military Days:
CLAPPER AND KING RAILS: No open season.
No open season on other wild birds or mammals.
To request to have an item added to the Outdoors Calendar or to send a digital image of your harvested bear, deer or turkey photo for possible publication please email hssports@heraldstandard.com.