Nightfall turns everything new. When the dark slowly takes away vision, every sound is magnified. A small animal scurrying through leaves sounds like a bear crashing through the brush. Familiar places turn unfamiliar when they disappear from view. There are many terms for that time of day. ...

Pennsylvania hunters and trappers soon will be lining up to purchase their 2017-18 licenses, and they need to be aware of some important changes implemented since this time last year. Hunting licenses for 2017-18 go on sale June 19. The licenses become valid July 1 and, after that date, all ...

A bill put forth by State Representative Kathy Rapp to permit state and federal cooperation will be before a House committee next week. House Bill 1494 was introduced on June 5 and immediately referred to the Committee on Agricultural and Rural Affairs, where a hearing will be held on Tuesday ...

Pennsylvania hunters and trappers soon will be able to purchase their 2017-18 licenses, and the Pennsylvania Game Commission wants them to be aware of some important changes implemented since this time last year. Hunting licenses for 2017-18 go on sale June 19. The licenses become valid July ...

Last Saturday while driving past the parking lot at the Morrison Trail, the parking lot was full and vehicles were parked along the driveway. Some probably hiked to the Morrison Campground. Some probably were camped along the trail. Maybe most were just hiking for the day. Those are the new ...

Warren County outdoor writer Steve Sorensen took home the top “Excellence in Craft” award from the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association May 20, held in Grantville. Sorensen won three first-place awards. His article titled “Nun Sense” was the top winner in the “White-Tailed Deer ...

I don’t see many turtles at my house. This weekend, when my wife called out that she saw a turtle in the yard, I was curious and surprised. I walked over and there it was. All I saw was a shell about four inches long and not quite that wide. The turtle had pulled itself inside and sat ...

It might not quite feel like summer out but the Allegheny National Forest is gearing up for the summer season. Summer hours were announced on Friday for the ANF’s Ranger District offices as well as for the Kinzua Point Information Center and motorized vehicle trails throughout the ...

Volunteers are needed for Chapman Dam’s spring cleanup. On Saturday, June 10, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., rain or shine, volunteers and park staff will work to clean up trails in the park for the upcoming spring and summer seasons. In the past, said DCNR environmental education specialist Jen ...

How do you determine which fish is most popular among Warren area anglers? During April and May it would appear that stocked trout are our most popular sport fish. But it depends on where you are looking. Go to Chautauqua Lake and it might appear that the majority of anglers in the region ...

The pictures of spring flowers in children’s books are bright pinks, purples and yellows. But look around at all the white flowers - in the fields, on the shrubs and in the trees. And as your eyes scan the landscape and are drawn to the tree in a coat of white, there is a good chance it’s ...

At our house, pansies always welcome the new gardening season. My spring container near the side door always has the most beautiful pansies I can find. A large container is brought from the garden shed, filled with new potting soil and planted with the pansies. I love the dark, dark purple and ...

Warren County and neighboring residents have displayed their respect for the 2nd amendment for a quarter century with the Friends of NRA Banquet, which benefits the NRA Foundation, a non-political arm of the NRA which benefits youth, women, new shooters and community safety. On May 13th, the ...

People who identify birds by song always seemed to inhabit a different world from me. While I tried to see field marks, watching for a white ring around the eye or a yellow patch on the butt of a bird, these people would be shouting out things like “Chestnut-sided Warbler!” and “Was that ...

Photo submitted to Times Observer In addition to its primary mission of working with local communities to ensure that increased wilderness protection is a priority of the stewardship of the Allegheny National Forest, Friends of Allegheny Wilderness over the years has also made significant ...

Friday’s prescribed burn at the Jake’s Rocks Recreation Area was a success. Scott Crist, the Jake’s Rocks project burn boss, said that for a burn scheduled 2-1/2 days after rain, it went well. Much of the mountain laurel and other species targeted by the prescribed burn, said Crist, ...

Camping and fishing season in Pennsylvania also means wildfire season. With Pennsylvania’s traditional statewide trout season underway, and weather conditions that keep firefighters busy responding to wildfires across much of the state, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and ...

The Pennsylvania Game Commission is predicting a big spring for turkey hunters. Properly licensed junior hunters and mentored youth can head afield Saturday, April 22, to participate in Pennsylvania’s annual youth spring turkey hunt. A week later, on April 29, all hunters can head into the ...

The Allegheny National Forest was on fire Friday afternoon. A prescribed burn at the Jake’s Rocks recreation area went ahead as planned. Starting at around noon, over 20 National Forest Service employees applied a mixture of four parts diesel and one part gasoline to the forest ...

Birds will be singing, peepers will be peeping, flowers will be blooming. Or, we will get 8 inches of heavy snow. No matter, the opening day of trout fishing season is the happiest day of the year, rivaled only by the opening day of deer hunting season. But unlike the opening day of deer ...