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Outdoor

Those wishing to view the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners meeting, being held virtually on Monday, April 6 and Tuesday, April 7, either can watch live through the video-conferencing site Webex, or later on the Game Commission’s YouTube channel. For those watching live, the simplest way to access Monday’s meeting is by clicking on the direct link provided in the interactive version of this news release and on the homepage of the Game Commission’s website, www.pgc.pa.gov. After clicking the link, each viewer will need to enter a first and last name and email address to ...

Seedling sales program canceled

The Pennsylvania Game Commission announced this week that Howard Nursery will not distribute seedlings as a result of mandatory closings and delays caused by COVID-19. The nursery annually has provided over a million seedlings to Hunter Access Program cooperators, who allow public hunting on their properties, the Seedlings for Schools program and public sales. Thankfully, no seedling beds yet had been opened. All seedlings will remain in beds until next spring for 2021 distribution. “It is disappointing our seedlings can’t be distributed this year, but we look forward to the ...

Department of Agriculture reassures Pennsylvanians: COVID-19 not transmissible through food

Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and Department of Agriculture Food Safety Director Jeff Warner assured Pennsylvanians this week that there is no evidence that human or animal food or food packaging is associated with transmission of COVID-19. Redding also reviewed the department’s recommendations to retail food and agriculture operations for continuity of business, inhibiting transmission, and maintaining a healthy workforce to ensure continuous access to food during COVID-19. “I want to assure Pennsylvanians and ease their fear: food is safe,” said Warner. “There is ...

Audubon: ‘Get outside’

If you didn’t see this message on Audubon Community Nature Center’s home page (AudubonCNC.org), Education Coordinator Sarah Hatfield would like to share it with you now: Here’s the thing. There are many fewer excuses now. Maybe you’re home, maybe your kids are home. Maybe you’re ...

Time to go crappie fishin’

Some of my best days of crappie fishing have been the very day the ice left a lake. Forget any nonsense about the water still being too cold. Late ice crappie fishing usually is great– if there only were any decent late ice. Find crappie when they are hungry and they will hit. Wait for ...

Trout season ‘operating under a consolidated statewide schedule’

Fishing is essentially a form of social distancing before social distancing became a key part of our lexicon. But that doesn’t mean that the COVID-19 crisis isn’t impacting trout season in the Commonwealth. The Fish & Boat Commission has issued a statement as well as a FAQ on fishing in the midst of the pandemic. First of all, fishing is still permitted. “Fishing is often a solitary activity and is currently acceptable per the guidelines issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Health if social distancing guidelines are followed,” the PFBC states. The PFBC explains that ...