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Cowan’s bass fishing passion pays off

By John Hartsock jhartsock@altoonamirror.com Everett Area High School sophomore Ayden Cowan has had a lifelong passion for fishing. And in October, Cowan, 15, will have an opportunity to parlay that passion into a big payoff. Cowan, who lives in Breezewood, qualified for the Big Bass Zone (BBZ) JC World Finals for the Bass Cat Boats Junior Championship presented by Bassmaster. This year’s event will be held on Saturday, Oct. 30 at Lake Taneycomo in Branson, Missouri. A total of 54 anglers representing each state in the country have qualified for the BBZ World Finals, which is ...

Series of marathons set to begin this weekend

From Mirror reports STATE COLLEGE — As the month of September arrives, a group run series kicks off this weekend in Rothrock State Forest. Organizers of the Tussey Mountainback 50 Mile Relay and Ultramarathon established the Discovery Training Series, a free group run series designed to enable runners to experience several of the scenic roads of the forest. The series takes place on eight consecutive Saturday mornings with the first one taking place this morning. Runners can participate to enhance their own fitness, work toward a specific goal, or use the series as ...

PGC puts out reminder on 2021 turkey survey reports

From Mirror reports HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Game Commission’s two-month public survey on wild turkey sightings has ended, but participants are encouraged to report their July and August sightings through Monday, Sept. 6. Reports must be filed online, either by visiting www.pgc.pa.gov and clicking on “Turkey Sighting Survey” in the Quick Clicks section, or through the mobile apps available at the Google Play StoreOpens In A New Window or Apple’s App StoreOpens In A New Window. To find the apps, search for “Pennsylvania Game Commission,” then select Turkey Sighting ...

Gun safety is available for those who seek it

By Shirley Grenoble For the Mirror As I surveyed the tables of books at a recent library book sale in Bellwood, I couldn’t help but hear what a couple of women were saying to one another. They were discussing their most recent bicycle forays into the woods and the surprise each one felt when they unexpectedly ran into men there. What I heard made the chills run up and down my spine. So, never having been a shrinking violet, I butted in with my two cents worth. About now, you are all assuming I am recommending everyone carry a gun. Actually, I am not. Being a hunter for ...

Adjust your calenders for early-season hunting in September

By Walt Young For the Mirror The intense heat wave we experienced this past week left no doubt that summer is still here. But a glance at the calendar reveals that September arrives this coming week, and the beginning of September and the weeks that follow also usher in the start of several early hunting seasons. The first of those is dove season. A season for mourning doves was established in Pennsylvania back in 1945, and since then, dove hunting has become a popular early-season opportunity for generations of Pennsylvania hunters. This year dove season starts this Wednesday, ...

Hunters need to know about CWD changes

By Walt Young For the Mirror If asked to pick my favorite topic to write about, I would find that a difficult choice. There are just too many things in the outdoors that I find interesting and enjoy discussing. On the other hand, selecting my least favorite outdoor topic is a much easier task. My least favorite subject for the last nine years is easily chronic wasting disease or CWD. Despite that, I have found myself compelled to write about CWD several times a year to keep fellow hunters informed about this continuing threat to our deer herd here in Pennsylvania. Sadly, there ...