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Outdoors

Comment time on Bobwhite Quail

From Mirror reports HARRISBURG — Those wishing to submit comments about the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s 2021-2030 Northern Bobwhite Quail Management Plan draft may do so until Aug. 28. The blank draft plan can be found on the Northern Bobwhite Quail page at www.pgc.pa.gov. Comments may be sent by email to RA-BobwhiteComments@pa.gov. When adopted, the plan will guide efforts to restore this native species, once common in Pennsylvania but missing from our landscape in recent decades. “The Pennsylvania Game Commission and partner organizations have taken great strides in ...

Construction changes access to state lands

From Mirror reports The Pennsylvania Game Commission announced that public access to Game Lands Road, located within State Game Lands 26 in Cambria and Bedford counties, will be temporarily impacted by a construction project. During the final weeks of August and into early September, contractors will begin a $142,000 project to improve 1.7 miles of roadway for vehicle access through the game lands. The segment of State Game Lands Road that will be closed begins at Gate 17 off Frankstown Road in Cambria County, Portage Township and proceeds south, ending at Gate 16. This section ...

Biden backs end to wolf protections

By Matthew Brown and John Flesher The Associated Press FARIBAULT, Minn. — President Joe Biden’s administration is sticking by the decision under former President Donald Trump to lift protections for gray wolves across most of the U.S. However, a top federal wildlife official on Friday told The Associated Press there is growing concern over aggressive wolf hunting seasons adopted for the predators in the western Great Lakes and northern Rocky Mountains. Wolves under federal protection made a remarkable rebound in parts of the U.S. over the past several decades, after being ...

PGC wants feedback on northern goshawks

From Mirror reports HARRISBURG, — The Pennsylvania Game Commission is soliciting comments on a proposal to revise the status of the northern goshawk from protected to endangered. The Game Commission Board of Commissioners gave preliminary approval to the listing change at its July meeting, and will consider the proposal for final adoption at its meeting in September. Those wishing to submit comments about the proposed change may do so until Sunday, Sept. 5. Comments may be submitted by email to goshawk@pa.gov or by mail to: Northern Goshawk Comments, Pennsylvania Game Commission, ...

Peregrine falcon close to protected

From Mirror reports HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Game Commission is proposing to remove the peregrine falcon from the Commonwealth’s list of threatened birds, reclassifying its status as protected. The Game Commission Board of Commissioners gave preliminary approval to the listing change at its July meeting, and will consider the proposal for final adoption at its meeting in September. Those wishing to submit comments about the proposed change may do so until Sept. 5. Comments may be submitted by email to peregrine@pa.gov or by mail to: Peregrine Falcon Comments, Pennsylvania ...

Commission addresses deer, COVID talk

HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Game Commission responded on Friday to recent reports about the connection between COVID-19 and deer, pointing out there’s no evidence deer can spread the virus to humans or that humans are at risk of contracting the virus from consuming venison. As always, however, hunters heading afield in the 2021-22 hunting seasons should take usual precautions when handling their harvests. “COVID-19 has affected all of us, and it’s not surprising the recent research that shows deer can develop COVID antibodies has generated interest,” Game Commission ...