Outdoors calendar
Ham and turkey shoot — Dunbar Sportsman’s Club will host a ham and turkey shoot at 1 p.m. Sunday at the clubhouse. Shotguns and .22s. Refreshments available and everyone is welcome.
HUNTER-ED CLASSES
Greene County — The Greene County department of Recreation will hold a series of four fly-tying courses with a class for beginners starting Dec. 11. Each of the three-week courses costs $20 to attend and is limited to 20 students. Courses will be held on the upper level of the 4-H Building at the Greene County Fairgrounds.
NOTE: All hunter-trapper education students must now register online. To register go to the Game Commission’s website at http://www.pgc.state.pa.us and look for Hunter-Trapper Education. Click on the photo and it will open the link to the registration page. The instructions on how to register are easy to follow.
OPEN SEASONS
SQUIRRELS, Red, Gray, Black and Fox (Combined): Open through Dec. 10-24 and Dec. 26-Feb. 23 (6 daily, 12 possession).
RUFFED GROUSE: Open through Dec. 10-24 and Dec. 26-Jan. 26 (2 daily, 4 possession).
RABBIT (Cottontail): Open through Dec. 10-24 and Dec. 26-Feb. 23 (4 daily, 8 possession).
WOODCHUCKS (GROUNDHOGS): No closed season, except: Sundays and during the regular firearms deer seasons. No limit.
STARLINGS AND ENGLISH SPARROWS: No closed season, except during the antlered and antlerless deer season. No limit.
BLACK BEAR (WMUs 3D, 4C, 4D and 4E): Nov. 28-Dec. 1. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.
BLACK BEAR (Designated Areas): Nov. 26-Dec. 1. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year. WMUs 3A and 3C; Portions of WMU 3B, East of Rt. 14 from Troy to Canton, East of Rt. 154 from Canton to Rt. 220 at Laporte and East of Rt. 42 from Laporte to Rt. 118 and that portion of 4E, East of Rt. 42; and portions of WMUs 2G in Lycoming and Clinton counties and 3B in Lycoming County that lie North of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River from the Rt. 405 Bridge, West to Rt. 15 at Williamsport, Rt. 15 to Rt. 220, and North of Rt. 220 to the Mill Hall exit, North of SR 2015 to Rt. 150; East of Rt. 150 to Lusk Run Rd. and South of Lusk Run Rd. to Rt. 120, Rt. 120 to Veterans Street Bridge to SR 1001; East of SR 1001 to Croak Hollow Rd., South of Croak Hollow Rd. to Rt. 664 (at Swissdale), South of Rt. 664 to Little Plum Rd. (the intersection of SR 1003), South of SR 1003 to SR 1006, South of SR 1006 to Sulphur Run Rd., South of Sulphur Run Rd. to Rt. 44, East of Rt. 44 to Rt. 973, South of Rt. 973 to Rt. 87, West of Rt. 87 to Rt. 864, South of Rt. 864 to Rt. 220 and West of Rt. 220 to Rt. 405 and West of Rt. 405 to the West Branch of the Susquehanna River.
DEER, ARCHERY (Antlered and Antlerless) Statewide: Dec. 26-Jan. 12. One antlered deer per hunting license year. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
DEER (Antlered Only) WMUs 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3B, 3C, 4B, 4D and 4E: Nov. 26-30. One antlered deer per hunting license year.
(Holders of valid DMAP antlerless deer permits may harvest antlerless deer on DMAP properties during this period.)
DEER (Antlered and Antlerless) WMUs 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3B, 3C, 4B, 4D and 4E: Dec. 1-8. One antlered deer per hunting license year. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
DEER, ANTLERED OR ANTLERLESS FLINTLOCK (Statewide): Dec. 26-Jan. 12. One antlered deer per hunting license year, or one antlerless deer and an additional antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.
2012-13 FURBEARER
HUNTING SEASONS
COYOTES: No closed season. Unlimited. 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 furtakers license.
RACCOON and FOXES: Open through Feb. 16, unlimited.
OPOSSUM, SKUNKS and WEASELS: No closed season, except Sundays. No limits.
BOBCAT (WMUs 2A, 2C, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4C, 4D and 4E): Jan. 15-Feb. 5. One bobcat per license year, but all licensed furtakers may obtain one permit.
2012-13 TRAPPING SEASONS
MINK and MUSKRAT: Open through Jan. 6. Unlimited.
COYOTE, FOXES, OPOSSUM, RACCOON, SKUNKS and WEASELS: Open through Feb. 17. No limit.
COYOTE and FOXES (Statewide) Cable Restraints: Dec. 26-Feb. 17. No limit. Participants must pass cable restraint certification course.
BEAVER (Statewide): Dec. 26-March 31 (Limits vary depending on WMU).
BOBCAT (WMUs 2A, 2C, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4C, 4D and 4E): Dec. 15-Jan. 6. One bobcat per license year, and all licensed furtakers may obtain one permit.
FISHER (WMUs 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G and 4D): Dec. 15-20. One fisher per license year and all licensed furtakers may obtain one permit.
TROUT STOCKINGS
Following are trout stocking schedules for Fayette and surrounding counties for the remainder of 2012. The Fish and Boat Commission no longer lists the number of trout to be stocked. Dates of the stockings are as listed, but a limited number of stockings are listed by week only. Stockings are subject to change due to weather and/or mechanical breakdowns.
SOMERSET COUNTY
Laurel Hill Lake — (Rainbow) Feb. 6, 2013
FAYETTE COUNTY
Dunlap Creek Lake — (Rainbow) Feb. 5, 2013, 11 a.m.
Virgin Run Dam — (Rainbow) Feb. 5, 2013, 10:30 a.m.
Youghiogheny River Tailraces — (Rainbow) Feb. 6, 2013,10 a.m.
WESTMORELAND COUNTY
Donegal Lake — (Rainbow) Feb. 11, 2013
Keystone Lake — (Rainbow) Feb. 5, 2013
Mammoth Lake — (Rainbow), Feb. 11, 2013
Northmoreland Lake — (Rainbow) Feb. 5, 2013
Lower Twin Lake — (Rainbow) Feb. 13, 2013
Upper Twin Lake — (Rainbow) Feb. 13, 2013
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Canonsburg Lake — (Rainbow) Feb. 11, 2013, 1:30 p.m.