Outdoors calendar
California Hill Gun Club — The California Hill Gun Club will host its 19th annual small game hunting classic Saturday, Jan. 19. All sportsmen are welcome to enter. There will be classes for grouse and rabbits. Grouse-hunting teams will consist of two hunters. Entry fee is $25 per team. The top team with a limit of four grouse will receive two shotguns. The second- and third-place teams with four grouse will receive prizes. The rabbit hunt will consist of three-man teams. The top team with a limit of 12 rabbits will receive three shotguns, and the second- and third-place teams with 12 rabbits will receive prizes. Refreshments will be available at the club. There will be free food, raffles and more. Pre-registration is required. Hunters can leave from their homes, but they must report to the club house before 7 p.m. To register mail checks payable to California Hill Gun Club to J.R. Anderson P.O. Box 467, California, Pa. 15419. Interested parties can call JR after 3 p.m. at 724-938-3480.
Western Allegheny Chapter Conservation & Sportsmen’s Banquet — The 22nd annual Western Allegheny Chapter Conservation & Sportsmen’s Banquet will be held Friday, Feb. 1, at the Ramada Hotel and Conference Center in Greensburg. Individual membership and dinner ticket costs $65, and family membership (and two dinners) cost $120. Additional family dinners cost $50 each and additional youth dinners cost $25 each. Social hour and raffles begin at 5:30 p.m. with the dinner to follow at 7:30. For more information, please contact Lisa M. Rossi at (724) 693-9032 or via email at rgslmt@msn.com.
OPEN SEASONS
SQUIRRELS, Red, Gray, Black and Fox (Combined): Open through Dec. 26-Feb. 23 (6 daily, 12 possession).
RUFFED GROUSE: Open through Dec. 26-Jan. 26 (2 daily, 4 possession).
RABBIT (Cottontail): Open through 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.
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.
HUNTER-ED CLASSES
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.
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.
TROUT STOCKINGS
The Fish and Boat Commission no longer lists the number of trout to be stocked.
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.