By Aaron Hepler   As I sat in the bay window of my parents’ house, I couldn’t help but notice the light was fading. It was odd since it was sunny a few minutes prior. I looked up at the sky as the shadows grew. The image of hundreds and hundreds of geese met my eyes. Snow geese and Canada geese alike, with other species of waterfowl in the mix. Landing in fields and taking to the air at random times, birds covered the ground and sky wherever I could see. This was a familiar sight for me and ...

By Aaron Hepler For some people, hunting season ends after the whitetail gun season closes. Until next September, many hunters won't give a thought of stepping foot in the woods. Don’t miss out on the privilege of exploring PA’s 4-plus million acres of publicly owned land. Late winter and early spring are the absolute best time to be in the woods scouting, and purely enjoying time outside. More importantly, no matter what you’re hunting, this is when almost anything we can hunt begins its ...

In late November, the Pennsylvania Chapter of Backcountry Hunters joined a coalition of hunting and angling groups to speak as one against proposed budget cuts that would have permanently altered funding for public land, clean water and a host of programs that benefit outdoor initiatives.  Led by our friends at the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, we were joined in opposition to the measures by the American Woodcock Society, Chesapeake Council of Fly Fishers International, ...

Comprehensive knowledge of hunting regulations is every hunter’s independent responsibility. Thankfully, we have modern technology at our fingertips telling us anything we want to know. Emphasis should be placed on updating yourself on new regulations every year! Who knows? The knowledge could potentially save you from an empty game bag - or protect you from an unwanted citation.   By Aaron Hepler A cool, misty September evening found a friend of mine in his tree stand on public land in the ...

Hunters are needed in the fight against Chronic Wasting Disease. Increased harvesting and testing of deer in CWD areas is crucial to halting its spread. The Pennsylvania Game Commission has released its new CWD management plan. Its core components are hunter participation along with increased hunting opportunities. An increased number of DMAP permits along with regular antlerless tag allocations have been made available to encourage hunters to harvest more deer and submit them for ...