First round of resident antlerless applications being accepted Monday

With general hunting license sales underway, county treasurers will begin accepting antlerless deer license applications from resident hunters starting Monday, July 9; and from nonresidents beginning Monday, July 30.

For the 2012-13 license year, antlerless deer license fees are the same as they have been since 1999, except for the 70-cent transaction fee attached to the purchase of each license and permit, which is paid directly to Active Outdoors, the Nashville-based company that runs Pennsylvania Automated License System. This transaction fee means that residents will need to write checks made payable to "County Treasurer" for $6.70 and nonresidents for $26.70, and hunters must use the official pink envelopes, which are provided to each license buyer by the issuing agents.

By state law, antlerless deer licenses will continue being sold only by county treasurers, so hunters will need to prepare and mail separate applications for antlerless deer licenses. A list of the mailing addresses for the 65 county treasurers that issue antlerless deer licenses is included in the 2012-13 Digest provided to each license buyer.

A listing of antlerless licenses allocated by WMU, as well as the remaining allocation, can be viewed on the PGC website at http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/ by clicking on "Doe License Update" in the "Quick Clicks" box in the right-hand column of the homepage.

**********

Experienced hunters and trappers who are interested in becoming volunteer instructors for the Pennsylvania Game Commission's basic Hunter-Trapper Education, Successful Bowhunting, Successful Furtaking and the Successful Turkey Hunting courses, as well as future courses under consideration, and being sought by the agency.

Persons who wish to become instructors should be knowledgeable, experienced hunters and trappers and be willing to teach at least one class per year. Classes are held at a variety of locations, such as sportsmen's clubs, fire halls, schools and municipal buildings.

Instructors work with other volunteer instructors, wildlife conservation officers and deputy WCOs to plan and teach classes. Applicants need not be experts in every field of hunting and trapping, and the PGC provides all teaching materials and detailed lesson plans.

All new instructors must have attended and completed a class, as a student, within 18 months prior to or after submitting their application. Also, applicants must pass a background check, assist with at least one student-level class and attend a new instructor training workshop before being certified.

For more information about becoming an instructor, visit the PGC website at http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/ or by call the agency's Hunter-Trapper Education Division at 717-787-7015.

**********

Sunday's edition of "Experience The Outdoors," hosted by award-winning Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association member Doyle Dietz, at 7 a.m. on 1410 WLSH and 9:30 a.m. on Magic 105.5, will feature South Carolina outfitter Hugh Walters of Deerfield Plantation.

**********

Bear's Head 3-D course is open daily through Friday, Oct. 12, from dawn to dusk daily, except from 2-6 p.m. Sundays, on club grounds located off I-81 exit 134, 148 Lofty Road, Delano. For information, call the association at 570-467-0331.

**********

Revolver shooters will compete in the 10th Annual ICORE East Coast Regional Championship, Sunday, July 22, at Ontelaunee Rod and Gun Club, New Tripoli. This competition is open to both ICORE members and nonmembers.

For information, access the ICORE website at www.ICORE.org. For information on event, access the Ontelaunee website at www.ontelaunee.org.

**********

This year's Pennsylvania Summer Biathlon will be held, Saturday, July 28, beginning at 9:30 a.m., at Whitetail Preserve, Bloomsburg. This is the 17th annual event, which is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Biathlon Club and is a combination of a 4k run and rifle marksmanship.

Competition is by age classes, and there is no entry fee for the Scholastic Division for those 19 and younger. Entry forms are available on the Web at NEPRunner.com, and for information contact Frank Gaval 570-788-4219 or barb13@ptd.net.