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On July 9, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed the bill allowing Sunday hunting in the Commonwealth. Don’t rush out and start hunting on Sundays quite yet, there is now a 60-day window …
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John Van Etten
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7/18/25
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I will never forget the first time I heard that sound. I was 16 years old and had been hunting ducks with my friend Eric and his father. I was in hip boots in the water, at the end of the day, …
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John Van Etten
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7/11/25
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Yes, they really are officially named Little Brown Bats. That name was likely chosen because of their small size (adults weigh less than half an ounce). They are common in our area although their …
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John Van Etten
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7/7/25
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S6360A/A8330A is a bill that would allow crossbows to be used during any season that a longbow can. The legislation aims to redefine the definition used for bows to make it all inclusive and allow …
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John Van Etten
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6/28/25
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I have honestly never heard anyone around here refer to our American Woodcock as a Timberdoodle, although I see it in the literature all the time. Perhaps that nickname is a regional thing, like our …
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John Van Etten
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6/20/25
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The most common owl species here in Sullivan County is the Eastern Screech Owl. They are a small owl, with adults being roughly six and a half to ten inches tall and weighing between four and eight …
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John Van Etten
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6/13/25
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It’s estimated that hunters took 223,304 deer in New York State this past season. That number is up from 209,781 the previous season and is slightly below the five year average.
There were …
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John S. Van Etten
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6/6/25
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It’s that time of year again when everyone is hitting the water for recreation. The NYS DEC wants to remind everyone to “Clean.Drain.Dry” all boats, trailers, and gear before …
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John Van Etten
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5/30/25
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Representatives of the NYS DEC Bureau of Fisheries gave a presentation at the most recent Federation meeting about their Trout Stream Access Verification Plan. They need our help to ensure that our …
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John Van Etten
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5/23/25
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I received an envelope in the mail the other day from the NYS DEC. Inside was a window sticker for my car. The NYS Hunter Education Program (HEP) is celebrating its 75th anniversary. Congratulations!
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John Van Etten
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5/16/25
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New York State is home to two different species of cottontail rabbit, the Eastern cottontail, and the New England cottontail. Pennsylvania is also home to two different species, the Eastern and the …
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John Van Etten
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5/9/25
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On April 9, the NYS DEC announced that they have finalized protections for certain endangered and threatened species. Included in the list is the Atlantic Coast leopard frog. I’m glad to see …
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John Van Etten
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4/18/25
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The Pennsylvania Game Commission estimates that there were 476,880 deer taken this past season statewide. That’s up about 11% from 430,010 the previous year.
There were an estimated …
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John Van Etten
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4/11/25
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Tuesday is the opening day of trout season here in New York. The season in Pennsylvania opens the following Saturday, April 5.
Trout fishing is a huge thing here in the Sullivan …
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John Van Etten
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3/28/25
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The toms are starting to get vocal and Spring turkey season is just over a month away. Folks are digging out their gear in anticipation of May. For a turkey hunter this is a magical time …
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John Van Etten
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3/21/25
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The NYS DEC has published their 2024 Bear Harvest Summary Report. There were an estimated 1,685 bear taken this past season, which is up 24% from 2023 and about 13% from the 10-year average.
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John Van Etten
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3/14/25
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No, they aren’t something on display at the Dorflinger Museum in Hawley. Glass eels are juvenile American eels that are transparent. They are spawned and born in the Sargasso Sea in the …
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John Van Etten
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3/7/25
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The Pennsylvania Game Commission is seeking input from stakeholders on the upcoming 2025-26 waterfowl hunting seasons. It’s a chance for hunters to voice their opinions and influence the final …
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John Van Etten
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2/28/25
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Interim DEC Commissioner Sean Mahar has announced the release of the Hunting Related Shooting Incident (HRSI) statistics for 2024. It was the second-lowest number of incidents ever. Unfortunately, …
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2/21/25
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The Super Bowl is over (congratulations to the Philadelphia Eagles) and the good news is that there are still exciting things to do outdoors this winter. This Saturday is the Bethel Big Burn (BBB) …
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John Van Etten
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2/14/25
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I’ve always been fascinated by owls ever since I was a child. I recall a vivid memory from my youth, driving my father’s Buick Skylark down the Hartwood Club Road in Forestburgh, NY when …
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John Van Etten
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2/7/25
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The 2025 Ted Boniface Memorial Youth Ice Fishing Derby was held this past Sunday on Crystal Lake at Camp Keowa in the Ten Mile River Boy Scout Camps. There were 162 brave young folks out on the ice. …
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John Van Etten
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1/31/25
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It’s been below zero again this week and the ponds and lakes are mostly frozen. I’m hearing reports of 6 to 10 inches of ice in some places out there, so it’s time to dust off the …
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John Van Etten
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1/24/25
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New York and Pennsylvania are trying to educate the public about the BearWise campaign, in order to lessen conflicts between humans and bears. What is BearWise? It’s an educational outreach …
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John Van Etten
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1/17/25
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People tend to be more sedentary in the winter months. Here is a short list of some upcoming events that I am aware of to help us all get more active and get outdoors.
Youth Pheasant …
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John Van Etten
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1/14/25
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