Latest news with #TravisLau
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
OUTDOORS BRIEFS
Changes could be coming for elk licenses A number of changes meant to update and improve Pennsylvania's elk license application system could be coming, if measures given preliminary approval by the Board of Commissioners get final approval in April. First, the Pennsylvania Game Commission is proposing to require hunters to first buy a hunting license before applying for an elk tag. Current regulations allow anyone to submit an elk license application, but only require applicants to buy a license if drawn. Second, the agency is looking to simplify the elk license application process, removing the requirement to include a hunter's Social Security number or hunter ID. If the measure requiring hunters to buy a general hunting license before applying for an elk tag is approved, the license-issuing system will have already captured that information, making another request for it redundant. Third, the Game Commission is proposing to change the language describing how the drawing is conducted. When the description first was written, paper applications were literally drawn by hand from a rotating barrel. Now, tags are drawn electronically. The proposal better reflects the existing drawing process. Fourth, the agency is proposing to eliminate the requirement that hunters who draw an elk tag participate in an orientation program, given such a program no longer is conducted. Fifth, the Game Commission is proposing to cap at 10% the number of elk licenses that can be awarded to nonresidents in any given year. Currently there is no limit, and while the percentage of tags going to nonresidents typically had fallen at 10%, it has increased in recent years to as high as 13%, which has drawn concern from residents. And finally, the Game Commission is proposing to limit hunters to drawing one bull elk tag, total, in a lifetime. Those who drew a bull tag prior to Jan. 1, 2026, are still eligible to draw a second bull tag using the bonus points they've already accumulated. They can't enter any new bull elk applications after that date, however. And those who draw a bull tag after Jan.1, 2026, would retain their bonus points, but they would be applied only to drawings for a cow tag going forward. PGC holding public meeting on CWD The Pennsylvania Game Commission is hosting an informational meeting to answer questions from the public about Chronic Wasting Disease, Thursday, Feb. 27, form 6-8 p.m., at Penn State Hazleton, Graham Building Room 115, Parking Lot F, 76 University Drive, Hazleton 18202. For information contact the PGC CWD Hotline at 1-833-INFOCWD, email INFOCWD@ or go to PGC information specialist Travis Lau is ETO guest Pennsylvania Game Commission information specialist Travis Lau is the guest of Republican Herald outdoors editor Doyle Dietz on the Sunday, Feb. 23, edition of 'Experience The Outdoors,' winner of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association and Mason-Dixon Outdoor Writers Association awards for best outdoors radio program. Air times are: 7-7:30 a.m., AM 1410 WLSH; 8-8:30 a.m., Sunny 1100 WGPA; 9-9:30a.m., Magic 105.5-FM.; and downloaded on Banquets Jeff Post Memorial Chapter NWTF: Saturday, March 8, Community Fire Company, Landingville; 4 p.m. doors open, 5:30 p.m. dinner; information and registration at Lykens Valley Longbeards Chapter NWTF: Saturday, March 22, Millersburg American Legion; 4 p.m. doors open, 5:30 p.m. dinner; information and registration at Education Pennsylvania Game Commission Hunter-Trapper Education Course for all first-time hunters, age 12 and older, Stein's Hollow Beagle Club, Saturday, April 12, 8 a.m. to 3p.m.,; register online at Pennsylvania Game Commission Hunter-Trapper Education Course for all first-time hunters, age 12 and older, is available online and for future schedules and registration for in-person classes go to Fishing Rabbit Run Kids Derby: Saturday, April 12, 8 a.m., includes hourly prize, trophies for largest trout for a boy and a girl and a trophy for first limit for a boy and girl. Rabbit Run Button Day: Sunday, April 13, 7 a.m., cash prizes of $300 for heaviest stringer of trout, $200 for second heaviest stringer and $100 for third heaviest stringer. Hikes Suess Speaks for the Trees: Sunday, March 2, 2-3 p.m., Sweet Arrow Lake Clubhouse; 1-2 miles, easy on gravel and dirt terrain; pet friendly; for information contact 'Hemlock Hanna' Kulbitsky at hkulbitsky@ or 272-208-0406. Turn Em Back and Turn up to Tuscarora: Sunday, March 9, noon-2 p.m., Tuscarora State Park, Barnesville; moderately difficult 3-4 miles on varying terrain and slopes of stone, dirt, and roots; for information contact 'Hemlock Hanna' Kulbitsky at hkulbitsky@ or 272-208-0406. Shoots West Penn Archery Club Saturday Night League, shoots are held Saturday's at the club, 147 Archery Club Road, New Ringgold. Shows The Fly Fishing Show: Saturday and Sunday, March 1 and 2, Lancaster County Convention Center, 25 South Queen St., Lancaster; for information go to . Hours: Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Sunday. 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Safari Club International Lehigh Valley Chapter Convention and Banquet: Friday and Saturday, March 8 and 9, Center 100 Hotel, 7736 Adrienne Drive, Breinigsville. Hours: Friday, 1-9 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. This week's events Thursday: Trap, 5-6 p.m., youth; 6-9 p.m., adult, Orwigsburg Gun Club, Gun Club Road, off Route 443 East, Orwigsburg; email grsmmyminch@ for information. — Compiled by Doyle Dietz
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Cases of bird flu confirmed in Blair County geese
NORTH WOODBURY, Pa. (WTAJ) — Blair County has reported its first case of bird flu in wild birds. These are the first confirmed cases reported in the region. Patients zero were four Canadian Geese found in North Woodbury Township. Experts said the sick birds may have ended up in Central Pennsylvania because of their migration patterns. 'With a disease like high path in wild populations, there's not really any control over where it might go. Even if you were to sort of deflect birds from one site, they just end up in another site. And to some extent, they're they're going to travel where they're going to travel,' said Travis Lau, Communications Director for the Pennsylvania Game Commission. While bird flu is mostly impacting fowl — chickens, geese and ducks — there is still some risk to people and their pets. Lau said there is a possibility of contracting bird flu if you, or your dog, come across an infected bird. But he said the best way to avoid contracting bird flu is the same way you avoid getting sick from another person — by staying far away. 'Our guidance for the public in general is to not touch or handle sick or dead birds and to report them to us,' Lau said. You can report a dead bird or a bird you suspect is sick by calling the Pennsylvania Game Commission at 1-833-PGC-WILD (1-833-742-9453). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania Game Commission gives updates on local bird flu detection
As conversations surrounding bird flu continue to gain more and more attention, the Pennsylvania game commission is providing an update as to what we're seeing here in northwest Pennsylvania. Travis Lau, the communications director with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, said they've only detected one case of avian influenza in our region, and that was in mid-December before much mortality was seen anywhere. Bird flu is spreading, but should you be worried? Lau said not many bird deaths have been reported to them. The lone positive detection was found in a snowy owl in Washington township here in Erie County. Right now, the game commission is waiting on results from four other birds in the region, those being three Canadian geese as well as an eagle. PA Game Commission releasing 8,400 pheasants for end of season Beyond that, other tests done on birds picked up by the game commission over the past few months have indicated that they died from some other cause. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
