Here are some of the highlights of columns I reported on in 2023:

January - The United States District Court for the Western District of New York issued a preliminary injunction against the state of New York, stopping the state’s prohibition on firearms at houses of worship. The decision ruling stated, “Houses of worship have a constitutional protected freedom to decide for themselves whether to allow legally possessed firearms into their facilities.”

Chuck Parker, president of the New York State Conservation Council, is asking for financial support, and donations will be appreciated.

It was stated in Pennsylvania there will be about 26 coyote/predator contests held this winter. Some will consist only with prizes for coyotes, and some will have prizes for coyotes, bobcat, fox and raccoon.

The Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs of Sullivan County NY will be having their coyote contest on February 3, 4 and 5. Unfortunately it is on the same dates as the Pennsylvania District 9 Trappers are having theirs, because many hunters participate in both contests.

February - The NRA will hold their popular “The Great America Outdoor Show” on February 4-12 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, PA. Exhibitors will include firearms and ammunition manufacturers, fishing equipment and boats, RV’s, outfitters, archery equipment and much more.

President Biden wants to ban semi-automatic firearms. He said, “The idea we will allow semi-automatic weapons to be purchased is sick, it has no social redeeming value.”

March - The Pennsylvania Game Commission announced the finalized 2022 statewide bear harvest. 3,170 bear were taken, the take was down a little but still enough to rank it as the 14th largest bear take of all time. 

The Mosquito Creek Sportsman’s Club of PA announced that a total of 4,419 hunters participated in their coyote contest and 269 coyotes were taken for a payout of $17,754, which amounted to $66 per coyote. First place received $8,838, second place $5,302 and third place $3,535. The heaviest female coyote taken earned a check for $8,838. 

The World Fishing and Outdoor Expo, after more than 40 years of holding their show in Suffern, NY at the Rockland Community College, is moving to Edison, New Jersey. The show promoters said there were new restrictions imposed on the show this year pertaining to hunting and firearms displays. The move now will allow firearms displays back into the show.

April - I announced that I have been writing the Sportsman Outdoors column in the Sullivan County Democrat newspaper for 45 years. My wife and I started writing the weekly column on April 13th, 1978.

Reported that the spring gobbler turkey hunting seasons in New York and Pennsylvania is just about here. Pennsylvania’s starts on April 29th and New York starts on May 1st.

May - Reported that the NY DEC is having a problem getting adequate staff to operate all their summer camps for children.

Pennsylvania is spraying 110,000 acres of state game lands in an effort to protect wildlife habitat from the spreading of gypsy-moths.

June - The PA Game Commission reported that a bear attacked a 14-month-old toddler and a five-year-old child that were playing on their lawn in front of their home. The children suffered minor injuries and were treated and released at a nearby hospital.

July - The NY legislature, the Senate and Assembly, have approved a bill that will ban coyote contests in the state of New York. The bill is on the NY Governor Kathy Hochul’s desk waiting to be signed into law.

After the loss of the entire pheasants at the DEC’s Reynolds Game Farm due to a virus, DEC said they will purchase about 30,000 pheasants to be released this fall. 

August - The NRA’s 152nd annual convention was held in Indiana and 77,246 members attended the three days of events.

The PA Game Commission announced a new record for donating venison to the Sharing the Harvest Program in 2022-23 deer hunting season. A total of 235,532 pounds of venison from 6,201 deer and 4 elk were donated by hunters. 

September - Reminded all that the Federation of Sportsman’s Clubs of Sullivan County will hold on September 9th the Kay Danchak Memorial Outdoor Expo Day at the Grahamsville Fairgrounds from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. All children accompanied by an adult are welcome to attend.

Reported that archery deer seasons in New York and Pennsylvania will start soon. Pennsylvania opens on September 30th and New York opens on October 1st.

October - It was reported that 30 to 40 deer were found dead in Crawford County, PA, and it was determined their cause of death was due to the hemorrhagic disease that comes from a bite by midges.

Reported the dates of the bear and deer firearms hunting seasons in NY and PA along with PA’s elk hunting season dates.

November - It was reported that an Iowa man died after being shot while hunting coyotes at night with friends. The Iowa state agency said the hunters were several hundred yards apart when the fatal accident happened. 

Reported that drones are being used to recover wounded bear and deer. A new service call Drone Deer and Bear Recovery is being offered in 15 states, mainly in the Midwest of the United States. Maybe eventually this service will be offered in some Eastern states.

December - With the ongoing Ukrainian - Russian war and the Israel - Hamas- Palestinian conflicts, firearm industry experts said ammunition suppliers are focusing on sales for the war and the conflicts, and it is expected to cause a shortage in ammunition that will affect American hunters and firearm enthusiasts.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul right before Christmas gave the sportsmen/women a Christmas present by signing the bill that bans coyote contests in the state of New York. It is now officially a New York law.