Pennsylvania Game Commissioners acting on legislation approval that permits hunting on three Sundays to the hunting calendar for the 2020-21 hunting season. The Commissioners gave archers permission to hunt on Sunday November 15, bear hunters could hunt on Sunday November 22 and firearm deer hunters permission to hunt on Sunday November 29.

Proponents of expanded Sunday hunting long argued that the additional opportunity of falling on a weekend when many people are not working would get more hunters into the woods.

No one ever suggested Sunday hunting would put more non-hunters in the woods. But it will require non-hunters such as hikers, birdwatchers and others who go afield during hunting seasons, to dress differently while doing their thing on state owned game lands.

Existing rules say that non-hunters using state game lands from November 15 to December 15 have to wear fluorescent orange clothing, that consist of 250 square inches of orange on the head, chest and back combined, visible from 360 degrees, any time they are on state game lands during that month-long stretch.

Passing of Barbara Weiss!

I'm saddened to report the recent passing of Barbara Weiss of Mongaup Valley. Barbara was an avid outdoor woman and a dedicated sportswoman who loved hunting and fishing.

When I had my Sporting Goods Store in Fosterdale and was an official weigh-in station for the Democrat newspaper hunting and fishing contests, Barbara through the years brought in countless turkeys, deer and fish to be entered in the contests.

Barbara and her husband Norman were members of the Mongaup Game Preserve Hunting Club and long time members of the Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs of Sullivan County. Barb and Norm were also very instrumental in helping Kay with her popular Federation wildgame dinners held each year. In 2005 Barbara and Norman were selected to be the Federation's “Sportsman/woman of the Year.”

Barbara will be missed!

NYC opens reservoirs

for fishing!

The NYC Department of Protection (DEP) recently announced that all its boat offices and recreational boating locations in the watershed will open immediately.

The boat offices and reservoirs are re-opening in accordance with regional plans designated by the state of New York.

Recreational boats are only allowed on the Neversink, Pepacton and Schoharie reservoirs.

The use of boats on NYC reservoirs is split between two programs. The first allows the use of rowboats for fishing on all 19 of the city's water-supply reservoirs. Each rowboat must be registered and steam-cleaned at a DEP boat office.

The second program allows the use of recreational boats, kayaks and canoes on Cannonsville, Neversink, Pepacton and Schoharie reservoirs.

Jack Danchak is the President of the Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs of Sullivan County.