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Families and friends visiting Pennsylvania’s popular outdoor spots on Independence Day can enjoy a day of free fishing as part of the PFBC's Fish for Free Days promotion.

Fish-for-Free Days allow anyone to legally fish in Pennsylvania without a fishing license from 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.. All other fishing regulations apply.The first free fishing day was offered on May 28.

"Fish-for-Free days offer an easy, convenient way to introduce friends and family to the sport of fishing, or to reconnect with the sport if you haven’t fished in a while,” said Steve Kralik, director of the Bureau of Outreach, Education and Marketing. “Many families already spend the day at lakes and parks throughout the state. Now they can try fishing at no cost."

To make the fishing experience more convenient, people can borrow equipment from dozens of fishing tackle loaner sites across the state, including state and county parks and some public libraries.

Disease Management Areas change, DMAP to be used in key areas.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission today announced regulation changes to address the increasing threat that chronic wasting disease (CWD) presents to the state’s deer and elk.
Disease Management Area 2 will be expanded significantly eastward, increasing its area from 2,846 square miles to 4,095 square miles. Within DMA 2, two new Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) units have been created to focus hunter effort in areas where multiple CWD-positive deer have been found. And at the same time, the Game Commission has dissolved DMA 1 in York and Adams counties.

Three Family Fishing Festivals in June provide great opportunities for adults and children to learn basic fishing skills at no cost.

The festivals include: 

The new 2017 “S.O.S. – Save Our Susquehanna” button will be available for purchase beginning June 1. A fishing license is required to purchase the $10 button and all profits from the button sales will go to fund the campaign.

The PFBC launched its campaign in 2015 and announced that a portion of license sales and proceeds from the button would be dedicated to funding water and soil conservation projects along the Susquehanna River, whose young Smallmouth Bass population has been plagued by illness and elevated mortality rates.

One of the largest bulls on record in Pennsylvania on permanent display in Clearfield.

After touring the country as part of a traveling display, the mount made from a giant, illegally killed Pennsylvania bull elk has come home to Clearfield County.
Representatives from the Pennsylvania Game Commission and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation at a recent ceremony in Clearfield, Pa. presented the mount of the now-famous “Historic Pennsylvania Poaching Bull” to Clearfield County District Attorney William A. Shaw Jr., who prosecuted the poachers responsible for the unlawful killing.
Because of the historic significance of the elk, Shaw made arrangements for the trophy to be on permanent display at the Clearfield County Historical Society, where it is available for public viewing.

Assistance in searching property of murder suspect yielded key evidence

Two Wildlife Conservation Officers of the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s northeast region recently received Letters of Commendation from the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) for uncovering evidence during a murder investigation near Saylorsburg in October 2016.
Game Commission Northeast Region Law Enforcement Supervisor Mark Rutkowski and Monroe County Wildlife Conservation Bryan Mowrer received the recognition at a recent ceremony in held in Lehigh County.
Rutkowski and Mowrer assisted state police search a wooded area around the home of murder suspect Michael Horvath, Saylorsburg, in connection to the disappearance of Holly Ann Grim. Grim was last seen near her residence in Lower Macungie Township, Lehigh County, in November 2013.

National Wild Turkey Federation honors Jerry A. Bish, WCO Daniel Murray.

In Pennsylvania, it’s turkey season.
And the National Wild Turkey Federation Pennsylvania State Chapter recently honored two Pennsylvania Game Commission officers for their work in wildlife conservation.
Pennsylvania Game Commission Land Management Group Supervisor Jerry A. Bish, of Conneaut Lake, was named recipient of the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Joe Kurz Wildlife Manager of the Year Award for his work managing wildlife habitat.
And Wildlife Conservation Officer Daniel Murray, of Milesburg, was named the National Wild Turkey Federation’s 2016 Conservation Officer of the Year.
Each honor recognizes the officers’ service during 2016, and was presented at the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners’ recent meeting.

  1. Additional CWD Cases Detected In Pennsylvania Wild Deer
  2. Fallen Officer’s Name Added To National Memorial
  3. Pennsylvania Sgl Shooting-Range Rule Changes Adopted
  4. Final 2017-18 Hunting/Trapping Seasons Approved
  5. What To Do When Approached By A Pennsylvania Conservation Officer
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