The voices of sportsmen were heard loud and clear by United Airlines as the company made the decision to change a new policy that would have banned antlers from being allowed onto any flight.

After receiving thousands of complaints from sportsmen, who were informed by many other concerned organizations, United Airlines has reconsidered this policy.  In a message sent to the USSA and other organizations, United stated:

“As you have recently contacted us, I wanted you to be the first to know that we have heard our customers’ feedback about our Antler and Animal Horn policy, and are responding.  Soon we will begin accepting Antlers and Animal Horns as checked baggage again.

As many of you may recall or have seen on our web site, in October 2008 we stopped accepting Antlers and Animal Horns because of the damage the tips caused to the cargo section of the aircraft and to the luggage belonging to our other guests.

We will soon publish new requirements – and ones we previously did not have – about packaging and cleaning Antlers and Animal Horns to ensure their safe, clean transport. These travel requirements will also provide information on the size of Antlers and Animal Horns we can accept based on the type of aircraft being flown (i.e., traditional jet vs. a regional jet) and the special handling fee, which we previously had in place and is similar to other items that require special care.

Stay tuned for further updates on the baggage section of united.com

Release #125-09

WILKES-BARRE MAN CHARGED WITH ILLEGALLY KILLING LARGEST BEAR OF 2009 SEASON OVER BAIT

When is the largest bear killed in Pennsylvania‚s bear season not the largest bear harvested?  When it is the largest bear killed over bait, which equals poaching.  That‚s what happened when Charles W. Olsen Jr., of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, decided that it‚d be easier to kill a bear over a pile of pastries, rather than the method used by ethical hunters.

Pennsylvania Game Commission Wildlife Conservation Officer (WCO) Cory Bentzoni became suspicious when he saw a truck loaded with pastries from a local store driving along Route 309 in Dallas, Luzerne County.

„As we were about one week away from the opening of the statewide bear season, I thought that something illegal might be underway,‰ WCO Bentzoni said.  „Being that we were so close to bear season, seeing that person drive by with an unusual amount of pastries was like watching an individual go down a row of parked vehicles testing each handle to see if it were open.  Something just didn‚t seem right.‰

Bentzoni wrote down the vehicle license plate of the truck and found that it was registered to Olsen.  He then instructed all Game Commission personnel operating bear check stations throughout the region to notify him if Olsen brought a bear into any one of the check stations.

Sure enough, on Nov. 25, Olsen brought a bear with an estimated live weight of 707-pound into the bear check station at the Northeast Region Office in Dallas, Luzerne County. Wyoming County WCO Vic Rosa was immediately contacted by the Northeast Region Office, since Olsen reportedly harvested the bear in Noxen Township, Wyoming County.

Northeast Region Land Management Supervisor Peter Sussenbach, who also was aware of the tip provided by WCO Bentzoni, approached Olsen and said „there might be a problem with this bear.‰  At that point, Olsen confessed that he had killed the bear over a bait pile.

„What is most unfortunate is that law-abiding bear hunters in the area were robbed of the opportunity to legally harvest truly a trophy bear by fair chase means,‰ said Northeast Region Law Enforcement Supervisor Dan Figured. „It was thanks to the quick thinking of an observant Wildlife Conservation Officer, and some basic investigative work, that helped resolve this case.‰  

WCO Rosa plans to file charges of illegally killing a bear over bait later this week.  If found guilty, Olsen faces fines and penalties of between $500 and $1,500, as well as the loss of hunting/trapping privileges for at least three years. In addition to criminal fines in this case, the Game Commission intends to request from the judge restitution for this trophy-class bear, which could amount to $5,000. The enhanced restitution was adopted into regulations by the Board of Game Commissioners last year as another tool to deter those who would steal Pennsylvania‚s wildlife.

PAGC Release #122-09

Archery bear hunt results in a harvest of 108

 

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Game Commission preliminary bear harvest figures show that 3,036 bears were taken during the recently completed three-day season (Nov. 23-25) and an additional 108 bears were harvested during the two-day archery bear harvest (Nov. 18-19).

So far, the total bear harvest of 3,144 for the two seasons preliminarily ranks as the third highest statewide harvest.  However, with the extended bear season in certain Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) continuing through Dec. 5, the total preliminary harvest will increase.  The two highest total bear harvests were recorded in 2005 (4,164 bears taken) and 2008 (3,458).  In 2006, hunters harvested 3,122 bears during all seasons.

Preliminary total bear harvest figures – including the ongoing extended bear seasons – are expected the week of Dec. 7.  Official total bear harvest figures for all three seasons won’t be available until early 2010, after a thorough review of all bear harvest reports.

The preliminary three-day bear harvest by Wildlife Management Unit was as follows: WMU 1A, 8 (20 in 2008); WMU 1B, 36 (67); WMU 2C, 234 (216); WMU 2D, 118 (163); WMU 2E, 76 (114); WMU 2F, 274 (236); WMU 2G, 950 (676); WMU 3A, 246 (305); WMU 3B, 200 (289); WMU 3C, 73 (69); WMU 3D, 271 (199); WMU 4A, 120 (142); WMU 4B, 42 (41); WMU 4C, 95 (65); WMU 4D, 260 (307); WMU 4E, 32 (25); and WMU 5B, 1 (0).

Take a look at these worn out bucks. The rut definitely takes a toll on the bucks. I can't even count how many holes are in the hide of what is left of that 8 pointer! Another good reason to hunt the food sources as the seasons rolls on... Good luck!

Well, I did my one day of rifle hunting. It is 3:30 still opening day and I am home on the computer! ( a very wet opening day!) not my normal deal. But, I have too many other places that I can still count on holding decent bucks this time of year and this season is 2 weeks long. So I will be back at it with my archery gear likely for the balance of the season. Most of my hot spots are close to houses and near developments and only permit archery hunting. And to be honest, I would much rather archery hunt anyhow.
I saw one little 6 or 8 point? and a 1/2 rack spike. No does. Which is kind of odd for where I was hunting. But the warm weather and rain but a damper on the whole deal. I have to imagine the deer kill will be down today. PA has something like 750,000 hunters hitting the woods today??? I stuck it out till about 12:45 as usually mid-day gets pretty good with hunters headed out of the woods for lunch and they start bumping deer. But with the stead rain, I have a good feeling most of the sane hunters bailed early today so my normal pushers just didn't chase me any deer. Just an FYI for any of you out there that may have some spots not affected by the army of orange out there. The big bucks can still be caught breeding and chasing does right now if they are not running for their lives! I saved this from a game commission email I got a year or so back....

HARRISBURG - Although Pennsylvania's whitetail rut may peak in mid November, breeding activity continues into the state's regular firearms deer season, according to a recent four-year study conducted by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

"Our research has confirmed that Pennsylvania's bucks still are actively pursuing does, particularly younger ones, at the outset of our firearms season," noted Dr. Gary Alt, Game Commission Deer Management Section supervisor. "The peak in breeding for adult females is mid-November, but for female fawns it occurs in early December.

"This peak in fawn breeding, however, doesn't represent a high point in overall breeding activity because there are fewer fawns in the population and a lower percentage of them breed. About 90 percent of the adult does checked in the study had conception dates ranging from Oct. 27 to Dec. 10; fawns, from Nov. 5 to Jan. 16.

"For years, we thought and reported Pennsylvania's rut peaked the week before Thanksgiving, when deer are provided closed season protection. That information was accurate, but it didn't tell the whole story. Now, thanks to this groundbreaking research, we have a clearer picture: Pennsylvania bucks aren't really cooling their jets in the pursuit of the opposite sex until well into December during our traditional firearms seasons."

Congratulations to my good friend Jack Waters. He completed the PA Grand Slam first thing opening morning of PA bear season in Pike Co. with this brute of a bear. The game commission weighed him in at 586lbs on the hoof! I think he said he was about 5 years old. He had a tag in his ear and a little history to him. Jack just stopped by and we took some measurements for the taxidermists and some photos. Sweet bear Jack - Congrats!
He also took a nice spring gobbler and then a really nice 9 pointer with the bow near the end of archery season!
Awesome!!

Bear Report:
FIRST-DAY BEAR HARVEST RANKS SECOND
Pennsylvania Game Commission officials today announced that hunters started the 2009 black bear season by taking a preliminary harvest of 1,897 black bears in 50 counties on the first day of the three-day statewide bear season.

The 2009 first-day preliminary harvest compares with 1,725 in 2008; 1,005 in 2007; 1,461 in 2006; 2,026 in 2005; 1,573 in 2004; 1,454 in 2003;1,348 2002; 1,812 in 2001; and 1,691 in 2000.

The top 10 bears processed at check stations on Monday all had estimated live weights that exceeded 550 pounds. Terence J. Burkhardt, of Jim Thorpe, harvested the largest bear, which was a male that weighed in at 654 pounds (actual live weight). The bear was taken in Penn Forest Township, Carbon County, at 4:35 p.m.

Hunters be aware that United Airlines does not accept antlers on carry on OR checked bags! They will NOT allow you to fly with your antlers! Guys in front of us returning from Manitoba got hung up checking in their bags. They had everything properly boxed and got rejected at check in. Not a good time to find out such information!
Plus you get zapped the $25 and $15 bag charges. I had a third bag coming home that was an additional $125. So yeah, it cost me $165 additional just to get my luggage home!! And, if you are only over the 50lb. mark by a couple pounds watch out. They will zap you again!! Consider shipping to and from, on your next adventure.

It was a tough week for many in Manitoba as the weather was more than unusual. The weather most of the week was into the 50's which completely shuts the rut down in Canada. These are big bucks with lots of fat and thick hair to survive the brutal winters. So when the weather is that warm movement is almost non-existent except for some little activity during the day and most being at night when it is cooler. We did manage some decent bucks as pictured here. My buck was taken with the muzzleloader on the first day out by 8:30am. He was in prime condition with a huge neck and body. In fact, he field dressed at 225bs.!! I also managed a nice coyote on the trip. Something I have been wanting to add to my trophy room for quite some time. Another regular hunter in camp Mark scored on this nice buck on Thurs. Mark is known for Thursday as being “his day”, and this year was no exception! I believe his 10 pointer scored right around the 142" mark. Congrats Mark! Again, we had a bunch of good guys in camp and we had a ton of fun and ate great food. Looking forward to next year!

I just got word that Cabela's will be airing my video from my New Zealand Tahr hunt. It will be on the Outdoor Channel Oct. 28, 29 and Nov. 1.
Wed. at 10am, Thurs. at 12pm and Sun. at 9:30am and then re-airing the 4th week of January 2010. I supplied the raw footage and they piece together what they see fit. So I will be anxious to see how they edited it from how I edited it. Let me know what you think of the video. Thanks!

Well, PA archery season officially kicks off tomorrow statewide and hunters will have their first crack at the bucks they have been watching all summer or capturing on trail cams. The weather is not cooperating however. The current forecast is calling for rain with the possibility of thunderstorms and warm temps. Around 70 or so? The good news, if any, is the afternoon may be good and clearing out. Lets hope! Wishing you much success and be safe! Remember those safety belts and don't forget to send me your success photos!!