United Airlines has made the decision to change a recent policy that would have banned antlers from being allowed onto any flight. Sportsmen from coast to coast were enraged as it became known United Airlines had quietly initiated a policy preventing passengers from carrying on or checking antlers or animal horns of any kind.

After receiving thousands of complaints from sportsmen, who were informed by the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance, through

www.Bowsite.com, and from 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."United stated it will continue to update its policies in the baggage section of it website at

www.united.com.**********Today's broadcast of "Experience the Outdoors" with Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association member Doyle Dietz on Oldies 1410-AM, from 7:30-8 a.m. will be the second annual Christmas program. There will be a rebroadcast of the program Sunday, from 9:30-10 a.m., on Magic, WMGH, 105.5-FM.**********Wild pheasant-flushing surveys in the Susquehanna Valley will be conducted by Pheasants Forever and the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Sunday, Jan. 17 and Sunday, Jan. 31, and volunteers, with or without dogs, are needed for the project.A survey will be conducted in the Greenwood Valley area of Columbia County, Jan. 17, from 1-4 p.m. Volunteers will be at Deihl's Vault and Pre-cast Company, located along Route 254 between Millville and Rohrsburg, at 1 p.m.A survey will be conducted in Montour County, Jan. 31, from 1-4 p.m. Volunteers will meet at the Great Value Food Store, Route 54, Turbotville, at 1 p.m.**********Hunters can help emergency food assistance agencies feed Pennsylvania's hungry by donating extra deer meat to the statewide "Hunters Sharing the Harvest" network.Participating hunters can take their deer to one of the nearly 80 participating meat processors throughout the state and identify how much of the venison - from several pounds to the whole animal - they would like to donate. If the entire deer is donated, the hunter is asked to make a minimum $15 tax-deductible contribution to help cover processing costs, and HSH will pay the remaining fees, or hunters may also donate a portion of their deer by paying the full processing fee and notifying the processor to hold a specified amount for the program.Established in 1991, HSH provides more than 200,000 meals annually to food banks, churches and social services feeding programs.Last year, hunters donated more than 100,000 pounds of venison.To learn more about Hunters Sharing the Harvest and obtain a list of participating meat processors and county coordinators, visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission's Web site at

www.pgc.state.pa.us and click on "Hunting" and then "Hunters Sharing the Harvest."**********Here is the schedule of upcoming sports and outdoors shows:Early Bird Sports Expo: Thursday-Sunday, Jan. 28-31, Bloomsburg Fair Ground, Bloomsburg. Show hours: Thursday, 4-9 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For information, call the show office at 570-594-0250 or access the Web site at

www.earlybirdexpo.com.Leesport Sportsman's Show and Flea Market: Saturday, Feb. 6, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Leesport Farmers Market. For information, call Ralph Reber at 610-944-9376.Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show: Saturday, Feb. 6-Sunday, Feb. 14, Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex, Harrisburg. Show hours: Saturday, Feb. 6, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, Feb. 7, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Monday-Saturday, Feb. 8-13, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, Feb. 14, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For information, access the show Web site at

www.easternsportshow.comGreater Philadelphia Outdoor Sport Show: Thursday-Sunday, Feb. 25-28, Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, 100 Station Ave., Oaks. Show hours: Thursday and Friday, 12:30-9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For information, call 610-431-4315 or access on the Web at

www.sportshows.com.