Outdoors

A few years ago, American Hunter, one of the magazines published by the National Rifle Association, rated Pennsylvania as one of the top five states in the Lower 48 as a destination for bear hunters.

Even without baiting and hunting with dogs being legal, Pennsylvania still rated high with the editors of the magazine. What makes the ranking even more impressive is that when the article appeared, the Pennsylvania Game Commission had not yet established the statewide archery bear season.

SOLOMONS, Md. – Three years ago, knowing the attraction of catching giant striped bass in the Chesapeake Bay has for anglers in the mid-Atlantic states, a group of people hit upon an idea to benefit the Greenwell Foundation – a non-profit organization supporting Greenwell State Park along the Patuxent River -- and other organizations by combining the fishing with a charitable cause.

Area bowhunters truly have the best of both worlds.

Those who primarily target rack bucks continue to prepare for the opening of Pennsylvania's statewide archery deer season, Saturday, Sept. 29. For those who also enjoy putting venison in the freezer, however, their opening day is a week away – Saturday, Sept. 15, when antlerless-only hunting is through Friday, Sept. 28, in Wildlife Management Unit 5C.

Copies of the "2012 Pennsylvania Big Game Records" are available from the Pennsylvania Game Commission online at The Outdoor Shop, http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/, by calling 1-888-888-3459, or by mail at PA Game Commission, Dept. MS, 2001 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797. Over the counter sales cost $5, which includes sales tax; mailed copies are $6.25, which includes shipping and handling costs.