Due to receiving a federal Pittman-Robertson grant, the Pennsylvania Game Commission is once again able to provide school and other Pennsylvania public libraries with complimentary subscriptions to "Pennsylvania Game News," the agency's official monthly publication for 80 years. In 2005, the PGC was forced to terminate nearly all complimentary PGN subscriptions as part of a major cost-cutting effort to bring agency expenditures in line with revenue.

In 1937, at the urging of sportsmen, state wildlife agencies and the firearms and ammunition industries, the U.S. Congress extended the life of an existing 10 percent tax on ammunition and firearms used for sport hunting and earmarked the proceeds to be distributed to the states for wildlife restoration. This Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration act became known as the Pittman-Robertson Act after its principal sponsors, U.S. Senator Key Pittman of Nevada, and U.S. Representative A. Willis Robertson of Virginia."We're delighted to be able to start getting Game News back in all our schools and community libraries," PGC executive director Carl Roe said. "Cutting the free subscriptions was a difficult decision, yet getting Game News back into our schools is especially important now, as we're working to get more youngsters interested in hunting and trapping."Game News also is just one more tool to make more Pennsylvanians aware of the Game Commission and what we do for our state's wildlife and all the people who enjoy it. At this point, I'd also like to thank the many sportsmen's clubs, businesses and individuals who purchased Game News subscriptions for their area schools beginning in 2005. Receiving such support is certainly most gratifying."Landowners enrolled in the agency's public access programs also were among those who stopped receiving free Game News in 2005, but those with Internet access may still see the magazine by going to

www.penngamenews.com, as can all subscribers.For non-subscribers, at least one year of archived editions of Game News are available on the Internet. Subscriptions to Game News are available by calling 1-888-888-1019 or on the PGC Web site at

www.pgc.state.pa.us by clicking on "The Outdoor Shop," choosing "PA Game Commission Outdoor Shop," selecting "Subscriptions" and completing the application.********Troy Starr of FearNot Game Calls will discuss fall turkey hunting as today's guest on "Experience the Outdoors" with Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association member Doyle Dietz on Oldies 1410-AM, from 7:30-8 a.m. There will be a rebroadcast of the program Sunday, from 9:30-10 a.m., on Magic, WMGH, 105.5-FM.********Pennsylvania Game Commission executive director Carl Roe will appear on Pennsylvania Cable Network's "PCN Call-In" program, Thursday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m. Viewers of the hour-long program can call in questions about hunting, trapping and wildlife management to PCN toll-free at 1-877-PA65001 (726-5001).**********Locust Valley Fish and Game, Barnesville, is holding a coyote hunt from Monday, Nov. 2-Saturday, Dec. 12, with a registration deadline of Sunday, Nov. 1, at 8 p.m. For information, call the club at 570-467-0311, Mark Petrey at 570-778-2556, or access the Web site at

www.lvfg.org.**********A muzzleloader shoot will be held Sunday, Nov. 8, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., by First Frontier Militia, at Bowmanstown Rod and Gun Club, Gun Club Road, off Route 248, Bowmanstown. For information, call Roger Fisher at 610-377-2812.***********As part of its popular patch collection offerings, the Pennsylvania Game Commission has commissioned a new patch to promote the Mentored Youth Hunting Program.Accompanying the

4.5x3.5-inch patch is a Saf-T Plug that acts as a visual cue that the action of any pump-action or semi-automatic shotgun is open and safe.The two items sell for $7, including sales tax, and can be obtained at any Game Commission office or through "The Outdoor Shop" on the agency's Web site at

www.pgc.state.pa.us.To order online, click on "The Outdoor Shop" icon in the right-hand column of the homepage, then choose "Pennsylvania Game Commission Outdoor Shop" in the lower left-hand corner of the page, select "Merchandise" in the banner, select "Patches" in the left-hand column and scroll down to "2009 Mentored Youth Patch & PGC Saf-T Plug." Orders also can be made by calling 1-888-888-3459.**********Complimentary, one-year memberships are being offered to first-time members by the National Rifle Association. According to an NRA spokesperson in the membership department, this is being done in an effort to familiarize firearms owners and shooters with the organization's services and programs.To register for a complimentary NRA membership, access the special Web site atwww.nrahq.org/nrabonus/accept-membership.asp.