In order for the Pennsylvania Game Commission to maximize its deer management, PGC executive director Carl Roe has issued a reminder to successful hunters to report harvested deer.

Roe said that one of the recommendations to improve the agency's deer management program from the recent Legislative Budget and Finance Committee's audit of the deer management program was to increase harvest reporting rates."Proper and timely reporting of deer harvests is one way in which hunters can contribute to deer management efforts," Roe said. "With all the activities this time of year, it is too easy to forget to report a harvested deer."With the online harvest reporting system, we have made completing this required task even easier. Unfortunately, based on more than 28,000 deer checked by Game Commission deer aging teams last year, less than 40 percent of hunters who harvested deer took the time to report that harvest."When reporting antlerless deer harvests, Roe urged hunters with multiple antlerless deer licenses to be sure that they file the correct report for the antlerless license used to tag the deer in the field. To report online, go to the PGC website at

www.pgc.state.pa.us, click on "Report Your Harvest" above the "Quick Clicks" box in the right-hand column, check "Harvest Reporting," scroll down and click on the "Start Here" button at the bottom of the page and follow the instructions on the screen."Hunters may report one or more harvests in a single session," Roe said. "Responses to all harvest questions are required."Roe noted that hunters still have the option to file harvest report postcards, which are included as tear-out sheets in the current digest."We certainly are encouraging hunters to use the online reporting system, which will ensure that their harvest is recorded," Roe said. "Either way, the more important point is that all hunters who harvest a deer report it to the agency."**********Seminars focusing on predator hunting and outdoors winter activities will be held at Cabela's in Hamburg. "Winter Weekend" will be held, today and Sunday; and will have seminars on muzzleloader hunting, ice fishing, reloading and long-range shooting for predators. For information and seminar schedules, visit on the Web at

www.cabelas.com/Hamburg or call the store at (610) 929-7000.**********Nationally known outdoors writer and muzzleloader authority Dave Ehrig is today's guest of Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association member Doyle Dietz on "Experience The Outdoors," from 7:30-8 a.m. on Oldies 1410-AM; Sunday, from 9:30-10 a.m., on WMGH, 105.5-FM; and on the Web at

www.wmgh.com by clicking the "Experience The Outdoors" link.**********A new Youth Hunter Education Challenge chapter is forming at Friedensburg Fish for youth between the ages of 12-18 who have successfully completed the Pennsylvania Game Commission's hunter-trapper education course. Registration is open to all youth meeting the requirements and will be held Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Friedensburg. For information on the chapter, call Wayne Dinger at (570) 345-9299 or Bruce Umverdorven at (570) 527-0979; for information on YHEC, access the Pennsylvania website at

www.payhec.org.**********A trap shoot will be held, Thursday, Dec. 23, beginning at 6 p.m., at Orwigsburg Gun Club, Gun Club Road, off Route 443 East, Orwigsburg. For information, e-mail

jafone@comcast.net.**********Schuylkill Spurs Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meets, Thursday, Jan. 6, beginning at 7:30 p.m., at West Penn Archery, South Tamaqua. For information, call Kevin Titus at 570-668-5903.