Utilizing authority given to it by the Pennsylvania Game Commission board of game commissioners to protect the integrity of State Game Lands, the agency staff recently acquired 12 acres of land in Lynn Township, Lehigh County, that is an interior holding to State Game Land 217.

This is the result of a successful bid, Friday, Sept. 7, on property owned by Lois E. Majerich, who was offering the property for sale at a public auction. The agency's winning bid of $40,000 will be paid with funds from third party commitments for compensation of habitat and recreational losses which occurred on State Game Lands from previously approved projects.Under PGC regulations, the staff is required to announce the results of any winning bids at a meeting of the board of game commissioners, and under state law, the agency can exceed the statutory limit of $400 per acre limit to purchase land that is either an indenture or interior holding of an existing SGL. In those cases, the agency can pay what it considers a fair and reasonable price.*******According to Cabela's, Pennsylvania anglers were the top state registrants in its second year of the national fish-tagging, prize-winning fishing contest held in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. This year, more than 10,000 registered for the contest, which opened Saturday, May 5, and continued through Sunday, July 8.Of the 12 Pennsylvania fishing waters that contained tagged fish this year, here's the listing of the waters where tagged fish were caught for prizes, with how many and what species:Foster Joseph Sayers Lake, two largemouth bass; Lake Arthur, two largemouth bass, two walleye; Lake Luxembourg, one largemouth bass; Lake Nockamixon, one largemouth bass; Lake Wallenpaupack, one largemouth bass; Pine Creek, two rainbow trout; Presque Isle Bay, one largemouth bass; Raystown Lake, one walleye. Results nationally are posted on the Cabela's website at

http://cabelasfishformillions.com/winners.Cabela's has announced that the contest will continue for a third year in 2013, and the PFBC will once again be the state partner. PFBC John Arway said that programs such as this helps promote interest in fishing and in the recruitment of new anglers."The partnership that we have formed with Cabela's with this contest has been exciting for us and the anglers of our Commonwealth," Arway said. "The interest shows that Pennsylvania continues to be one of the nation's top fishing states, and we look forward to continuing the contest next year."*******The Pennsylvania Game Commission will hold free, guided public tours of its game farms Sunday, from noon to 3 p.m., in Lycoming County. Loyalsock Game Farm, 136 Game Farm Road, Montoursville, is five miles north of Montoursville on Route 87, but the Route 973 bridge over the Loyalsock Creek is out due to last year's flood, so visitors should travel 1.5 miles east of Warrensville on Route 973. Northcentral Game Farm, 1609 Proctor Road, Williamsport, is 18 miles north of Montoursville off of Route 87. Tour starts at the hatchery of the Proctor (northern) farm.*******Sunday's edition of "Experience The Outdoors," hosted by award-winning Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association member Doyle Dietz, at 7 a.m. on 1410 WLSH and 9:30 a.m. on Magic 105.5, will Lehigh Valley Zoo president Rich Molchany.*******Bear's Head 3-D course is open daily through Friday, Oct. 12, from dawn to dusk daily, on club grounds located off I-81 exit 134, 148 Lofty Road, Delano. For information, call the association at 570-467-0331.*******Hazleton Archery Club, 170 Woodside Drive, Freeland, has 3-D shoots Sundays, beginning at 7 a.m., and Thursdays, beginning at 4 p.m., For information, call the club at 570- 450-0988.*******Schuylkill Spurs Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will meet, Thursday, Oct. 4, beginning at 7:30 p.m., at 633 Hancock St., McAdoo. For information, call Kevin Titus at 570-668-5903.