Mailboxes of many of the state's dove hunters soon will be flush with National Dove Hunter Survey forms, and the Pennsylvania Game Commission would like to see them completed and returned. This cooperative effort by state fish and wildlife agencies, all four of the nation's flyway councils and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be arriving at the homes of many hunters in the coming days and weeks.

A random sample of dove hunters will receive the survey, and will be asked about their experiences and opinions on dove hunting. Topics include hunter characteristics, time spent hunting, constraints to hunting, and thoughts about potential effects of spent lead from hunting ammunition on mourning doves and other wildlife.PGC executive director Carl Roe said wildlife agencies and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service want to consider hunters' opinions and preferences about seasons whenever possible. He said he survey results will complement science-based information for the management and conservation of migratory birds."If you are a dove hunter and receive one of these surveys, we encourage you to complete it and return it as soon as possible," Roe said. "That's the only way to ensure the opinions of Pennsylvania's hunters are included in this national survey."There are more than 1 million dove hunters nationally, with seasons in 42 states. Recent statistics for Pennsylvania show an estimated 16,700 hunters harvesting nearly 200,000 doves annually.**********Basic kayaking courses will be held at Tuscarora State Park, Barnesville, with all equipment provided if needed. Maximum weight capacity is 275 pounds, and preregistration is required either in person at the park office or by calling 570-467-2506.Classes and times are: Tuesday, July 2, 5 p.m.; Thursday, July 4, 10 a.m.; Friday, July 5, 5 pm.; and Saturday, July 13, 1 p.m.**********Hawk Mountain Sanctuary and Penn State Schuylkill is co-sponsoring Raptor Day Camp, Monday-Friday, July 15-19, as part of the Penn State "Kids College" camp program. Participants will spend three days at Hawk Mountain and two at Penn State, with shuttle transport provided to and from Penn State and the sanctuary.For information access the Hawk Mountain website at

www.hawkmountain.org/raptorcamp or contact Rachel Taras at 610-756-6961 or

education@hawkmountain.org or Dr. Mary Sacavage at 570-385-6217 or

mu53@psu.edu.**********Sunday's edition of "Experience The Outdoors," hosted by award-winning Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association member Doyle Dietz, at 7 a.m. on 1410-AM WLSH, at 9:30 a.m. on Magic 105.5-FM and on the Web at

http://www.wmgh.com/ by clicking the link to the program, features Pennsylvania Game Commission pheasant biologist Colleen DeLong.**********A free introductory course to fly fishing sponsored by the Federation of Fly Fishers will be held Sunday at Cabela's Hamburg location. There are two sessions to the course, beginning at 12:30 p.m. with "Introduction to Fly Fishing" and concluding at 2:30 p.m. with "Introduction to Fly Casting," and participants must pre-register by calling the Cabela's Fly Shop at 610-929-7000.**********This year's Lake Ontario Counties Summer Derby is underway through Sunday, July 28, and charter captains enter their boats in the tournament in order that clients are eligible for the cash prizes that are awarded for the largest daily fish species and the overall champion of each species.There is a total payout of $18,550 in cash for this year's LOC Summer Derby, with a grand prize of $10,000 for the largest salmon and has four divisions for salmon, lake trout, rainbow/steelhead and brown trout. Cash prizes for each division are: first place, $1,000; second place, $400; third place, $300; fourth place, $200; fifth place, $100; sixth-10thplace, $75; 11th-15th place, $50; and 16th-20th place, $25.**********For the second year in a row, the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society Bass Classic will be held on the upper Susquehanna River out of Shikellamy State Park, Saturday, July 20.This is the 10 year for the annual tournament, which previously was held in the Harrisburg area and remains under the sponsorship of the Capital City Bassmasters. Club president Bob Herman said moving the tournament to the Sunbury area last year allowed for fiberglass bass boats, as well as aluminum jet boats, to compete because of the deeper water created by Lake Augusta.Herman said that another full field of 100 boats is expected to compete for the guaranteed first prize of $3,000 and more than $10,000 is expected to be raised for the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society. A Celebrity Challenge will be held in conjunction with the tournament that begins at safe light and concludes with weigh-ins at 2 p.m.Entry forms can be downloaded from the club website at

http://www.capitalcitybass.com/, and information is available by calling Herman at (717) 938-8752.**********A simulated hunting 3D course is open daily through October 12 from dawn to dusk at Bears Head Archery, Delano, off I-81 exit 134. Sundays, the course is closed from 1-4 p.m. for trap. For information, email

docblazer@verizon.net.