Final preparation is being made by the Pennsylvania Game Commission to offer its Hunter-Trapper Education courses online. Preliminary approval has been give to a measure by the PGC board of game commissioners that would allow for the development and implementation of a new Hunter-Trapper Education course to be offered wholly online, however, traditional instructor-led Hunter-Trapper Education courses would continue unaltered if the measure gains final approval and the new course is developed.

As it is now, nearly 1,000 traditional Hunter-Trapper Education courses are taught each year in Pennsylvania by a dedicated team of volunteer instructors. Nearly a decade ago, the PGC also implemented an independent-study course, the majority of which can be completed online.Those enrolled in the independent-study course, however, must arrange to take the test in person after finishing their online study. With the fully online course, students could start and finish the test at home, and there could be a cost associated with the online course.Many states offer similar online hunter-education courses, and the vendors that develop and manage the courses typically charge a user fee to recover ongoing costs associated with the programs. The measure approved by the BOC directs that any vendor fees that could be incurred through an online program be assessed.A legislative mandate requires Hunter-Trapper Education courses be offered free of charge, and all traditional courses would continue to be offered free of charge, regardless of whether the online course receives final approval. Hunter-Trapper Education is a requirement for first-time buyers of hunting or furtaker licenses in Pennsylvania.It is expected that many no doubt will continue to prefer the traditional Hunter-Trapper Education courses and that the online courses will be more convenient for some and removes a barrier for students who might not be able to take a traditional class. Those who pass the course must then buy a license to hunt or trap.*******"Deer Camp Weekend" is being held by Cabela's Hamburg, Friday-Sunday, Nov. 7-9, and the annual event features free giveaways, educational workshops and in-store product demonstrations. Cabela's Ambassador and deer hunting expert Tom Nelson of Cabela's American Archer TV Show will help hunters increase their odds for success during the firearms deer season by presenting a seminar on how to avoid the most common mistakes made by deer hunters.Free workshops and demonstrations on a variety of topics, such as deer processing, game cameras, enhancing rifle accuracy and muzzleloader hunting will be presented Saturday and Sunday. Here is the schedule for both days:10 a.m. From the field to the Freezer: Deer Butchering 101 by Professional Butcher Rick Fetrow; 11 a.m. Deer Hunters 10 Biggest Mistakes by Tom Nelson of Cabela's American Archer TV Show; Noon Scouting for Your Next Trophy: Game Cameras 101 by Cabela's Pro-Staffer Gerry Rightmyer; 1 p.m. Getting the Most out of your Deer Rifle by Bill Goad of Premier Accuracy; and 2 p.m. Making the Most of Pennsylvania's Late Muzzleloader Season by Pennsylvania's Mr. Black Powder, Dave Ehrig.*******Sunday's edition of "Experience The Outdoors," winner of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association's best outdoors radio program award hosted by award-winning POWA 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

www.wmgh.com

http://www.wmgh.com/ by clicking the link to the program, features Pennsylvania Game Commission board of game commissioners member Ralph Martone.*******Schuylkill Spurs Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meets Thursday, Nov. 6, beginning at 7 p.m., at West Penn Rod and Gun Club, 1047 Clamtown Road, Tamaqua. For information, call Jeff Thomas at 570-622-6179, Jeff Post at 570-366-7783 or Mike Corbin at 570-929-1622.*******First Frontier Militia, the muzzleloader branch of Bowmanstown Rod and Gun Club, is holding a muzzleloader shoot Sunday, Nov. 9, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., at the club, located on Gun Club Road, off Route 248. For information call Ken Milburn at (610) 767-6222 or Dave Algard at (610) 760-8333.*******Two limited archery/flintlock muzzleloader hunts for antlerless deer have been scheduled for the controlled access areas of the Pennsylvania Game Commission's Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, Hopeland Road, Kleinfeltersville, Wednesday, Dec. 17, and Wednesday, Jan. 14. These hunts will be held outside of any regular statewide deer season; the only hunting occurring within the management area on these days will be by those hunters with special permits.Hunting will be by special permit only, and 100 permits will be issued by random drawing for each hunting day. Hunters wishing to participate in the drawing should apply on a standard postcard and list hunter name; complete mailing address; hunting license number (CID number); and antlerless deer license number for Wildlife Management Unit 5B (if applicable). Only one application per hunter may be submitted and will be accepted, by mail only, until November 3, and must be mailed to: Pennsylvania Game Commission MCWMA; Box 110; Kleinfeltersville 17039.