Matt Hough has been elected as the new executive director of the Pennsylvania Game Commission by a unanimous vote of the board of game commissioners. Hough, the previous assistant executive director, began his new role Friday with the retirement of former executive director Carl Roe.

Hough has 33 years of service with the PGC, entering the Ross Leffler School of Conservation in June 1981 and was part of the school's 18th graduating class. He served as a wildlife conservation officer, first in Westmoreland County, then in Washington County.In 1992, Hough began working out of the PGC's Southwest Region office, where he served through the years in several positions, including federal aid supervisor, information and education supervisor, law-enforcement supervisor and regional director. He was named the agency's deputy executive director in 2010, being responsible for the day-to-day operational supervision of the agency's six regions.Hough plans to retire in the not-too-distant future, and the board of commissioners will continue its search for a candidate to serve in the post beyond his term.**********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

www.wmgh.com by clicking the link to the program, features Great American Outdoor Show manager Chris O'Hara.**********This year's first quarterly meeting of the Pennsylvania Game Commission board of game commissioners begins Sunday and continues Monday and Tuesday, at PGC headquarters, 2001 Elmerton Ave., off the Progress Avenue exit of Interstate 81, Harrisburg.Sunday, beginning at 1 p.m., the commissioners will hear public recommendations for 2014-15 hunting and furtaking seasons and bag limits. Doors will open at noon for individuals interested in offering public testimony, which is limited to five minutes, to register to speak on a first-come, first-to-speak basis.Monday, the board will gather any additional public comments and hear PGC staff reports beginning at 8:30 a.m. Doors open at 7:45 a.m. for registration by those interested in offering public testimony.Tuesday, doors open at 7:45 a.m. and beginning at 8:30 the board will take up its prepared agenda to give preliminary approval to hunting and trapping seasons and bag limits for 2014-15, and establish other meeting dates for the coming year, among other things. Antlerless deer license allocations for the 2014-15 seasons will be presented for the board to consider at its meeting in April.A copy of the agenda for the meeting is available on the PGC website at

www.pgc.state.pa.us. Monday's staff reports and Tuesday's meeting will be live-streamed on the website.**********Here is the schedule for upcoming outdoors sports shows:Early Bird Sports Expo: Today and Sunday, Bloomsburg Fair Grounds, Bloomsburg; for information and tickets, call 570-594-0252 or access the website at www.earlybirdsportsexpso. Hours: Today, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.Great American Outdoor Show: Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 1-9, Pennsylvania State Farm Show Complex, Harrisburg; for information and tickets, access the website at

www.greatamericanoutdoorshow.com. Hours: Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.**********Students in grades 6-12 are eligible to participate in the inaugural Pennsylvania Game Commission's Youth Wildlife Art Contest designed to promote wildlife art among young artists, recognize the talents of these young artists and enhance their knowledge of the PGC and the state's endangered and threatened species. Participating students are required to depict one or more Pennsylvania endangered or threatened species in the appropriate habitat. Artwork must be biologically correct in color, proportional size, shape, activity and habitat.Middle school (grades 6-8) and high school (grades 9-12) categories will be judged separately, with prizes of $500-$300-$100-$50 being award for first-fourth places in both categories and the art instructor for first-place winners will receive $100 to be used for art supplies for the school.For information call 717-787-4250, ext. 3623, and artwork must be postmarked by Friday, Feb. 7, and mailed to: Pennsylvania Game Commission, Attn: Robert Wesoloskie, Chief Marketing & Merchandising, 2001 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg 17110-9797.**********Applications are being accepted from current high school sophomores and juniors for the Youth Education Summit sponsored by the National Rifle Association, which will be held Monday-Sunday, June 23-29, in Washington, D.C.Information on the NRA Youth Education Summit is available by calling 1-800-672-3888, ext. 1351, or by email at

yes@nrahq.org.