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…Possible child abuse investigated in Pike Township….Two area police departments aided by PA Crime Stoppers in solving gun thefts…PA Archery Deer Season starts soon…..

Potter County

Coudersport state police are investigating a report of child abuse in Pike Township. Troopers were called to the Galeton Area School just after 11:00 am between July 23  at 8:00 am and 12:00 am the 24^th. The victim is listed as a 13 year old girl from Pike Township and the crime is characterized as strangulation.

Region

Pennsylvania Crime stoppers  is helping two area departments trying to solve camp burglaries. The Ridgway Barracks is investigating a burglary at a camp located at 1069 Montmorenci Road, Ridgway Township, Elk County that occurred sometime between 04/16/2022 – 06/10/2022. .  Unknown thieves entered the residence and stole the following: – 12 gauge Benelli shotgun, camouflage coloring, unknown serial number – 30-30 Winchester lever action rifle, unknown serial number – .32 gauge revolver, unknown make, model, serial number – $200 in coins in a purple Crown Royal velvet bag

The next burglary is a cold case.

Mansfield state police  continue to investigate a  Burglary/Theft of Firearms at a camp located at 212 Mitchell Creek Rd. in Tioga Twp, Tioga County between September and October 2018.   Unknown criminals attempted to gain entrance to the front door of Victim 1’s camp by using a prying toolbut were  were unsuccessful. Theives  then forced open the basement door, damaging the door frame. Once inside, burglars stole a crossbow in a case, three game cameras, hunting accessories/clothing and a large gun safe containing several firearms. Unique guns stolen include:  Browning A-Bolt 30-06, Smith Corona Mod 03A3 30-06, British Enfield Jungle Carbine 303, Remington Mod 591 15mm, marlin Mod 925 .22, Winchester NRA Commerative Mod 70 30-06, Ruger Mod M77 30-06, Winchester Youth .22, Benelli Super Black Eagle 12 Ga, Model Remington Mod 1187 12ga, Ithaca Model 37 12 Ga, and a Parker Hornet Crossbow. The Gun Safe was a green Stack-On Safe. Any persons with information regarding the Tioga County burglr are asked to contact the Mansfield Station at 570-662-2151 and speak with Cpl. Sweet. Persons with information about the Elk County theft are encouraged to call the Ridgway barracks at 814.776.6136.

Or you can call the Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers if you have information either crime, any serious crime, or wanted person, call the Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers Toll Free at 1-800-4PA-TIPS (8477).  All callers remain anonymous and could be eligible for a CASH REWARD.

Pennsylvania’s archery deer season is just around the corner. The 2022-23 statewide archery season runs from Oct. 1 to Nov. 12, continues on Sunday, Nov. 13, then goes from Nov. 14 to 18. It comes back in from Dec. 26 to Jan. 16, 2023.Archers pursuing whitetails in Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) 2B and 5C and 5D, around Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, respectively, can start hunting two weeks sooner, get an additional Sunday and can go later into 2023. Archery season in those WMUs runs from Sept. 17 to Nov. 12, continues on Sunday, Nov. 13, goes Nov. 14 to 19, continues on a second Sunday, Nov. 20, and goes from Nov. 21 to 25. It comes back in on Dec. 26 and goes through Jan. 28, 2023.

Resident archery license sales hit an all-time high in 2020 and – while dropping slightly from that peak – still reached 341,885 in 2021. That’s the second-highest sales total of the last dozen years. Non-resident archery license sales mirror that trend, with 2021’s total of 19,099 trailing only 2020’s record of 19,164.

The Game Commission added a seventh week to the statewide archery season in 2020, providing more flexibility and a chance to hunt deeper into the whitetail breeding season. Hunters will enjoy that extra time again this year.

Last season, hunters harvested an estimated 130,650 deer in the archery season (68,580 antlered, 62,070 antlerless). Week one was the most productive for antlerless deer, weeks five and six tops for antlered deer.

The Game Commission is offering some reminders and tips to help hunters get the most from archery season.

Archery hunters may use long, recurve or compound bows, or crossbows. Bows must have a draw weight of at least 35 pounds; crossbows must have a minimum draw weight of 125 pounds.

The Game Commission encourages hunters to spend as much time as possible afield this fall prior to and during the hunting seasons to scout and identify areas where deer are traveling and bedding and where fall foods are abundant. Food availability changes from year to year, and in areas where food is spotty, deer often move to find better feed. Hotspots change from one year to the next, even from the start to the close of the season, so tracking deer activity and keying in on food sources is important.

Experts say bowhunters should practice with their equipment before the season starts, from the ground and/or an elevated stand, and take only responsible shots at deer to ensure a quick, clean kill. Archery hunters should take only broadside or quartering-away shots at deer within their maximum effective shooting range, which differs for each hunter depending on their skill level and type of equipment used.

Hunters may use illuminated nocks for arrows and bolts, as they aid in tracking or locating the arrow or bolt after being launched. However, transmitter-tracking arrows are illegal.

Tree stands and climbing devices that cause damage to trees are unlawful to use or occupy unless the user has written permission from the landowner. Tree stands – or tree steps – penetrating a tree’s cambium layer cause damage, and it is unlawful to build or occupy tree stands screwed or nailed to trees on state game lands, state forests or state parks.

Portable hunting tree stands and blinds are allowed on state game lands, but not until two weeks before the opening of the archery deer season. Hunters must remove them no later than two weeks after the close of the flintlock and late archery deer seasons in the WMU being hunted.

In all cases, tree stands on state game lands also must be conspicuously marked with a durable identification tag that identifies the stand owner. Those tags must include the hunter’s first and last name and legal home address, the nine-digit CID number that appears on their hunting license, or their unique Sportsman’s Equipment ID number. Hunters can find their number in their HuntFishPA online profile or on their printed license.

Hunters who plan to be afield on private property on the Sundays open to archers must carry with them written permission from the landowner to be there.