Black Forest Broadcasting

 

…Authorities continue to investigate theft of catalytic converters in Tioga and Potter Counties…Flatbed truck grazes parked vehicle in Elk County….Pennsylvania’s fall turkey season opens Saturday in most Wildlife Management Unit…..

Tioga County

Mansfield state police are  investigating several catalytic converter thefts that have occurred from March 2022 – August 2022 in Sullivan Township, Richmond Township and Covington Township in Tioga County. Any persons with information regarding these incidents are asked to contact PSP Mansfield at 570-662-2151 and speak to Tpr. SHEDDEN or anonymously contact the Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers Toll Free at 1-800-4PA-TIPS (8477) or online at https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=107 All callers to Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers remain anonymous and could be eligible for a CASH REWARD for information that leads to an arrest, the solving of a crime/cold case or the location of a wanted person/fugitive or missing person

A couple of catalytic converter thefts occurred in Potter County over the past few weeks. Anyone with information about those thefts  is asked to call the Coudersport barracks at 814.274.8690.

Elk County

There were no injuries in a minor mishap occurring Tuesday evening in the parking lot at Elk Country Foods on Route 219 in Ridgway Township. State police said a Volvo flatbed truck while backing up hit the passenger side headlight on a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado. The truck driver’s name was not released.

Cameron County

Troopers at Emporium did not release the name of the driver they stopped for a traffic violation on Route 120 in Shippen Township early Sunday morning. Authorities claim the suspect was driving a 2015 Chevrolet SUV under the influence of alcohol.

Statewide

Pennsylvania’s fall turkey season, kicks off Saturday, Oct. 29 in 19 of Pennsylvania’s 23 Wildlife Management Units (WMUs.)

The fall season is closed in WMUs 5A, 5C and 5D. For the remaining WMUs the season lengths are as follows: WMUs 1A, 1B, 4A, 4B, 4D and 4E – Oct. 29-Nov. 5; WMU 2B – Oct. 29-Nov. 18 and Nov. 23-25; WMUs 2A, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D and 4C – Oct. 29-Nov. 12; WMU 2C, 2D & 2E – Oct. 29-Nov. 12 and Nov. 23-25; and WMU 5B – Nov. 1-3. Hunters are advised the three-day Thanksgiving season again will run Wednesday, Thursday and Friday where held.

No single-projectile firearms may be used in the fall turkey seasons. Hunters may use shotguns and archery gear only. While fall turkey hunters no longer are required to wear fluorescent orange, the Game Commission highly recommends the use of orange, especially while moving.

Season outlook

During the fall season, any turkey – male or female – can be harvested. Female turkeys make up about 60% of the fall harvest.

When turkey populations are below-goal in a given WMU, the fall season length is reduced there to allow more female turkeys to survive to their spring nesting season.

Turkey populations in many WMUs were measured below the management goal. Therefore, in 2021, season length in 15 of the 21 WMUs was shortened, or closed, and the use of single-projectile rifles and handguns was eliminated. The 2021 statewide fall harvest (6,800 turkeys) was 20% lower than 2020. Statewide fall hunter participation (81,500 hunters) was 19% less than 2020.

However, turkey reproduction in 2021 and 2022 was above average across many WMUs.

Hunters during fall turkey season share the woods with hunters participating in many other hunting seasons. But fall turkey hunting has proven remarkably safe. 2021 marked the fifth year since 2012 with no hunting related shooting incidents while fall turkey hunting. The other years with no incidents were 2012, 2016, 2018, and 2019.

Harvests and reporting

Everyone who purchases a hunting license receives one fall turkey tag

Successful fall turkey hunters must tag their birds according to instructions provided on the printed harvest tags supplied with their licenses, then report harvests.

Mentored hunters under the age of 7 may receive, by transfer, a fall turkey tag supplied by their mentor.

The turkey must be tagged immediately after harvest and before the turkey is moved, and the tag must be securely attached to a leg until the bird is prepared for consumption or mounting.

Within 10 days of harvest, turkey hunters must report harvests to the Game Commission, either by going online to the Game Commission’s website, www.pgc.pa.gov, calling toll-free or mailing in a prepaid postcard.

Hunters reporting their turkey harvests over the telephone can call 1-800-838-4431 and follow the prompts. Hunters will need to have their license and their copy of the harvest tag in front of them when they make the call. Hunters should record the supplied confirmation number for the turkey reported.

All hunters reporting harvests are asked to identify the WMU, county and township where the bird was taken.

Additionally, hunters may harvest a turkey that has been leg-banded for research purposes, and if so, they should follow the instructions on the band. The Game Commission leg-banded more than 800 turkeys last winter in a continuing effort to track turkey populations.

Handling harvested birds

Pennsylvania recently saw a wild turkey test positive for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). While turkeys are highly susceptible to the influenza virus, their behavior and habitat use place them at less risk of contracting the disease compared to waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors and avian scavengers.

Bird hunters should:

    Harvest only healthy-looking wild birds.

    Wear gloves when handling any wild birds.

    Wash hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer immediately after handling wild birds.

    Dress harvested wild birds in the field.

    Change clothing as needed, especially if visibly soiled or if any wild birds came in contact with clothing.

    Change clothing, including footwear, before coming in contact with any pet birds or domestic poultry.

    Wash all equipment, tools, and work surfaces with soap and water, then disinfect with a 10% household bleach solution. Allow to air dry or rinse after 10 minutes of contact time.

HPAI can infect humans, though just one human HPAI case has been reported in the United States during this outbreak.

Any sick or dead domestic birds should be reported to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture at 717-772-2852. Sick or dead wild birds should be reported to the Game Commission at 1-833-PGC-WILD or online using the Wildlife Health Survey tool at www.pgcapps.pa.gov/WHS.

The Potter County Artisan Co-op will have a Halloween Open House Saturday October 29 from 6-9p. There will be “spooky” treats, live music with Steve and Eppie, wine and cider tasting by Inner Stoic  and a door prize. Those who dare are invited to attend in costume. The co-op is located at 227 N. Main Street, Coudersport. FMI: call 814-274-8165 or email: pottercountyartisancenter@gmail.com