The Great Outdoors: No Shortage of Winter Activities in Region for Hunters and Anglers

Do you recall a winter such as this? ….I truly can’t.  I’m sure we’ve had a few like this, but we are truly riding a roller coaster when it comes to the weather.

Although these unseasonal conditions are most likely unsuitable for snow-sport enthusiasts, there are alternatives across the region.

There are several tournaments coming up for hunters and anglers, and it all begins the first weekend of February.

The Foxburg Ice Fishing Tournament will be held Saturday, February 4, from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Kahle Lake in Clarion County.  There will be cash awards for the top three places based on the weight of five panfish, bluegill, crappie, and perch, weight of sole species or combined species.   You also have the option to enter the big fish pool which is the weight of one heaviest single fish weighed.  Prizes are first – $400.00; second – $100.00; third – $75.00; and heaviest fish – $100.00.  There will also be food and hot beverages for sale.  The entry fee is $35.00 per two-person team or single. Pre-register and save $5.00.  For more information, call 814-227-7697 during the day, or 724-659-0196 in the evenings, or email bcgisselbrecht@centurylink.net.

Then, there are the coyote hunts.  There is definitely no shortage of them.

The 2nd Annual Rugh’s Predator Run Down will be held from January 27 to January 29. The event is hosted by Rugh Farm Supply. in Punxsutawney. More information on the hunt is available here. Registration forms are available online and at Rugh Farm Supply.

Another hunt – hosted by the Kellettville Sportsmans Club – will be held from February 3 to February 5.  The registration fee is $10.00 and sign up is at Cougar Bob’s Tavern in Kellettville.  Hunters must be pre-registered prior to hunt, which begins at 9:00 p.m., Friday, February 3.  Hunters in a group must all be registered. Hunters may bring in more than one coyote, but only the heaviest will be entered.  The hunt ends at noon on Sunday.  Half of the money will go the hunter with the heaviest coyote. The remaining prize money will be distributed among each successful hunter by weight.

The next coyote hunt is the following weekend, hosted by Sportsmen Outfitters in Knox. It runs from February 10 to February 12. Register at the Sportsmen Outfitters at 526 E State Street, Knox. The registration fee is $10.00.

The weekend of February 17 to February 19 is the busy one for coyote chasers. There are at least six, as follows:

– To pre-register for the Warsaw Township Sportsman’s Association hunt, call 814-328-2828, e-mail warsawsportsmansclub@gmail.com or visit WarsawSportsmansClub.com.

– Then, there is the Sigel Sportsmen’s Statewide Winter Coyote Hunt, also in Jefferson County.  Hunt the entire state — size does not matter, one coyote per entry fee, multiple entries permitted.  Contact Fred Geer at 752-2485, Bill Fiscus at 752-2795 or sigelsportsmensclub.com.

– In Elk County, the St. Marys Sportsmen 14th annual “Size Doesn’t Matter Coyote Hunt” will be held.  Hunt the entire state. Total prize package last year was $1,341.00— $56.00 per coyote.  Contact  814-834-4375 or stmaryssportsmen.org for more information.

– The Rolfe Beagle Club in Johnsonburg, Elk County, is holding its first Winter Coyote Hunt. Hunt the entire state. Equal payout for all coyotes entered, with the heaviest getting 10 percent more than the others.  Contact Chris Double at 814-964-2961 or chris@threemilebeagles.com for more information.

– The Sinnemahoning Sportsmen’s Association is holding its 12th Fox & Coyote Hunt, Sinnemahoning, Cameron County.  Hunt or trap six north-central Pennsylvania counties. Sixty percent of the prize money for heaviest coyote, the remainder divided equally. Fox and heaviest female coyote have separate fees and prize pots.  Contact 814-546-2835 or check the club’s Facebook page for more information.

“The Great Outdoors,” sponsored by the Pennsylvania Great Outdoors, is a weekly blog by exploreClarion.com’s Scott Shindledecker. Plan your next outdoor adventure at VisitPAGO.com or call (814) 849-5197 for more information.