The Sportsman's Corner

Although it seems odd to me, Pennsylvania's autumn hunting seasons open next Tuesday, Sept. 1. One of the hunting targets will be mourning doves, which may be hunted from one-half hour before sunrise till one-half hour after sunset. The season runs till Nov.27 and then resumes from Dec. 18 until Jan. 2. When my son was young, we tried hunting for doves several times; and unlike me Bob could hit them. I have never harvested a dove. The limit is 15 per day, with a possession limit of 45 birds.

Another hunt beginning Sept. 1 is for resident Canada geese. This season runs until Sept. 25 and then resumes between Oct. 24 and Nov. 27, from Dec. 14 through Jan. 16, and again from Jan. 29 through Feb. 20. The daily limit is five birds, and the possession limit is 15. There are numerous places locally where geese have become filthy nuisances, though only a few of these locations can be hunted legally.

In addition to a regular hunting license, a hunter is required to possess a federal duck stamp to hunt waterfowl, which may be purchased electronically in Pennsylvania through "The Outdoor Shop." In addition, a licensed hunter must possess a Pennsylvania Migratory Game Bird License to hunt doves and geese. Mentored youth hunters need migratory bird licenses to hunt doves. These state licenses may be obtained from license-issuing agents or from the PGC's website. Confused? Check your PGC "Hunting and Trapping Digest" to be sure you have all the required licenses.

Much easier to understand is the squirrel-hunting season that runs statewide from Sept. 12 through November 27, from Dec. 14 through Dec. 24, and finally from Dec. 26 through Feb. 27. A special junior hunt runs from Sept. 12 through Sept. 26. The daily limit is 6 squirrels, with a possession limit of 18. Hunters do not need any extra tags or special licenses to hunt the various species of squirrels inhabiting Penn's Woods. Imagine that!

Small-game hunting, especially squirrel hunting, was a major way for veteran hunters to introduce young sportsmen to hunting when I was growing up. Our dads equipped us with small-gauge shotguns, such as the 20-gauge my dad let me carry, or with .22 caliber rifles. Dad bought me a .22 for my tenth birthday, and I learned to use it effectively on unofficial mentored hunts before I was old enough to hunt deer. Perhaps some of today's experienced sportsmen will take young hunters out for squirrels – or might even try to down a few bushytails themselves.