PA Game Commission hosts Jr. Warden Camps

The PGC will host Jr. Warden Camps for aspiring youths ages 12-15. Photo courtesy of the PGC

If you have children ages 12-15 and they’re looking to investigate their future endeavors, the Pennsylvania Game Commission may help as it’s hosting Jr. Game Warden Camp’s throughout the state beginning June 23, 2023. 

The one-day program will have campers spend a day with game wardens to show them what their duties are such as gaining insight on managing and protecting the state’s wildlife and habitats while promoting hunting and trapping. 

Campers will join wardens in some light physical fitness activities, confidence building exercises at hands-on learning stations. They’ll learn about wildlife forensics and methods used by wardens to catch poachers and solve wildlife-related crimes. Other activities will include wildlife-capture techniques, woodland tracking and outdoor survival. 

The camps will run from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. with registration being completed online. Registration is limited to those who have not attended a camp held previously. 

Regional camps are set for the Northcentral Region, June 23; Southcentral Region, June 24; Northeast Region, June 29; Northwest Region, July 6; Southwest Region, July 19; and locally in the Southeast Region, July 21 at the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, 100 Mountain Road, Stevens, PA. Registration here is limited to 60 participants. 

The Junior Warden Camp can serve to pique the interest of youngsters for a most unique, diverse, and exciting future career. 

To register, go to www.pgc.pa.gov and look for the Outreach page that lists the PGC’s Youth Camps. From there the region of choice can be selected for registration. 

PFBC ENACT’S TEMPORARY CHANGES TO ATLANTIC STRIPED BASS REGULATIONS

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has announced a temporary change to the size limit of striped bass within the Delaware Estuary, Delaware River and West Branch Delaware River that went into effect June 3. 

The new temporary regulation that is in accordance with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission emergency action, is that the legal harvestable slot limit for striped bass will be 28 inches to less than 31 inches from June 3, 2023 through December 31, 2023. 

According to the PFBC, the harvest and delayed mortality of caught and released striped bass have reduced the coastal population below levels needed to sustain high-quality recreational angling experiences. Due to the negative impact on the fishery, harvest restrictions are needed to help rebuild the coastal stock. These regulations, say the PFBC, does not apply to inland populations of striped bass.

Since the shad run in the Delaware River is on the wane locally, reports have stripers coming through from Easton upriver to Portland. 
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