Published: March 29, 2008 11:38 pm      

Outdoor briefs 3/30

Kiski-Conemaugh River Sojourn set

The annual Kiski-Conemaugh River Sojourn has been scheduled for June 5-8 this year on a course that follows the Conemaugh and Kiskiminetas rivers from Johnstown to Avonmore past remnants of the Mainline Canal and stone-arch railroad bridges that now host the West Penn Trail.

The Thunder Mountain Lenape Indian tribe will provide cultural history education.

The sojourn offers appeal to veteran paddlers, but caters to first-timers on rivers that have made a dramatic comeback from pollution. An optional whitewater trip on the Stonycreek River also will be offered.

Paddlers can register for individual days or for the entire trip. A confirmation packet will include information about schedules, camping, lodging, meals and availability of rental equipment such as canoes, kayaks, paddles, helmets and life jackets.

Information: 444-9695 or latuch@2alc.com.

Bill introduced to join violators compact

State Rep. Marc Gergely, D-Allegheny, has introduced HB2364, which would allow Pennsylvania to join the Interstate Wildlife Violators Compact.

The compact was created in 1989 in Colorado, Utah and Oregon as a system of cooperation that allows sharing of information about people who commit fish and wildlife violations. Twenty-five additional states have joined, including Maryland, New York and Ohio.

Birdwatchers urged to report rusty blackbirds

Saying that once-abundant populations of rusty blackbirds have plummeted as much as 88 percent to 98 percent during the past few decades, scientists at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Audubon have asked bird watchers across North America to help track migrating rusty blackbirds from April 1-7.

Sightings can be reported and more information obtained at www.eBird.org.

Open house planned at Linesville hatchery

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will host an open house from noon to 4 p.m. April 5 at the Linesville State Fish Hatchery visitors center on the shores of Crawford County’s Pymatuning Lake.

Visitors have been invited to observe methods used in sorting fish from trap nets, taking and fertilizing walleye eggs and determining the age of fish as well as other interesting educational demonstrations.

The event will feature a youth casting area and stations with instructions on tying hooks, fish filleting and cooking, live reptile and amphibian presentations and displays, lake habitat models, boating safety and fly tying and fly casting.

A shuttle service will be provided from nearby parking areas to the visitor center and back. Information: www.fish-andboat.com.

Bedford County WCO reports on convictions

Jim Trombetto, a Bedford County wildlife conservation officer, has reported on hearings held in five game law cases, with guilty verdicts in all five, including one individual charged with injuring a human being through carelessness or negligence.

“This defendant shot and wounded a member of his hunting party during deer season, while attempting to take an illegal deer,” Trombetto said. “The defendant had already killed his limit of deer and did not have any remaining tags, yet he was still hunting. Cause of accident: Greed.”

Trombetto also reported that, after a lengthy investigation into three people who went on a deer killing spree, charges were filed for unlawful use of an artificial light to kill deer, hunting and killing deer without licenses, fluorescent orange violations, refusing to produce identification, intimidation of witnesses, harassment, simple assault, terroristic threats, reckless endangerment and criminal conspiracy.