Well it’s almost official.

The Sunday hunting bill passed the Pennsylvania Senate by a vote of 34-16, and it now goes on to final approval as it heads back to the House of Representatives for a final vote. If approved, it would then go to the governor’s office to be signed into law.

If House Bill 1431 becomes law, the Pennsylvania Game Commission, through its appointed Board of Governors, will be authorized to implement additional Sunday hunting opportunities over and above the current Sunday hunting for coyotes, crows and foxes and on three consecutive Sundays in fall.

The initiative to repeal the Sunday hunting ban has a broad base of support from many sportsmen’s groups, the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau and the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

PGC Executive Director Steve Smith gave thanks to the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee Chair Sen. Greg Rothman, and Sen. Dan Laughlin who led the charge on this issue for years.

“Thanks to their leadership and commitment, Pennsylvania hunters are on the brink of gaining the opportunity to hunt on additional Sundays,” said Smith.

PGC ASKING PUBLIC TO REPORT TURKEY SIGHTINGS

The Pennsylvania Game Commission is once again seeking input from the public in surveying wild turkeys from July 1 through Aug. 31.

This survey allows the agency to determine total wild turkey productivity and to compare long term reproductive success within the state. Turkey sightings can be reported through the PGC’s website http://.pgcforms.pa.gov/TurkeySightingSurvey.

Participants are asked to report the number of wild turkeys they see, along with the county, township, wildlife management unit (WMU), date and contact information if agency biologists have any questions. Participants may also simply drop a “pin” on the website map for the location data to automatically populate. Location data is used only for the survey not for law enforcement, and is not shared.

PGC Turkey Biologist Mary Jo Casalena said participants should report all turkeys seen whether it be gobblers, hens with or without broods or turkeys of unknown sex and age.

For those who travel Mauch Chunk Road, there are occasionally four or five turkeys on GES (former Trojan Powder Co.) land. One day I spotted a lone gobbler foraging in the one field.

SALTWATER FISHING REPORT

As this is the Fourth of July weekend, many families head to the shore so it’s a good time to give saltwater angling a try.

According to reporters from On the Water Magazine, midshore and offshore yellowfin and bluefin tuna action is picking up. Other than that, striped bass fishing has been excellent in Raritan Bay, while keeper fluke are being taken from the bays and ocean surf as are weakfish and sheepshead that are chewing around the bridges.