Nov 14, 2015 3 min read

The Pennsylvania Game Commission must have gotten some serious pushback from its neighbors. A week after saying it would ban all importation of deer, elk and other cervids harvested in Maryland, New York, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia, Pennsylvania amended those bans.

Now, instead of banning all imports from those states, it will now only prohibit importation from areas in those states where chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been detected.

It is keeping the ban in effect for the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan and all other states where CWD has been detected that do not border Pennsylvania.

Game Commission Executive Director Matt Hough, a Trinity High School graduate, said the state ban was enacted to allow for better enforcement of rules regarding the importation of high-risk cervid parts to protect Pennsylvania’s wild deer.

With deer seasons already in progress, however, Hough said the timing of the announcement resulted in confusion and concerns being expressed by deer hunters, processors and taxidermists.

“The introduction and spread of CWD in our wild-deer population remains a serious issue, and we will continue to regularly review and adjust all measures to minimize the impacts of CWD in Pennsylvania as necessary,” Hough said.

• I’m hearing about a number of nice bucks being taken during archery season this year.

John Cooper of Fallowfield Township might have had the best day of anyone.

Hunting on Halloween, Cooper shot an 11-point on a farm near Bellaire, Ohio, early in the morning.

He then shot a doe and a 12-point from a stand along Route 43 near his home right before dusk.

That’s a busy day.

• Dutch Fork and Canonsburg lakes are producing some nice fall trout thanks to recent stockings. With the weather staying mild, both lakes have drawn a decent number of anglers in recent weeks.

Note the main road into Dutch Fork Lake is closed, so anyone wishing to fish the lake will have to access it via Route 231.

On the Monongahela, anglers are continuing to catch walleye, largemouths, white bass and white bass hybrids near the locks and dams. According to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, muskies are hitting near heavy cover in three to five feet of water as they continue to try to fatten up before winter.

Heavy rains in the past two weeks steelhead and salmon runs have begun in the Lake Erie tributaries.

• Frazier-Simplex improved to 4-0 with a 1,486-1,468 win over Irwin Post 228 last week in the Pittsburgh and Suburban Rifle League.

Dormont-Mt. Lebanon moved to 3-1 with a 1,472-1,445 win over Allegheny, while Murrysville kept pace in second place with a 1,469-1,413 victory against Green Valley.

Zach Nicholella fired his first 300 in Frazier-Simplex’s victory. John Husk had a 297, as did Jim Mounts. Zac Szabo fired a 296, as did Jim Husk.

Tom Gerger and Dan Francis were high shooters for Dormont-Mt. Lebanon, both firing 296. Dean Trew had a 295, Matt Piatt a 293 and Tom Benedict 292.

Dormont-Mt. Lebanon hosts Frazier-Simplex this Wednesday in the first meeting of the season between the two Washington County-based teams.

Outdoors Editor F. Dale Lolley can be reached at dlolley@observer-reporter.com.