By Dave Bates For the Observer-Reporter This spring has not only been a wet one but has offered a phenomenon that has not routinely presented in my years as an outdoorsman. Three times during the months of May and June my phone rang with a concerned party on the other end. The story in all ...
By Dave Bates For the Observer-Reporter If you’ve never shot steel targets, then let me assure you that you are missing out on a great learning opportunity. Shooting steel is simply a lot more than fun. Hearing the satisfying ring of steel each time your round impacts on target is a hoot. ...
By Dave Bates For the Observer-Reporter No doubt, once upon a time, you found and fell in love with the perfect pair of shooting gloves. Like true romance, it’s different for everyone. The same element that creates spark for me, might not set your heart ablaze in the same fashion. No ...
By Dave Bates For the Observer-Reporter This week’s column is a short statistical primer on all things black bear. It is meant to shed a little informational light on a topic that does not receive all that much attention for the average hunter. Many southwestern Pennsylvania hunters have ...
By Dave Bates For the Observer-Reporter Picture it. … Just ahead, our faithful German Shorthair Pointer is locked staunchly on point, trembling but not dislodging her quarry from its dug-in point of safe harbor. As my Briar pipe is doused and the dottle knocked free against boot sole, the ...
By Dave Bates For the Observer-Reporter The place we were hunting was a portion of Venango County aptly named “Hell’s Kitchen.” It was a tangled mess of multiflora rose, black berry vines and low brush regrowth. In other words, perfect grouse habitat. We were about halfway through ...
