Whitehall-Coplay Press

If cabin fever is beginning to set it, you can enjoy and sample a taste of the great outdoors by attending Blue Mountain Resort’s 11th annual Winter Fest on Jan. 25-26.

Even if you’re not a skier or snowboarder, the event will cater to all, including youngsters.

The two-day event will take place at the Summit Lodge at the top of Pennsylvania’s highest vertical on School Hill on Saturday, Jan. 25 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 26 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Although we’re finally getting some below freezing temperatures, safe ice fishing is still some cold days away. And what seems like far too many rainy days, also prevents anglers to walk on water.

But as happens every year at this time, ice fishermen have to travel to the Poconos to find hard water. Places like Shohola, Promised Land, Gouldsboro, Tobyhanna and Fairview lakes usually freeze first.

The snows are back.

No, not a snowstorm, but a large flock of Snow Geese have made their way to Lehigh County from their summer breeding grounds in the Arctic tundra.

As many sportsmen and sportsgals are deer hunting right now, there are a number of avid anglers who don’t hunt (or have already filled their deer tags) who prefer to fish as local streams and lakes are virtually void of fishermen.

For sportsmen clamoring for more weekend hunting time afield, Gov. Tom Wolf signed into law Senate Bill 147, which permits additional hunting on three Sundays per calendar year - one within the archery deer season, one within the firearms deer season and one selected by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

The law will take effect Feb. 25, 2020, and the first new Sunday hunting opportunities will be identified by the Game Commission thereafter.

It’s here. It’s deer - the firearms deer hunting season that is.

The much awaited rifle deer season gets underway statewide Saturday, Nov. 30, when the majority of sportsmen go afield in hopes of bagging a buck. And this year, the season opens on a Saturday after Thanksgiving instead of the Monday after the holiday as it has traditionally been.

Saturday, Nov. 23 kicks off the rifle bear season for its three-day run that ends Nov. 27. After that, there’s the extended season from Nov. 30-Dec. 14 in Wildlife Management Units 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D. The extended opener also opens again in WMUs 1B, 2C, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4E and 5A, but that period ends Dec. 7.

Pennsylvania is known nationwide for having large bears. Bruin’s in the 500-600-pound range are taken every year and in fact two were shot last year that topped 700 pounds, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

With the cold temperatures and occasional snow flurries we’re experiencing, it may be the incentive to think about the upcoming skiing/snowboarding/tubing season.

In a prepared press release, Tricia Matsko, Director of Sales and Marketing at Blue Mountain Resort in Palmerton, said they put their snow guns in service last Friday night thanks to below freezing temperatures and low humidity. It’s their first attempt this year to make snow and to build a base on the major trails of Lower Main Street, Vista, Come Around, Valley School and Snow Tubing Lanes.

With cold temperatures settling in, most of the best fishing action appears to be at the New Jersey shore where big stripers up to 51 pounds are being caught.

Fishing reporters from On the Water Magazine say linesiders are the ticket. Their report is as follows:

Bob Matthews, from the Fishermen’s Den in Belmar, said boat anglers are finding big fish from a half mile to three miles out. Trolling bunker spoons and Mojos seem to be catching the majority of fish, with spoons taking the edge over Mojos. Party boats are jigging them with Ava 47s and rubber shads.

Since the grouse, rabbit and squirrel season opened last Saturday, the third part of small game opens this Saturday (Oct. 26) for pheasants, often referred to as long-tails. A reference to the long tail feathers of a male cockbird.

If a cockbird can be flushed, the cackle and burst of feathers is exciting and when not anticipated, a bit startling for the hunter. But it’s a nice rush to experience.