HARRISBURG — In striving to meet demands on a person's time, the Pennsylvania Game Commission is offering a special basic Hunter-Trapper Education course for those 17 years of age and older consisting of a home-study course and a one-day, two- to three-hour class.

The independent study portion of the course will take 8 to 10 hours to complete and is available in two formats: a printed student manual or an online website.

Any requests for printed versions will be directed to the HTE Division in Harrisburg, with shipping costs at $1.59 each. Student manuals also are available for pickup at all Game Commission region offices, Harrisburg headquarters, and the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area at no cost.

The classroom curriculum will consist of learning activities focusing on understanding hunting/trapping laws and regulations, and hunter ethics and responsibility, followed by a period for answering student questions. At the completion of the question-and-answer session, students will take a written test and certificates will be issued to those who pass.

For information, visit the Game Commission website at www. pgc.state.pa.us.

BENEZETTE TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A team of Pennsylvania Game Commission employees successfully engaged in a unique rescue of a bull elk that had a tire swing hanging from its left antler and was weary and weakened after two days of carrying the tire around.On Sept. 18, Game Commission officials were able to track down the 3- or 4-year-old, 6-by-6 antlered elk. Initially sighted by canoers, Game Commission employees found the elk along the Sinnemahoning Creek in Elk County.Unable to direct the elk away from the water, Game Commission employees decided they could not prolong their rescue any longer if they were going to prevent further stress for the animal.A wildlife conservation officer shot the elk with a tranquilizer dart to begin the rescue.After the tire and rope were removed from the elk's antlers, Game Commission biologists placed a numbered collar on the animal and will be able to track it as part of the agency's ongoing elk research.