The two-inch layer of fresh snow outside my doorstep tells an undeniable story: Winter is here.

For the hardy outdoorsperson, the winter season provides many activities.

While the two-week deer season has concluded, deer hunting options have not expired. The statewide flintlock muzzleloader and late archery season opens on Dec. 26 and runs through Jan. 13.

Several late season small game offerings are available, many of which begin next week. This includes late seasons for rabbits, squirrels, snowshoe hare, ruffed grouse and pheasants.

According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the seasons are as follows: squirrel, Dec. 11 to 23 and Dec. 26 to Feb. 3; ruffed grouse, Dec. 11 to 23 and Dec. 26 to Jan. 27; rabbit, Dec. 11 to 23 and Dec. 26 to Feb. 3; and snowshoe hare, Dec. 26-Jan. 1.

In addition, male and female pheasant hunting will be available from Dec. 11 to 23 and Dec. 26 to Feb. 3, in WMUs 1A, 1B, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B and 4D. Consult the map found in your 2006-07 Hunting-Trapping Digest for a look at the location of specific Wildlife Management Areas.

A wide range of waterfowl hunts extend well into the winter season, some as late as March. Canada geese and white-fronted geese may be harvested during these upcoming seasons: Atlantic Population Zone, Dec. 12 to Jan. 20, daily limit is three, except on State Game Land 46 (Middle Creek) where the limit is one; Southern James Bay Canada Goose Hunting Zone, until Dec. 30, daily bag is two, and Jan. 15 to Feb. 15, daily bag is five; Resident Canada Goose Zone, Dec. 8 to Feb. 15, daily bag is five; and Pymatuning Zone, Dec. 11 to Jan. 8, daily bag limit is two.

The statewide snow goose season runs until March 10, and the daily bag limit is 15. Ducks, sea ducks, coots and mergansers may be hunted in the Lake Erie Zone until Jan. 2; in the North Zone, until Jan. 1; in the Northwest Zone Dec. 11-Jan. 5; and in the South Zone until Jan. 15.

There is a daily limit of six ducks, and it may not exceed more than four mallards, including two hens; one black duck; one pintail; one mottled duck; one fulvous tree duck; two wood ducks; two redheads; one canvasback; four scoters; and two scaup. The daily limit for coots is 15; the daily limit for mergansers, five, including two hooded.

Many furbearers will be legal prey for trappers this winter. The seasons include beavers, Dec. 26 to March 31 (bag limits depend on WMU, which is outlined on page 84 of the 2006-07 Digest); minks and muskrats, until Jan. 7; raccoons, skunks, opossums, foxes and weasels, until Feb. 18; and bobcats, for those with special permits, until Feb. 18.

Beaver trapping season begins Dec. 26, and runs through March 31. Bag limits are 20 daily and 20 in possession for WMUs 2E, 2F and 2G; 10 daily and 10 in possession for WMUs 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D; and 20 daily and 40 in possession for WMUs 1A, 1B, 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D.

Tagging of beaver pelts by Game Commission officers is no longer required. Information on the location of nuisance beavers can be obtained by contacting the Game Commission's regional offices, by visiting the agency's website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) and by reviewing the field officer game forecasts.

Several good open-water fishing scenarios exist for sportsmen too stubborn to put away the rod and reel for the season. Steelhead anglers have had an excellent year so far on Lake Erie tributaries. The best conditions include good flows and slightly off-colored water.

Fishing reports logged on the website www.fisherie.com are helpful in determining recent activity.

Closer to home, good fishing happens below tailrace areas like Mahoning Creek Lake, Crooked Creek Lake and other flood control lakes. The best fishing often occurs after conditions stabilize following a high water event, of which there have been many during the past few months.

Walleye, crappie and sauger are among the many species caught in such locations.

Excellent fishing on the Allegheny River can be enjoyed throughout much of the winter, with the focus species being walleye, sauger and muskie.

Slow pools that feature depth tend to collect gamefish on the river during the winter. Warmwater discharge areas present at power plants and some industrial locations also tend to attract fish when the water is cold.

Good action is present on both the navigable and free-flowing portions of the Allegheny. The tailrace section of Allegheny Reservoir (Kinzua Dam) supports an excellent winter fishery highlighted by big trout.