I generally like to study changes that affect the outdoors scene. They can be something simple or something that's complicated beyond my normal comprehension. Once things change, it's also important to find if they changed for the better or the worse.

I frequently get calls about laws, regulations and licensing any time Harrisburg makes a change, and, like everyone else, I have to investigate what is going on.

Sometimes the question pops up over and over again. One example was centered on the new hunting license format and whether or not you had to display your license as in the past.

The answer is a straightforward yes. You must display your hunting license. There probably is a market for new license holders, but anything you have used in the past will do.

Duck stamps are another area that puzzles many hunters. The federal duck stamp is the common name for the migratory bird stamp and has cost $15 since 1991.

The duck stamp funds habitat conservation, helps provide land easements and supports the National Wildlife Refuge Systems.

In the current economic times, funding shortfalls for operations and maintenance are significant. There is federal legislation being considered that will raise the stamp cost to $25.

Those 16 and older who hunt migratory birds in Pennsylvania are required to have a federal duck stamp. In addition, all hunters 12 and older must possess a Pennsylvania migratory bird license, which costs $3.

Migratory birds include doves, woodcocks, ducks and geese. Neither the federal duck stamp nor the migratory bird license needs to be displayed by hunters, but they must be carried on your person and signed. The Federal Duck Stamp must be signed across the front of the stamp, even though many hunters would like to preserve the quality of the stamp's artwork.

Another question concerns DMAP permits for deer hunters. The Game Commission initiated the deer management assistance program many years ago to provide hunting on state forests and parks, as well as other public and private parcels of land.

Landowners must enroll and be approved to enter the program. The permits are issued for specific areas and require some homework on the part of the hunter.

Hunters can buy a DMAP permit anytime after July 1 from any license agent. A hunter needs only to tell the issuing agent the identification number of the DMAP property he wants to hunt The agent then can issue a license — if any are available.

This is why you must do your homework and decide where you want to hunt. The Department of Conservation and Natural Recourses has developed a website that might help. Visit www.dcnr.state.pa.us and click on "forestry," then select deer management assistance program and choose a location. The DMAP permit is an add-on fee to your license at a cost of $10 for a resident and $33 for a non-resident.

Do you remember my comment on the devastating white-nose syndrome fungus that's killing the bat population in Pennsylvania?

Greg Turner, a specialist in endangered mammals for the PGC, predicts the state could be looking at nearly bat-less night skies in a few years as the fungus is spreading unabated.

Considering that experts estimate each bat consumes about 2 pounds of insect daily, multiplied by millions of bats and this equals thousands of tons of bugs not eaten in Pennsylvania.