It appears that the Pennsylvania Game Commission is on the brink of its first license increase in 17 years.

Senate Bill 1748 proposes fee increases of $10 for the general hunting license and many other changes for all other additional hunting tags such as archery, turkey, bear and antlerless licenses. The basic adult resident hunting license would increase from $19 to $29 per year and licenses for archery would now be $20, muzzleloader would be $20 and resident antlerless deer would be $10.

Non-resident hunters would see the greatest license fee increases with the general license up from $100 to $150 and all the special tags such as muzzleloader, bear, archery and antlerless deer increased to $40. The PGC will also offer an Ultimate outdoor combo license that will cost resident hunters $110 and non-resident hunters $350.

This appears to be the license to get as it covers (bear, archery, muzzleloader, furtaker, migratory game bird and special wild turkey). Senior and junior licenses will not be affected by the license fee increases. If the bill becomes law it will benefit the Game Commission and wildlife in PA with additional resources to put into wildlife services and improvements.

In the meantime, the PA Fish and Boat Commission is also exploring license fee increases in the upcoming year. This is the 150th anniversary of the PFBC and the entire agency has a new look but the same mission protects the waterways of the Commonwealth and its resources. Changes in the environment have direct impacts on our fisheries and water resources. Recent studies on the Smallmouth bass populations on the Susquehanna River, Shad migration, and even the crappie population at Pymatuning Lake have been current topics for studies. For more information on all the current proposals and events planned for both commissions check out the PFBC or PGC websites and get informed about the license fee changes and how they affect you.

I spent the opening day of trout season next to my longtime friends Don and Georgia Schmelzer of Slippery Rock. Don and Georgia have been outdoors people for longer than I have been putting on a fishing cap.

As we chatted along the waterway I found that Georgia was celebrating her birthday which frequently falls on the first day of trout. In honor of Georgia her sons and family accompanied their parents on a fish adventure. In a good natured manner, I kidded with Don that his wife was tied with us at 2 trout apiece.

That was when Georgia showed us that she wasn’t just a pretty face when she broke our tie and brought in numbers 3, then 4 and finally her 5th trout.

Don looked over at me and chuckled and indicated that he has seen her in action before.

Well Georgia have a Happy Birthday and I hope to give you a rematch next year!

This is the time of year that there are plenty of outdoor options to challenge any person who likes to hunt, fish or work in the yard.

I recently was trying to repair some grassy areas in the yard and had the opportunity to use the compost bin black gold. My wife is very devoted to recycling cans, plastic, cardboard and organic refuse in the compost bin. The end result is that the compost bin gets turned over each spring and the rich black mature compost is amazing stuff. We separate the end product of rich humus and add it to the soil bare areas as an additive/cover material and it is a great soil conditioner. However, I have found that wildlife loves the humus as well.

The skunks and raccoons cannot leave it alone as they paw through the material looking for worms, grubs and anything else that they find alluring. I left a smooth raked out area that looks like a rototiller ran over it overnight.

Saving some of this light humus would likely be a heck of a cover material for trappers as it is a natural lure to the fur bearer community. The bonus is that it has a nice sweet organic smell and is light weight to carry out in the field and forest. Until we meet again remember to flip your compost bin, get on the water when you can, and listen for those gobblers sounding off for the upcoming Spring Gobbler opening day on Saturday April 30th!

Jay Hewitt is an outdoors columnist for the Butler Eagle.