It is hard to believe that the second trout season in a row has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and has caused the PA Fish & Boat Commission to push forward the statewide opening of the Trout Season to April 3.

That is earlier than the normal date we have usually observed in the middle of April. The weather could be anything from snow, rain or sunshine greeting anglers on the local trout streams. I can’t predict the weather we will face, but I do know that plenty of people will still be glad to have a day in the outdoors and out of the house.

Fishing pin

I sent for my collectible fishing pin from the PFBC and had the opportunity to talk to a sales rep from the Outdoor Shop who in the course of our discussion told me that 2020 was the last year that they sold the lifetime plastic card fishing license to the senior anglers. Now the anglers will only receive the yellow plastic/paper licenses that are pretty flimsy.

This year also marks the 30th year of the trout stamp, with the first ones coming out in 1991 featuring the Brook Trout, our Pennsylvania State Fish. Initially the PFBC sponsored a stamp, a patch and a print for each year, but ended that series in a few years.

The annual trout pin is the collector item now and it carries each angler’s own CID number, which is unique to each of us.

Antlerless deer license

The PA Game Commission is starting its 2021-22 plans now with some changes being considered for the antlerless deer (doe) license plans.

It appears that they want to make obtaining a license more liberal with additional licenses available over the counter. All of the details are being reviewed and a clearer plan will be presented for hunters by the next quarterly meeting.

The idea of having senior hunters being able to harvest any buck regardless of points was not changed and it will remain the same with hunters following the WMU rules for each area. Active military and junior hunters, as well as vehicle handicapped hunters, can still take advantage of the no-point restriction opportunities that are available across the state.

Cost of ammunition

Have shooters noticed how difficult it is to obtain any types of ammunition at any of their local ammunition resources?

If it is available, the costs are through the roof. A recent purchase I made of 6.5 Creedmoor cartridges was $42, which was over twice the cost not all that long ago, back in the fall. Fortunately for me, I was picking them up for a friend and it is not one of my go-to cartridges. I have always had the presence of mind to keep my ammunition preferences stocked up since I had a crazy experience years ago.

This occurred in a deer season many years back as I was hunting with my buddy Jimmy and his twin sons. We had a fairly successful hunting season and I was hunting with my .270 Win Model 700 Remington rifle.

We did a lot of shooting at the range and in the woods that season and I was not really paying attention to my ammo supply. I picked up my ammo box that morning and it felt light, so I investigated and I found only a handful of cartridges in the box.

A quick look in my gun cabinet showed that this was all I had left. We searched for some replacement .270 shells and could not find a box anywhere we looked. Eventually, I found a box at a high-end gun shop and bought them.

I’ll never forget the comment my buddy made to me as I griped about no bullets to be found,

“Hey look at the bright side…you’re not the only one missing”. Very funny!

These days, I am much better prepared as I have not only factory loads but have the capacity to reload my own hand-loads. The components used to be very reasonably priced, but as with anything, they have risen as well. It stills gives me some options to consider and I try to take advantage of all opportunities when they appear on shelves at my local shooters supply locations.

Saving your brass from shooting exercises on the range or in the field can come in handy as well. Recently, brass cartridge casings have been hard to come by as well.

A friend who can reload your cartridges can do so with little trouble when you have the empties to help him out. Remember, a bullet is made up of only four components; the brass cartridge, the gun powder, the bullet and the primer.

Of course, the knowledge to put all of these items into an efficient rifle cartridge is the genius part of the equation.

Until we meet again, take care of yourselves and always try to be prepared by thinking ahead!

Jay Hewitt is an outdoors columnist for the Butler Eagle