Getting up early for work is a hard habit to get out of even if you are on vacation.

There is one good side to being an early riser, that is if you are into observing wildlife.

Here it was June 1 and the gobble of a turkey was my alarm clock. Two, then three and finally five long beards gathered in my backyard to inspect my paint job on a remodeled old shed building.

While I was painting on several days a gobbler would strut by and put on a display with their tail fanned feathers. Ironic how they recognize a sanctuary environment versus a hunting environment.

My mind left turkeys and was soon tuned into bucks. The fellows around the area had asked me if I had seen any bucks in velvet in my area. I was sure that there was a buck or two around, but I didn’t see any personally until this same morning. T

Three bucks in velvet strolled through the front yard while the gobblers were congregating out back — the wildlife activity was strong for June 1.

We are still waiting for the showing of the fawns to take place; the mothers are still not ready for the fawns to meet the world.

The PGC is busy this time of year with wildlife planting, nesting boxes and dealing with the PA Legislature. On the table in Harrisburg is the changes being proposed in license fees and how they are being changed. The old standard is only by the approval of the legislators while the PGC wants the freedom to raise license fees as they see the need. Sunday hunting is also on the schedule and many different opinions exist about the need to have Sunday hunting.

Farmers and some families want the day to be hunting free. Then there is the hunter that doesn’t have much free time and Sunday would give them an extra opportunity to be afield.

I personally like that things have a day to settle down and that landowners and farmers are not worried about who is on their property or have people interrupting their family day.

Either way I don’t have dog in the fight and it will be up to each individual to decide how they will go with the PGC proposal.

The PGC discussed the antiquated blue laws Pennsylvania has had over the past century and only two laws still exist on the books; Sunday hunting and buying cars.

The issue of Sunday fishing was tackled 80 years ago when the laws changed to allow Sunday fishing as an acceptable form of recreation. Pennsylvania is one of only four states that do not allow Sunday hunting.

All of our neighboring states allow Sunday hunting except for Delaware.

PGC estimates that the commonwealth loses significant monies from license sales and other areas including food, lodging, fuel and sporting goods due to the lack of Sunday hunting.

The talks are still going on and we will soon see if the proposed changes take place.

This week will find me meeting up with some friends at Pymatuning State Park for a few days of fishing. I will likely concentrate on crappies and walleye with the hopes of having enough of a catch for a fish fry sometime soon.

The channel cats have been hitting and they are nice sized specimens but I am a catch and release angler when it comes to catfish.

The PFBC just sent out a notice that a new state record yellow perch was caught in Presque Isle Bay on Lake Erie.

Brian Clark of Edinboro was fishing in the bay on March 30 in about 20 feet of water. He landed a giant yellow perch that was 15 15/16 inches and weighed in at 2 pounds, 14 ounces. The PFBC determines records by fish weight only and ignores total length. To beat an existing record your entry must be at least 2 ounces heavier than the current record holder. Brian’s entry surpassed the old record set in 2010 by 3 ounces and was officially certified as the new record.

The new target for yellow perch is now at 3 pounds which is quite a fish.

To get a list of the state records for fish caught in Pennsylvania and an entry form for the trophy fish that you want to submit, contact the PFBC at fishandboat.com/strecord.

The PFBC is the only entity in the commonwealth that can determine if a new state record is certified. Keep the fish hydrated and alive in a cooler with oxygen if you can.

The loss of two ounces can mean the difference between a new record fish and a near miss.

Until we meet again keep your line in the water and hope for a new state record!

Jay Hewitt is an outdoors columnist for the Butler Eagle.