HARRISBURG — Landowners who want to plant tree species beneficial to wildlife are encouraged to begin making plans now.

For guidance, as well as for placing orders for seedlings, landowners are asked to visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission's web site

www.pgc.state.pa.us

, click on the Forms and Programs section and choose Howard Nursery Seedling Program.

The commission's Howard Nursery produces bare-root seedlings for wildlife food and cover on State Game Lands.

Landowners who have 50 or more acres open to public hunting and are enrolled in one of the commission's public access programs are eligible to receive up to 500 free seedlings annually, as available.

Those people with enrolled acreage exceeding 500 acres are eligible for one free seedling per acre enrolled up to a maximum of 10,000 seedlings annually, as available.

However, new this spring, landowners may buy seedlings for wildlife food and cover, watershed protection, soil erosion control, and for reclamation of disturbed areas, such as surface mine site and utility right-of-ways.

A description of each seedling, along with size information, is available on the web site.

For information, contact Cliff Guindon at the Howard Nursery, 197 Nursery Road, Howard, PA 16841, call 814-355-4434.

Registration is under way for the second annual coyote hunt sponsored by the Highland Township Volunteer Fire Department, which will be held Feb. 24 to 26.Hunters can sign up at the Russell City Store, on Routes 68 and 948 in Elk County, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.Hunters must be registered before beginning the hunt.For information, call 814-968-4415.