The annual run to the mailbox is scheduled for this weekend with the first round of antlerless deer licenses due soon.

Starting Monday July 13th County Treasurers will be accepting mail applications for the Pennsylvania Game Commission antlerless deer drawing.

The costs for resident hunters remains at $6.70 for a tag and the odds are pretty fair that you will get drawn for the tag as WMU 2-D has 55,000 and WMU 1-A has another 46,000 available.

Every year fellows forget to meet the deadlines and risk the chance of no tags the longer they wait. Non-resident hunters are permitted to submit their applications for the doe licenses in the next two weeks on July 27th.

The PGC has made some changes in the WMU’s this year.

In WMU 1-A which is along the Route 8 corridor through Butler County they have made the doe season a split antlered/doe season format.

What that means is that no doe hunting can take place in WMU 1-A until the first Saturday of Buck Season!

It used to be open all 2 weeks of rifle season but this has changed.

Other changes to note include Pennsylvania’s first river otter trapping season in more than 50 years.

Did you hear that trappers?

The river otter season is permitted only in WMU’s 3C and 3D for a properly licensed furtaker along with an otter permit as for 3 days; February 21, 22 and 23 that allows you to harvest one otter.

The Mentored Youth Hunting Program will see some changes in the 2015-16 hunting season.

Youth ages seven and older will be the only mentored youth hunters issued a harvest tag for antlered deer and Spring Turkey Gobblers.

Youth under the age of seven can still participate in the mentored hunts but the youth’s mentor must surrender their harvest tag if the youth bags a buck or gobbler.

The cost of the youth license remains at the bargain rate of $2.70

Another change to note is the use of tree stands and hunting blinds in State Game Lands.

The PGC now requires you to leave identification on any blind or tree stand left overnight.

The hunter can use their Name and address, their CID number or a special number obtained by going onto the Outdoor Shop.

No climbers can damage trees on State Game Lands nor can they be used on private property without the land owners’ permission.

Just as I suspected the harsh winter season and wet spring has played havoc with the wild turkey population in Pennsylvania.

The PGC monitors turkey populations closely and hunters should note that the length of the fall turkey season has changed in many WMU’s.

Season lengths in WMUs 2E, 3D, 4A, 4B and 4D have been reduced due to declines in recent harvest density and summertime sightings.

I have three hens that I regularly see near my home and they have one poult that is protected by the three hens. It is discouraging to see the local population having such difficulties.

The increased number of predators has played hard on all the young wildlife including deer and turkey.

One whitetail doe that visits us now and then is quite the successful mother.

She has 5 youngsters keeping close to her side. Twin bucks born last year apparently made it through the winter and the hunting season.

They were joined by three new fawns which made their debut this past week to the outside world.

Watching the fawns frolic in the front yard without a care in the world sure makes you smile.

When she showed them that some of my shrubs were tasty treats I quit smiling!

Her education of the fawns and the first year fork horns was quite thorough as I have several shrubs that are mowed down every winter but appear to benefit by the severe pruning of feeding deer.

One other observation that I have made is that the apple and mast crops look like they will be outstanding for the fall drop.

Apples and acorns are very hard for wildlife to ignore and they usually gather around the tree to enjoy the fall crop.

Set up an archery ambush near these sites and you should have an excellent opportunity on a deer of your choice.

Until we meet again sign your license and make sure you put stamps on the pink envelope!

Jay Hewitt is an outdoors columnist for the Butler Eagle.