Harvests of whitetail deer and bear are down according to official tallies released last week.

The Game Commission reported hunters harvested an estimated 323,070 deer during the state's 2007-2008 seasons, a decrease of 11 percent from the previous combined seasons. The antlered deer count was 109,200, 19 percent lower than the 2006-2007 season's harvest of 135,290. Hunters harvested 213,870 antlerless deer, a 5 percent drop from the 226,270 taken in the previous seasons.

Hunters took a total of 2,360 black bears in 2007, according to agency reports. The statewide three-day season claimed 2,026, 41 were shot during the second archery bear season, and 293 were harvested during the limited extended season. The 2006 harvest was 3,122. Last year's harvest ranks ninth overall.

The company expected to manage the electronic sale of Pennsylvania hunting licenses will not offer point-of-sale printing of hunting licenses this year. In June, the commission will continue to sell paper licenses for the 2008-2009 seasons. The same company is successfully providing point-of-sale fishing licenses in the commonwealth.

Trout Unlimited will sponsor a free fly fishing seminar open to the public 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the St. Bede's Activities Center, 509 South Dallas Ave., in Point Breeze. Topics include picking a balanced fly casting outfit, tying basic knots, lines, leaders, equipment, basic entomology and, weather permitting, individual casting lessons. Lunch provided by Penn's Woods West Trout Unlimited. Call 412-521-0714 for details

So many trout, so little space. The Post-Gazette will publish a series of trout stocking schedules beginning tomorrow in Sports. Schedules are posted at www.fish.state.pa.us.