Get Out Events, Hunting & Fishing Calendar

Hiking, winter activities, shoots, hunter safety courses, educational programs, volunteer opportunities and more ...

Sunday, December 07, 2008

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Associated Press

The president of the Pennsylvania Trout Unlimited State Council, Ken Underkoffer, will discuss the status of the state's brook trout fishery, the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture and other programs to preserve, protect and restore brook trout habitat at Penn's Woods West Trout Unlimited member's meeting on Dec. 8. Free and open to the public.

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING

Dec. 9 Intro to Cross-Country Skiing. REI-Pittsburgh, 412 S. 27th Street, SouthSide Works, South Side. Cross Country Skiing Association and REI discuss ski styles, clothing, potential hazards. Free. 412-488-9410.

Jan. 20 Cross-Country Ski Workshop. Exkursion outfitter-sponsored workshop includes discussion of bindings, boots, wax/waxless ski bases and techniques for groomed and backcountry trails. $10. Workshop in Laurel Highlands region, call for details. 412-372-7030.

GETout spotlight

Cupcake Hike on Dec. 7

Venture Outdoors has a hit on its hands with its continuing series of novelty hikes. The group learned long ago that the best way to entice people to work up a sweat is by bribing them with culinary rewards. Hence the Wine and Cheese Hikes, Beer Hikes, Cookie Hikes, Replace The Weight You've Lost By Pigging Out Hikes (we made that one up). At Venture Outdoors' Cupcake Hike, an easy walk through Brady's Run Park is followed by a special tasting of mini-cupcakes from Dozen Bake Shop. Ummmm, cupcakes. 1-4 p.m. $6 kids, $12 Venture Outdoors members, $20 nonmembers. 412-255-0564.

Jan. 20 Cross-country and Telemark Ski Waxing Clinic. Exkursion, 4037 William Penn Highway, Monroeville and Boyce Park. Free. 412-372-7030.

MISC. WINTER ACTIVITIES

Dec. 13 Winter Tree Identification. Frick Park. Meets 10 a.m. Biddle Street parking lot. ID trees and shrubs from bark, branches and buds. Register at jeff@ninemilerun.org or 412-371-8779 ext. 14.

Dec. 17 Intro to Snowshoeing. REI-Pittsburgh, 412 S. 27th Street, SouthSide Works, South Side. Free. 7 p.m. 412-488-9410.

Jan. 3 Basic Ice-Climbing Workshop. Exkursion, 4037 William Penn Highway, Monroeville. 7-9 p.m. Techniques to climb waterfall ice, knot tying, belaying, handling ice tools and crampons, moving over ice. Incudes one indoor session at Exkursion and an ice-climbing trip to be scheduled later (based on ice conditions). Age 18 and over. $100, $130 with boot/crampons rental. 412- 372-7030.

Jan. 23 Winter Mountain Adventure. Jennings Environmental Eductation Center, Slippery Rock. Two-night winter outdoors activity sampler includes cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, sledding, winter ecology, Civilian Conservation Corps discussion, horse-drawn sleigh ride at locations in Laurel Hill, Laurel Ridge and Ohiopyle State Parks. All equipment provided, five meals plus snacks, two-night lodging, $225. Registration deadline Jan. 9. 724-794-6011.

Feb. 7 Basic Ice-Climbing Workshop. Exkursion, 4037 William Penn Highway, Monroeville. 7-9 p.m. Techniques to climb waterfall ice, knot tying, belaying, handling ice tools and crampons, moving over ice. Incudes one indoor session at Exkursion and an ice-climbing trip to be scheduled later (based on ice conditions). Age 18 and over. $100, $130 with boot/crampons rental. 412- 372-7030.

Feb. 4, 11 and 16-17 Intro to Winter Backpacking. Exkursion, 4037 William Penn Highway, Monroeville. Two indoor sessions, 7-9 p.m., plus overnight in shelter in Laurel Highlands. Covers specialized equipment, staying warm, cooking. $15. 412- 372-7030.

HIKING

Wednesdays Audubon Society of Pennsylvania holds walks every Wednesday, 9 a.m. Call 412-963-6100.

Dec. 7 Cupcake Hike. Brady's Run Park. Easy hike through the park followed a special tasting of mini-cupcakes from Dozen Bake Shop. 1-4 p.m. $6 kids, $12 Venture Outdoors members, $20 nonmembers. 412-255-0564.

Dec. 7 8-Mile Loop. Schenley Area, Freeport. Meets at 10 a.m. at Bob Evans Restaurant, Harmarville. $3.50 carpool, 25 miles. Sierra Club, 412-828-5154.

Dec. 7 Raccoon Creek State Park. Moderately strenuous, somewhat exploratory hike includes historic Frankfort Mineral Springs, large icicle formations, beaver activity. $4.25 carpool, 30 miles from Shadyside. Sierra Club, 412-362-5567.

Dec. 12 Full Moon Hike. Boyce Mayview Park, Upper St. Clair. Pre-registration requested, group size limited. 6-7 p.m., $3. 412-838-0064.

Dec. 21 Audubon's Todd Sanctuary. Easy 3 miles in sanctuary, another easy 3 miles in Audubon's Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve. Optional tour of the lighting display at Hartwood Acres County Park. $4.25 carpool, 30 miles from Harmarville. Sierra Club, 412-856-4642.

BIKING

Dec. 7 Volunteer Appreciation Day. PTAG (Pittsburgh Trail Advocacy Group) invites the public to a bike ride and party for volunteers who've helped with mountain bike trail work throughout the region. Meets 10 a.m. at The Lodge in North Park, party starts at 1 p.m. 412-963-2824.

Dec. 30 Winter Cycling. REI-Pittsburgh, 412 S. 27th Street, SouthSide Works, South Side. Clinic covers set-up, maintenance, clothing, lights, motivation. Free. 7 p.m. 412-488-9410.

BIRDING

Dec. 14 Winter Birding Basics. Bird identification while hiking through Boyce Mayview Park. Ages 12-15 must be accompanied by an adult. 2-4 p.m., $10. 412-838-0064

Dec. 20 Christmas Bird Count. Boyce Mayview Park, Upper St. Clair. Event marks the 108th Christmas bird count and the eighth for the South Hills bird circle. Compiler Nancy Page, nanpaul@comcast.net, 412-221-4795.

FISHING

Dec. 8 Penn's Woods West Trout Unlimited. Ken Underkoffer, president of the Pennsylvania Trout Unlimited State Council, speaks about the status of the state's brook trout fishery including its history, biology and threats to its survival, and discusses the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture and other programs to preserve, protect and restore brook trout habitat. At the group's general members' meeting held at the Brentwood VFW Post 1810, 3801 Clairton Blvd. (Rt. 51). 7 p.m., free and open to the public. 412-963-2824.

SHOOTS

For a more complete listing of shoots, visit www.post-gazette.com/sports.

ALIQUIPPA BUCKTAILS Skeet and trap, Wednesdays 6 p.m. and Fridays 5 p.m. Call 724-378-1450 or visit www.bucktails.us.

ALLEGHENY COUNTY RIFLE CLUB Saturdays and Sundays: ATA registered trap, 10 a.m. Call 412-821-9828.

ALL SEASONS TRAP AND SKEET Wednesdays: Open shoots, 5 p.m. Call 814-590-3777.

CALIFORNIA HILL Sundays: Sporting clays and five-stand, 9 a.m. Call 724-938-3480 or 724-938-3477.

CANONSBURG SPORTSMEN ASSOC. Trap open to public and members Wednesdays at 6 p.m. and third Sundays, noon. 724-745-4507.

CARRICK SPORTSMEN Sundays: Traps, 1 p.m. Junior rifle and traps programs, personal protection/firearms safety, hunter safety courses. Call 724-348-5354 or visit www.carricksportsmen.com.

CLAIRTON SPORTSMEN'S CLUB Muzzleloader shoot first Sunday of each month, noon-3 p.m. Public welcome. www.clairtonsc.org.

CLAYBUSTERS Sundays: Sporting clays, five stand, skeet and trap, 9 a.m. and Thursdays 1 p.m. Call 814-437-3252 or 814-437-3428.

CONNELLSVILLE SPORTSMEN Tuesdays: Trap practice and skeet shooting, 5 p.m.

CORAOPOLIS Sundays: Junior Olympic archery development, 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays: Indoor archery, 7 p.m. Wednesdays: Informal combat, 7 p.m. Call 412-264-9920, 412-793-7692.

CROWFOOT ROD & GUN CLUB Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays: Public trap practice, 7 p.m. Call 724-327-9315 or 724-327-0592.

DORMONT-MT. LEBANON SPORTSMEN Third Sundays: Civilian Marksmanship Program 9:30 sign-up, 11 a.m. Mondays: outdoor pistol, NMC, MPRL 6 p.m. Tuesdays: trap 7-10 p.m. 412-531-5043, www.mdi.net/dml.

EAST MONONGAHELA SPORTSMEN Outdoor air pistol third Sundays, 1 p.m. 412-384-4747, www.dp.net/~emsc.

ELRAMA SPORTSMEN Mondays: Trap practice, 6 p.m. 412-384-8896.

FIVE POINTS HUNT Mondays: Trap practice, 5:30 p.m. 724-375-7381, 724-457-0315, www.fivepointshuntingclub.com.

FORD CITY SPORTSMEN Wednesdays: Skeet practice, 6 p.m. Fridays: Trap practice, 6 p.m. 724-763-3136, fordcitysportsmen@yahoo.com.

FOREST GROVE SPORTSMEN Mondays: Trap, 6 p.m. Thursdays: Combat pistol shoots, 4 p.m., Third Wednesdays: Membership meetings, 7 p.m. Third Sundays: Muzzle-loaders shoots, noon. 412-269-0942.

LAWRENCE COUNTY Wednesdays: Trap/skeet shoot, 5 p.m. 5-stand, 5 p.m. Thursdays: 5 p.m.; Sundays: Sporting clays, 9:30 a.m. 5-stand, 9:30 a.m. 724-652-1075.

LIBRARY SPORTSMEN ASSOCIATION Thursdays: Trap, skeet, 6 p.m. 412-835-9812, www.librarysa.com.

LONG BRANCH SPORTSMEN Tuesdays: Indoor NRA 50-foot small bore pistol league, 7 p.m. 724-925-2919, 724-333-4408, www.bloomautomatic.com/lbsc

McDONALD SPORTSMEN Thursdays: Trap and skeet, 7 p.m. 724-796-2271, www.mcdonaldsportsmen.com.

McKEESPORT SPORTSMEN Skeet practice, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. Cast bullet matches next to last Saturdays, 9 a.m., three classes, public welcome. 412-271-2144, 412- 824-7566.

MILLVALE SPORTSMEN'S CLUB Tuesdays: skeet 5 p.m. Wednesdays: evening leagues, practice 6 p.m. Saturdays: registered targets 9 a.m. 724-935-9963, www.millvalesportsmens.org.

NORTH BUFFALO SPORTSMAN'S Second Sundays: Action pistol, rifle. Third Sundays: Hunters trail shoot. Last Saturdays and Sundays: 3-D archery. 724-353-2444, 724-664-0513.

NORTH SIDE SPORTSMEN Wednesdays: Skeet, 6 p.m. Trap, 6 p.m. Sundays: Trap, skeet, 11 a.m. 724-935-9884, www.nssa.ws.

PITCAIRN-MONROEVILLE SPORTSMEN Thursdays: Trap, practical pistol practice, 6 p.m. Saturdays: Trap practice, 10 a.m. Sundays: trap practice, 1 p.m. 412-824-3790, www.pmsconline.com.

RICHLAND SPORTSMEN'S ASSOC. Thursdays: Archery. Alternate Mondays: Junior rifle. 412-486-7820, wolfgang5@comcast.net.

ROSTRAVER SPORTSMEN Practice trap, pistol and 3-D archery. 724-872-4399.

RUFFSDALE GUN Sundays: Trap practice, noon. Saturdays, 10 a.m.

SALTSBURG SPORTSMEN Paintball shoot second and fourth Sundays, 9:30 a.m. 724-845-6936.

SHANER SPORTSMEN Fridays: Trap. 724-494-6834, 412-417-3744.

SINNAMAHONING SPORTSMEN Paint ball shoot second and fourth Sundays, 9:30 a.m. 724-845-6936.

SUTERSVILLE SPORTSMEN Trap practice: Mondays, 6 p.m., Tuesdays 10 a.m. 412-872-0989.

TARENTUM SPORTSMEN Thursdays: Skeet practice, 5:30 p.m. 724- 353-1216.

TRAFFORD SPORTSMEN Indoor pistol: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays, 1 p.m. Trap: Wednesdays 10 a.m.; Fridays 6 p.m. Tuesdays: Archery practice, evenings; Bowling pin shoot: First and third Sundays, 10:30 a.m. 412-372-3820.

VICTORY HILL GUN Tuesdays: Trap practice, 6 p.m. 724-258-9871.

WASHINGTON SPORTSMEN Thursdays: Trap, wobble trap, skeet, 6 p.m. 724-222-0651.

WEST PENN SPORTSMEN Five-stand: Sundays, 10 a.m., Thursdays, 4 p.m. Trap: Thursdays 4:30 p.m.

YOUNGWOOD Trap: Sunday 10 a.m., Tuesdays, 6 p.m.

First published on December 7, 2008 at 12:00 am